
The Best Private Schools in London and Where to Live Nearby
A large proportion of the UK’s best private schools are found in London, making London a hotspot for wealthier families looking to give their child(ren) an individual-focused curriculum with more diverse facilities, increased educational opportunities and the likelihood of better career earnings.
If you’re on the search for some of the best private schools in London, you’ll most likely be looking for one nearby or a private school nearby to a London development if you’re looking to relocate.
Here is our complete guide to the top private schools in London and some of the best developments to live in nearby.
Westminster School
Westminster School is a comprehensive school for boys, located in the heart of London in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. As one of the UK’s leading academic schools, Westminster School regularly tops exam results league tables, which is no surprise considering it has been the school of choice for several centuries.
With a mixed sixth form, Westminster School is open to both males and females studying AS and A-Levels.
Nine Elms
Nine Elms is a popular property development, perfectly located for riverside living. Situated between Vauxhall and Battersea, Nine Elms is just a 35-minute walk from Westminster School, with a number of shops, restaurants and bars nearby.
With an updated infrastructure, Nine Elms offers superb transport links, with nearby offices, entertainment and parks, making it a great choice for families and residents of all ages. The Nine Elms development also features a cinema, fitness suite, private dining room and 24-hour concierge service, exclusive to Nine Elms residents.
Travel time from Nine Elms to Westminster School: 23 minutes.
St Paul’s School London
St Paul’s School is a selective independent school for boys aged 7 to 18 years, situated in Barnes. After opening in 1509, St Paul’s School has since built up a tremendous reputation as a school for children to confidently grow into young adults.
The school creates an academic environment tailored to the specific needs of your child and to equip them with the skills they need to take them far in their journey to adulthood.
Brentford
Within view of the River Thames and on London’s doorstep, Brentford is away from the busy rush of the central but is directly connected to the city to become a significant social, cultural and commercial district.
The accommodation in the Brentford development combines beauty and function in a space made for living.
While there currently aren’t direct public transport links available, St Paul’s School is a mere 20-minute drive from the upcoming Brentford project or a 25-minute cycle.
Travel time from Brentford to St Paul’s School: 20 minutes.

North London Collegiate School
North London Collegiate School is an independent educational institution situated in Edgware, in the London Borough of Barnet. Ranked as one of the best schools in the UK, North London Collegiate School is an independent day school for girls aged 4-18.
The private school offers a friendly and warm atmosphere, glorious facilities and extensive extra-curricular activities. Each girl is given complete support during her time at North London Collegiate School.
West Hampstead Square
West Hampstead Square is an exciting development located in West Hampstead, with a variety of shops, restaurants and office spaces in the proximity. Described as the first development of its kind to come to West Hampstead, West Hampstead Square is a fantastic addition to the local area.
Arguably the best-connected site in London, West Hampstead Square offers fantastic travel connections, with West Hampstead Underground, Overground and Thameslink stations just a stone’s throw away.
The development of West Hampstead Square is a short commute away from North London Collegiate School, from West Hampstead Underground to Stanmore Station (via the Jubilee Line), followed by a short 15-minute walk from Stanmore Station to the school.
With the JOHNS&CO West Hampstead office located on West Hampstead Square, you’ll be able to very easily visit us for any queries or issues.
Travel time from West Hampstead Square to North London Collegiate School: 39 minutes.
Godolphin & Latymer School
Godolphin & Latymer is an independent school for girls aged 11-18, situated in west London just a short walk from Hammersmith Broadway and boasting a surprisingly serene six-acre campus close to the river in the west of London.
The school motto is to best equip and inspire students to flourish in the outside world. Although, with high demand, entry is on a competitive basis, with only 120 places available each year. In 2020, Godolphin & Latymer School was voted the Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year.
Brentford
The exciting up and coming development of Brentford is ideal for pupils travelling to and from Godolphin & Latymer School.
Brentford comprises a range of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each tastefully designed with an open-plan layout. Each apartment incorporates a custom-designed kitchen with on-trend concrete worktops and top-of-the-range kitchen appliances.
You can either take a 15-minute drive from the Brentford development or, alternatively, take a 30-minute bus ride from Market Place Brentford (Stop BN) which stops on Iffley Road, a mere two-minutes walk to the school.
Travel time from Brentford to Godolphin & Latymer School: 15 minutes.
King’s College School – Wimbledon
Informally referred to as KCS, King’s or KCS Wimbledon, King’s College School is an independent day school for boys aged 7-18 and girls aged 16-18, located in the very heart of Wimbledon, next to the Green.
As one of the most academically successful schools in the world, King’s College School is a forward-thinking and innovative setting to learn in with exceptional academic standards.
Embassy Gardens
When you think of Embassy Gardens, you’ll most likely think of the world-first Embassy Gardens sky pool allowing you to swim in mid-air above the city. With quality design from some of the world’s best architects, planners and designers and high specifications, Embassy Gardens is the place to be!
For adults, Embassy Gardens has an exclusive gym and spa, workstations, meeting rooms, and the Sky Deck swimming pool & Orangery – the perfect location to kick back, relax and enjoy a glass or two of prosecco.
Meanwhile, for the youngsters, the exclusive private cinema makes for the perfect location to watch regular screenings of films and sporting events. For students of King’s College School in Wimbledon, the commute is around a 30-minute drive or a 45-minute commute from Vauxhall to Wimbledon (via South Western Railway) followed by a 20-minute walk to King’s College School or a 10-minute bus ride from Wimbledon (Stop L) to Edge Hill (Stop K).
Travel time from Embassy Gardens to King’s College School: 45 minutes.

City of London School for Boys
The City of London School is another leading academic day school in London, focused on a high level of achievement, excellent examination results, and impressive progression to top universities.
Located in Central London, City of London School for Boys can be found in the shadow of the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and offers a riverside position. With a superb location, there are some fantastic transport links nearby, including Blackfriars Underground Station, Monument Underground Station and Bank Underground Station, as well as London Blackfriars, Cannon Street and City Thameslink train station.
Embassy Gardens
Embassy Gardens is, again, a suitable location for travelling to and from the City of London School for Boys.
Following a short bus ride from Covent Garden Market East Side to Parliament Square (Stop A) via the 87, you’ll need to then take the District Line from Westminster to Mansion House, followed by a short 4-minute walk to the City of London School for Boys.
Travel time from Embassy Gardens to the City of London School for Boys: 30 minutes.
City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls is an independent school for girls between the ages of 7-18, with the aim to empower young women, champion future thinkers and celebrate the power of difference.
The school has a commitment to professional learning and research, which is most evident in their fantastic GCSE pass rates, with 83 per cent of pupils achieving an A* in 2019. It is also defined by the enthusiasm of staff and girls, their diversity and inclusivity, and their happy, unpretentious wit and fun.
Wardian
The Wardian development combines state-of-the-art city living and verdant urban oasis, in a luxury space with architecturally designed suites, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, with spacious private balconies adorned with plants and succulents.
Residents of Wardian will become exclusive members of The Wardian Club, giving you access to top-of-the-range facilities including a gym, 25-metre swimming pool, cinema, sky lounge, restaurant, shops and observation deck.
For travelling from Wardian to the City of London School for Girls, you’ll just need to take the Jubilee Line from Canary Wharf to London Bridge, then the Northern Line from London Bridge to Moorgate.
Travel time from Wardian to City of London School for Girls: 32 minutes.
Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill
Located in Wembley, Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is a fully bilingual international school, with a pivotal focus on educating pupils to become responsible, creative and principled global citizens.
As one of the best-performing schools in the area, pupils of Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill achieve fantastic exam results every year. In 2020, 100% of pupils passed their exams, 97% passed with a merit grade, while 62% passed with a distinction.
West Hampstead Square
The nearest London development to Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is West Hampstead Square, a new development with vintage features throughout, with a focus on modern living inspired by local heritage.
The drive from West Hampstead Square to Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill is 23 minutes. However, if public transport is slightly more convenient, then the journey is cut short to 22 minutes, from West Hampstead to Wembley Park via the Jubilee Line.
Travel time from West Hampstead Square to Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill: 22 minutes.
Interested in Buying or Renting in London?
If you are interested in any of the London developments we have listed above, or if you have any other questions about a specific area of London, we would be more than happy to assist.
Get in touch with us to find out more about our luxury apartments to rent or buy in London.