Independent Boarding Schools in Greater London

Mill Hill International is a co-educational day and boarding school in North London for international pupils aged 13 to 18. Situated on the 120-acre site of the Mill Hill School Foundation, it occupies its own refurbished campus at The Mount. The school provides a transition into the British education system, offering GCSE and A Level programmes with dedicated English language support. Students benefit from small class sizes while accessing the Foundation's extensive facilities, which include an indoor swimming pool, a professional-standard theatre, and vast sports fields set within traditional parkland.

St Paul's School is an independent school for boys aged 7 to 18, situated on a 45-acre riverside site in Barnes, London. Founded in 1509 by John Colet, the school emphasises a liberal education and academic scholarship. Its extensive campus includes an on-site boat club, a theatre, and specialised science and music centres. St Paul's operates as both a day and boarding school, with flexible and weekly boarding available for senior pupils. The institution’s historical alumni include notable figures such as John Milton and Samuel Pepys.

DLD College London is a co-educational independent college situated on London’s South Bank, overlooking the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament. Founded in 1931 as Davies, Laing and Dick, the college caters for students aged 13 to 19, offering GCSEs, A Levels, BTECs, and International Foundation Programmes. Housed in a landmark purpose-built campus, it provides on-site urban boarding alongside specialised facilities for the creative arts, music technology, and sciences. The college maintains an ethos of independence and maturity, using its central London location to prepare students for university and professional life.

Royal Russell School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated on a 110-acre parkland estate in Croydon. Founded in 1853, the school maintains a long-standing royal patronage. The campus features notable architecture, including a chapel and Great Hall designed by Sir Aston Webb. The school provides a broad curriculum with a focus on developing well-rounded individuals through extensive extracurricular programmes in sport, music, and drama. Facilities include a performing arts centre, modern science laboratories, and comprehensive sports pitches.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School is an academically selective, Roman Catholic preparatory school for boys aged four to 13, situated in central London. Founded in 1901 by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, the school is dedicated to training the choristers of Westminster Cathedral, who reside as boarders from Year 4. The school offers a broad 'liberal arts' education alongside a strong tradition in music and competitive sport. As one of only two Catholic cathedral schools in the United Kingdom, it maintains a unique focus on liturgical music and academic excellence within a faith-centred environment.

Marymount International School is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated on a seven-acre campus in Kingston upon Thames. Founded in 1955 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the school maintains a Catholic ethos while welcoming students of all faiths. It was the first school in the United Kingdom to adopt the International Baccalaureate curriculum, offering both the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Facilities include a modern STEAM "Fab Lab" and purpose-built sports and arts spaces, supporting a holistic approach to education.

Westminster School is a historic boarding and day school for pupils aged 13 to 18, located within the Precincts of Westminster Abbey. Refounded by Elizabeth I in 1560, it is the only ancient school to remain on its original site in central London. The school is centred around Little Dean’s Yard and includes notable architecture such as the 14th-century College Hall. It provides a liberal education that encourages independent thought and academic rigour. Facilities include the 13-acre Vincent Square playing fields and a modern sports centre. Girls are currently admitted to the Sixth Form.

Kensington Park School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, situated in the heart of London. Established in 2017, the school operates across two sites on either side of Kensington Gardens: the Senior School in Bayswater and the Sixth Form, housed in a white stuccoed townhouse overlooking the Natural History Museum. KPS prioritises a personalised education with small class sizes and a modern curriculum. The school utilises prestigious local facilities, including Imperial College’s Ethos Sports Centre and Hyde Park, for its extensive sporting and co-curricular activities.

St Paul's Cathedral School is a co-educational preparatory school for pupils aged 4 to 13, situated in the heart of the City of London. Tracing its origins back to 1123, the school was founded to educate cathedral choristers and maintains this link today, providing boarding for the choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral. The school offers a broad curriculum within a Christian ethos, frequently utilising the cathedral for assemblies. Housed in 1960s purpose-built facilities, the school provides a holistic education with an exceptional focus on music alongside strong academic and pastoral foundations.

Guildhouse School is an international co-educational boarding and day school situated in London’s historic Bloomsbury. Occupying a series of late 17th-century Regency townhouses overlooking Bloomsbury Square, the school provides a focused environment for pupils aged 14 to 18. Guildhouse is distinguished by its emphasis on business and entrepreneurship, notably being the only secondary school in Europe to house a professional Bloomberg Lab. It offers A-level and University Foundation programmes designed to prepare students for entry into global higher education, with a curriculum that integrates practical business insights alongside traditional academic subjects.

David Game College is a co-educational day and boarding college for students aged 14 to 22, situated in the heart of the City of London. Established in 1974, the college occupies a substantial Victorian building on Jewry Street, which features fragments of an original Roman wall in its basement. The interior is distinguished by an extensive private art collection displayed throughout the teaching spaces. Facilities include state-of-the-art science laboratories, lecture theatres, and a gym. The college focuses on university preparation, offering GCSE and A-level courses within a mature, independent learning environment.

Westminster Abbey Choir School, situated in Dean's Yard in central London, is a small boarding preparatory school for boys aged 8 to 13. Founded around 1560, it is the only school in the United Kingdom to educate choristers exclusively. Housed in a purpose-built 1915 structure, the school provides a specialised academic curriculum alongside elite musical training. Pupils sing for daily services and significant national events, including royal weddings and coronations. With around 30 pupils, the school maintains a close-knit community focused on choral excellence and preparation for the Common Entrance examinations at 13+.

Mill Hill School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, set within 120 acres of parkland in North London. Established in 1807 by Nonconformist ministers and merchants, the school occupies grounds that formerly belonged to the botanist Peter Collinson. The campus features notable architecture, including the Greco-Roman School House by Sir William Tite and a chapel designed by Basil Champneys. The school provides a broad education that balances academic study with a diverse co-curricular programme, supported by facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and a dedicated theatre.

Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) is an independent fifth and sixth-form college located in South Kensington, London. Established in 1973 by three Cambridge graduates, the college is housed within several converted 19th-century Victorian townhouses on Queen's Gate. MPW offers a broad curriculum of over 40 A-level and 30 GCSE subjects, characterised by a tutorial-style system with class sizes limited to nine students. Specialist facilities include seven science laboratories and extensive creative arts studios for photography, ceramics, and textiles. The college provides both day and boarding options, with en-suite accommodation available at the nearby Queen's Gate House.

North London Grammar School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4 to 18, situated in Hendon. Established in 2006 as the Wisdom School, it relocated in 2014 to its current 50,000-square-foot campus, a former police training centre. The school follows the motto Bonitas, Scientia, Disciplina, emphasising goodness, knowledge, and instruction. Its curriculum focuses on critical thinking and STEAM subjects, and the school is the global host of the International Greenwich Olympiad. Facilities include modern science laboratories and specialised boarding provision for senior boys.