International Schools in London

Ages 11-18 · IB · Kingston upon Thames, South West London · ~240 students

Marymount is a compelling choice for families who want outstanding IB results in a small, single-sex boarding-capable environment - and who are comfortable with a Kingston location 12 miles from central London. If you need a school in zones 1-2, or a co-educational setting, look elsewhere.

Ages 4-18 · American · St John's Wood · ~1,350 students

If you're relocating from the US and want continuity with the American system - or you're planning a return to the States - ASL is the obvious choice. The facilities are exceptional for central London. Expect a serious waitlist and fees at the top of the London market.

Ages 2-18 · IB · Kensington, Hampstead & Westminster · ~600 students

Southbank is the right call if you want a genuinely central IB school, don't need a single unified campus, and want your child in a small-class environment where they know their teachers well. If consistent facilities across all years matter, look at ISL instead.

Ages 5-18 · French Bac, Bilingual · North London · ~700 students

The headline. A bilingual (French/English) school for ages 3-18, opened in 2015 in the old Brent Town Hall. Five-acre site in Wembley Park, which is unusual for inner London. Two tracks: French Bac, or English-stream leading to the IB.

Ages 11-18 · IB · Marylebone, Central London · ~190 students

Halcyon suits families who want a boutique, parent-founded IB school in central London, don't need a primary option, and are comfortable with a small cohort and no on-site sports. If you're after a large campus with traditional sports provision, look elsewhere.

Ages 2-18 · IB, American · Cobham, Surrey · ~1,400 students

ACS Cobham is a genuinely strong choice for American-curriculum families or families who want the flexibility of both American diploma and IB Diploma - provided you are realistic about the Cobham commute and the transient nature of the community. If you want a stable long-term community or are not tied to an American-style education, explore other options in this guide.

Ages 3-18 · IB · Chiswick, West London · ~500 students

ISL is a strong option for families who want the IB in a genuinely inclusive, non-selective setting - and who value mother-tongue language support above almost everything else. The Chiswick location suits families in Richmond, Kew, and Hammersmith well; it's a harder sell from north or east London.

Ages 13-19 · British, GCSE, A-Level, IB, BTEC · Central London · ~600 students

Bit of an outlier among London sixth forms. Glass tower opposite Parliament, no uniform, first-name basis with teachers. Feels more like a small university than a school. Heavily international — roughly two-thirds of students are from overseas, around 60 nationalities. Boarding is in the same building as classrooms, which the kids either love or find claustrophobic.

Ages 3-18 · American, IB · Thorpe, Surrey · ~650 students

TASIS is the right choice for American-curriculum families who want boarding in a genuinely beautiful campus setting and are prepared for the Thorpe location. For day families travelling from central London, the journey of 45-plus minutes each way is the trade-off that makes or breaks the decision.

Ages 2-18 · IB · Barnet, North London · ~400 students

Dwight works best for families who want a warm, non-selective school where teachers genuinely know your child, and who are comfortable with a Barnet location and a multi-campus setup. If you need central London proximity or a single unified site, look at Southbank or Halcyon instead.

Ages 3-18 · French, IB, British · Bloomsbury, Central London · ~700 students

Jeannine Manuel is the right school if you want genuine French-English bilingualism in London - not a French school with an English add-on, but a true bilingual programme with serious academic standing. If you are not committed to French as a language of instruction, the school's distinct ethos may feel like a constraint rather than a strength.

Ages 13-19 · British, A-Level · North London · ~250 students

A small private sixth form (with a smaller GCSE section) in Belsize Park. Famous for art and creative subjects. Part of Dukes Education.

Ages 4-18 · IB, American · Hillingdon, West London · ~600 students

ACS Hillingdon is worth a serious look if you want strong IB results, campus space, and flexibility in exit qualifications - and you're realistic about being in Hillingdon. The bus network covers a lot of London, but this is a suburban school and the daily journey from zone 1 or 2 is an honest 40-50 minutes each way.

Ages 3-18 · IB · Marylebone, Central London · ~150 students

ICS London suits families who want the IB in a genuinely small, central London setting - and who are comfortable with two campus sites and a school of around 150 students. If cohort size or sporting facilities matter, Southbank or Halcyon are stronger options at a similar price.

Ages 3-18 · German, Abitur · West London · ~800 students

It's the real thing. A German state-curriculum school on a beautiful Thames-side site in Petersham, ending in the German Abitur (with an IB option). Not a "German-flavoured international school."

Ages 3-18 · French · South Kensington, Central London · ~3,450 students

The Lycee is the only option in London for families committed to the French national curriculum at full scale - and at these fees, it is extraordinarily good value. If your child will sit the Baccalaureate or you are relocating between French-speaking countries, this is an easy decision. If you are not tied to the French curriculum, explore the bilingual and IB alternatives in this guide before committing.

Ages 3-19 · Swedish, Gymnasium · South London · ~400 students

The basics. Independent Swedish school in Barnes, by the Thames. Teaches the Swedish curriculum in Swedish, with English layered in from Year 1. Ofsted Outstanding (last three inspections). Roughly half the pupils are long-term London residents; the rest are expat families on a posting.

Ages 16-18 · British, A-Level · East London · ~600 students

Free state sixth form. Selective. Two-year A-level only, no Year 7-11. Often called "the Eton of the East End" because Eton and a handful of other independent schools helped set it up and still partner with it.