Boarding schools in London and the UK
A boarding school offers pupils accommodation in term time, as full, weekly or flexi boarding. Many take day pupils too. Houseroom lists 116 independent boarding schools, with a median day fee of £35,700 a year. Compare them by borough, ranking, fees and open days.
Updated September 2026
Best-ranked boarding schools
By Houseroom Index score, which weighs exam results, destinations, inspection and value.
- Westminster SchoolCo-ed · Ages 13–18 · Boarding
- St Paul's SchoolBoys · Ages 7–18 · Day & boarding
- Eton CollegeBoys · Ages 13–18 · Boarding
- Brighton CollegeCo-ed · Ages 3–18 · Day & boarding
- Wycombe AbbeyGirls · Ages 11–18 · Day & boarding
- Winchester CollegeCo-ed · Ages 11–18 · Day & boarding
- Tonbridge SchoolBoys · Ages 13–18 · Day & boarding
- Caterham SchoolCo-ed · Ages 11–18 · Day & boarding
- Sevenoaks SchoolCo-ed · Ages 11–18 · Day & boarding
- Concord CollegeCo-ed · Ages 13–18 · Day & boarding
- Cardiff Sixth Form CollegeCo-ed · Ages 14–19 · Day & boarding
- Whitgift SchoolBoys · Ages 10–18 · Day & boarding
- Harrow SchoolBoys · Ages 13–18 · Boarding
- Wellington CollegeCo-ed · Ages 13–18 · Day & boarding
- Canford SchoolCo-ed · Ages 13–18 · Day & boarding
Choosing a boarding school
Full, weekly or flexi
Full boarders stay at school through the week and most weekends. Weekly boarders go home on Friday or Saturday. Flexi boarding lets a day pupil stay a few nights a week. Most schools near London are mainly day schools that offer weekly or flexi boarding.
Fees
Boarding fees are typically well above day fees at the same school. Fees include 20% VAT since January 2025; some schools also add a surcharge for pupils without a British passport.
Boarding schools: common questions
- How many independent boarding schools does Houseroom list?
- Houseroom lists 116 independent boarding schools: 18 girls', 12 boys' and 86 co-ed. Most are in London and the South East.
- How much do boarding schools cost?
- The median top day fee across the boarding schools Houseroom lists is £35,700 a year, including 20% VAT since January 2025. Boarding, lunches, uniform and trips cost extra.
- What is flexi boarding?
- Flexi boarding lets a pupil board for a few nights a week, often on a regular pattern or booked in advance, and pay only for those nights.