5 Best Preschools in London for a Fun and Engaging Early Education
Finding childcare that fits your family’s routine and meets your child’s needs feels like a massive puzzle. Working parents need flexible hours, while others focus on securing a spot that feeds into competitive prep schools.
I know firsthand how stressful the search gets, especially if you’re balancing work and parenting in the city. You want a safe, engaging space where your toddler can thrive and build confidence.
So I looked closely at various local options to help make your decision a bit easier. Here’s a breakdown of the top early years settings across the city to help you find the right match.
How much does preschool cost in London?
The average cost of preschool or nursery for a child in London without subsidies heavily depends on the care type and your child’s age.
| Care Type | Average Monthly Cost |
| Full-Time Nursery (Under 2 years) | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Full-Time Nursery (3–4 years) | £1,000 – £1,700 |
| Registered Childminder | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Part-Time Nursery (25 hours) | £600 – £1,200 |
1. Marylebone Village Nursery
Website: marylebonevillagenursery.co.uk
Address: 27 Oldbury Place
Contact: +44 7713 473891 | 0207 8709 810 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Marylebone Village Nursery offers a unique dual curriculum that seamlessly combines Montessori methods with Forest School outdoor learning.
They support this strong educational base with Mandarin language immersion and fresh, organic vegetarian meals cooked on-site. The setting even donates ten percent of all fees directly to Leukaemia UK.
What I love most is how their team undergoes a rigorous Employment Check Life Cycle to ensure top-tier safeguarding.
I recently spoke with a fellow parent who sends her daughter here, and she couldn’t stop raving about the dedicated parent app that tracks daily milestones.
The 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM schedule also offers incredible peace of mind for standard working hours.
But because the Forest School philosophy involves daily outdoor adventures, children are frequently outside in cold and wet conditions. Parents must purchase and maintain specific weather-proof gear to keep their kids properly dressed.
2. Les Chatons – The French Nursery School
Website: leschatonsnurseryschools.com
Address: 64 Pembroke Road
Contact: +44 (0)777 5566361 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Early multilingual immersion is the standout feature at Les Chatons, exposing young learners directly to English, French, and Spanish every day.
They accept infants from just three months old up to five years, offering parents long-term consistency. Plus, you can easily customize your child’s attendance by choosing morning or full-day sessions based on your family’s routine.
The school holds a ‘Good’ rating from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), giving parents reassurance about the quality of care.
When it comes to cost, I love that families enrolling multiple children receive a modest 5% sibling discount. They also bill transparently for only the 46.4 weeks the nursery is actively open.
However, opting for the term-time schedule means navigating roughly 18 weeks of nursery closures throughout the year. You’ll need to arrange backup childcare or pay extra for their holiday clubs during these breaks.
3. Young England Kindergarten
Website: youngenglandkindergarten.co.uk
Address: St. Saviour’s Hall, St. George’s Square
Contact: 020 7834 3171
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM | Friday, 8:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Young England Kindergarten pairs a rich heritage dating back to 1963 with an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating.
Their newly refurbished location offers a modern learning space just moments away from Hyde Park. Here, children can enjoy daily access to expansive lawned gardens and private courtyards for energetic play.
I love that their experienced team actively guides families through prep school admissions to help graduates secure spots in prestigious independent schools.
You can register your child on the waiting list right from birth, with places offered a full year in advance. This structured timeline helps families plan their early years education smoothly.
A major downside is their strict withdrawal policy requiring a full term’s written notice. Missing this window automatically incurs a heavy penalty equal to an entire extra term’s fees.
4. Les Petites Etoiles Bilingual Montessori – Tufnell Park
Website: lpe.uk/en/visit-tufnell-park/
Address: St George Hall, Crayford Road
Contact: 020 7099 0452
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Les Petites Etoiles pairs an authentic, child-led Montessori curriculum with a strong trilingual immersion program in French, English, and Mandarin.
The educators here follow a strict one-person one-language method to keep language acquisition completely natural. I dropped by a similar bilingual setup recently and saw exactly how effective visual tools are for non-speakers settling in.
They manage adjustment periods carefully, starting with a two-hour parent visit to ease the transition.
Beyond the curriculum, every child sits down to a freshly prepared, organic four-course lunch daily, removing the stress of packing meals. The setting also goes beyond standard UK safety regulations, ensuring all staff hold pediatric first aid training.
Unfortunately, the nursery doesn’t disclose queue sizes or specific waiting list positions. This lack of transparency makes it tough to predict a concrete admission date for your child.
Customer Reviews
“Excellent Bilingual Daycare and Preschool”
This is one of the best daycare nursery / pre-school in the area for families sensitive to providing a bilingual education. The both curriculums, activities, trained staff are all excellent. The “family-sized” environment adds a human touch and provide great attention to children which makes the difference for early years. Big plus is the quality of homemade/organic food.
- Eléonore McCandless | Google Reviews
5. Little Angels Nursery
Website: littleangels247.com
Address: 3 Perkins Square, Southwark
Contact: 020 3576 0144
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Little Angels Nursery operates in a warm, residential-style setting that genuinely feels like a home away from home.
They serve fresh, chef-prepared meals daily that strictly follow Caroline Walker Trust guidelines without any added salt or sugar. Children even participate in interactive cooking classes to build healthy eating habits early on.
Their curriculum aligns tightly with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to ensure children are fully school-ready. The team also helps parents manage the transition from milk to solid foods at the infant’s own pace.
I love that parents can spread their government-funded childcare entitlement across all 52 weeks of the year for predictable, continuous support.
However, the nursery demands a strict minimum attendance of three full days a week, which must include a Monday or Friday. This rigid schedule offers very little flexibility for families seeking lighter part-time care.
Customer Reviews
“Fantastic Development and Confidence Boost”
Little Angels offers a small, informal family environment for children which suited our little one who was a little timid when I first returned to work. Two years on, our child’s confidence has developed fantastically well, making important first friendships with peers. He’s speech & counting is excellent and his imagination has developed too . The range of food is fantastic and our little one has thrived in the preschool area particularly.
- Sara Maloney | Google Reviews
“Wonderful Family-Like Learning Environment”
We had a great experience with Little Angels. Our son has been with them from the age of 7 months to almost 5 years. We have experienced the baby room, toddler room, and pre-school. Little Angels provides a family-like environment with loving staff, fresh homemade meals, and many learning and development opportunities. The nursery is always clean and well-maintained, with plenty of toys, games, and books. Additionally, there is a little park/playground next to the nursery, which adds to the wonderful experience for the children.
- Elena Klimova | Google Reviews