Many of the most expensive British prep schools are located in the neighbourhoods with the highest property prices, which probably comes as no surprise! The fees quoted below are those for the Reception class (or equivalent at the international schools). Obviously, many private British secondary schools have much higher fees, so take this as a ranking of private primary school costs only.
And London’s most expensive private school is…. (drumroll please)… the American School in London (ASL!), hooray! Closely followed by Southbank International School. This may not come as a big surprise. International schools tend to be far more expensive than British school, not so much because of their staff ratio or facilities, but because they historically had many customers on expat packages whose employers covered the fees. In all fairness, ASL does have a financial aid programme akin to American universities, so it is possible to apply even if you cannot afford the fees. Do not confuse most expensive with highest quality.
Here is the list of London’s most expensive private schools, for the year 2021/2022 – note that 3 out of the 10 most expensive schools are owned by the Alpha Plus Group:
| School | Annual Fee | |
| 1 | American School London | 28200 |
| 2 | Southbank International School | 26655 |
| 3 | Wetherby Pre-Prep | 23940 |
| 4 | Pembridge Hall | 23445 |
| 5 | Thomas’s Kensington | 23040 |
| 6 | Garden House School | 22950 |
| 7 | Chepstow House | 22290 |
| 8 | Arnold House School | 21984 |
| 9 | Eaton Square School | 21690 |
| 10 | Falkner House Boys | 21465 |
Check Halcyon International School fees. I think they are £30k this year
this overview is limited to schools with a primary / prep department.
How about the Hall School in Belsize Park.
Pembridge Hall is 21600 term is 7200….
I find this group discussion very helpful. Wer moving to London for a year and I was so confused what schools to put my kids in.
Wer moving to St. John’s wood. Any good private recommended prep schools I. The area or close to it like Marylbone??
depends how old they are – look at Saint Christina’s, Abercorn or St John’s Wood Pre-Prep
Portland Place School tuition is £20,000.
thanks for your comment. this table is limited to primary / prep schools or junior departments. Once you look at senior schools, indeed there are many that have even higher fees.
Abercorn school in Marylebone is £5750 per term. Should have made your list.
Hawkesdown House also increases fee every year stating that though the inflation is very low the cost of retaining good teachers is high. They also state that none the less there are certain costs which increase inspite of there being no or low inflation. Its just eye watering the entire private shcool ‘business’!
Several schools have just increased fees for next term… Putney up around 15percent! How do they justify annual prices increases of 5 to 15 percent when the UK has zero inflation and they are not providing any extra facilities or teachers? It is beyond annoying.
Agree! North Bridge House also had a price increase with a vague justification…
Devonshire House Prep school in Hampstead is just under £6000 for pre reception!
This should have made your list!
Hi – I do have their exact fee breakdown. The number you quote is inclusive of lunch though, if you take out the lunches they don’t make the top 10 (although they are close behind). Their full termly fee for Reception, inclusive of lunch, is £5,860. Their cost of lunches is relatively high though, it better be organic!
You’ve included lunch for 2 of the schools above!
yes, as indicated by the “*” sign. Lunch is around £1k per year, so these schools would be in the top 10 even after lunch taken off, that is why they are included. They don’t break down the cost.