The 5 Best Daycares in London for Playtime That Pays Off
Good childcare in London can be hard to secure, especially when your workday hasn’t even started yet. Between endless waiting lists and conflicting nursery schedules, securing a spot that keeps your child safe and engaged takes real effort.
So, we’ve reviewed local credentials, operating hours, and early learning frameworks across various boroughs to narrow down the top choices. Here’s our guide to the best daycare in London for busy parents.
How much does daycare cost in London?
A typical daycare in London costs between £75 and £120 per day, depending on your child’s age and whether you require full-time or part-time care.
| Option | Typical Cost |
| Under 2 Years (Babies) | £80 to £120 per day (£350 to £500 per week) |
| 2 Years Old (Toddlers) | £75 to £95 per day (£300 to £450 per week) |
| 3 to 4 Years Old (Preschool) | £60 to £85 per day (£250 to £400 per week) |
1. Little Angels Nursery
Website: https://www.littleangels247.com/
Address: 3 Perkins Square, Southwark
Contact: +442038722241
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
At Little Angels Nursery, families get small-group care in converted residential homes, with enrollment capped at 39 children per location. That cosy scale lets key workers give every child personal attention during daily routines.
The daily schedule blends structured reading with hands-on messy play, including dedicated art and outdoor sessions.
Plus, regular progress meetings keep parents connected to their child’s developmental milestones.
For added peace of mind, ongoing staff training helps maintain high safety standards.
When we spoke to their staff about intake schedules, they confirmed that every team member undergoes thorough background checks before entering the classroom.
The downside is that the Southwark location adds commute time for parents living in outer boroughs, and the centre closes on inset days.
Customer Reviews
They take the time to understand each child’s individual needs and personalities
From the very beginning, the staff at Little Angels have shown remarkable care, professionalism, and dedication. They take the time to understand each child’s individual needs and personalities, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere that makes every child feel valued and confident.
- Lina U| Google Review
The staff showed exceptional care, ensuring he was in safe, nurturing hands
The staff showed exceptional care, ensuring he was in safe, nurturing hands. Regular updates kept us connected to his progress. Proactive communication included prompt incident reports and weekly plans.
The warm environment fostered joy, with parent activities building community. Daily Famly app updates brought reassurance. Our son still wants to visit his old friends and teachers.
- J. Andre Pires Google Review
2. Busy Bee Nursery School
Website: https://www.buzzbuzz.org/
Address: 19 Lytton Grove, Putney
Contact: 020 8789 0132
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:05 AM to 12:15 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:20 PM
Lucy and Sally run Busy Bee Nursery School as an independent family school for children aged 2 to 5. Their programme includes specialist sessions in ballet, drama, karate, music, sport, and yoga throughout the week.
The bright classrooms open onto two private gardens, giving children space for outdoor play and physical activity.
Highly qualified teachers also create a warm setting that feels like a home away from home.
For parents comparing preschools, their timetable works well for families who don’t need all-day nursery care.
The trade-off is the shorter schedule, as core hours finish by 3:20 PM. The nursery also doesn’t accept children under two.
Customer Reviews
My daughter is so happy going there, she has thrived significantly
My daughter is so happy going there, she has thrived significantly.
Staff are so lovely, warm, carrying to every child, communicating well with parents and giving advices = pure experts in education.
Low staff turnover rate says everything!
Thank you to all staff for make us so happy and providing such a solid education to my daughter.
- Milena Stanic | Google Review
We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Busy Bee at Lytton Grove!
We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Busy Bee at Lytton Grove! From day one, the staff have been incredibly warm, patient, and caring — they truly go above and beyond to make every child feel safe and loved. Our children settled in so quickly thanks to their thoughtful support and nurturing environment.
- Renata Greiciunaite | Google Review
3. Mini Bees Childcare
Website: https://minibeeschildcare.co.uk/
Address: 1-9 Sidworth Street, Hackney
Contact: 020 3719 7002
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Full-time professionals who struggle to align corporate shifts with early nursery closures need generous operating hours.
Mini Bees Childcare supports working families with extended coverage and flexible sessions, operating from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM year-round. That extra buffer helps parents manage long commutes across the city without rushing through traffic.
Activities follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum with a strong focus on school readiness and child-led learning.
Daily nutrition is a major highlight, as an in-house Italian chef prepares fresh meals using organic ingredients to fuel active toddlers.
The catch is that multiple branches can confuse some clients.
Still, for Hackney parents needing long hours and funded place options, this nursery delivers superb practical value.
Customer Reviews
She was clearly very loved and well cared for by all the staff
Our daughter has sadly just left Minibees after nearly a year as we’re moving out of the area. She started at 11 months old and we’ve been so impressed by how much she’s developed during her time there.
She was clearly very loved and well cared for by all the staff, who put on such engaging activities for the children. We also really valued the parent sessions throughout the year. We’d absolutely recommend the nursery to anyone
- Sophie Catherine | Google Review
She loved going there 🙂
They have been very supportive in all the milestones like walking and saying her first words.
She loved going there 🙂
Very good communication and a lot of activities that also involved the parents making it very easy to meet other families.
We will really miss them as now we are moving away and we have had to leave.
- P | Google Review
4. Owls Daycare
Website: https://www.owlsdaycare.co.uk/
Address: Basement Flat, 18A College Parade, Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park
Contact: 020 7372 5122
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Early childhood education doesn’t always include formal science activities, so curious toddlers often stick to standard sensory toys. Owls Daycare brings something different by adding weekly, hands-on science experiments to their early learning programme.
Here, children explore natural phenomena while also taking part in weekly Spanish lessons to build early language skills.
The Queen’s Park centre also has a safe outdoor space, consistent staffing throughout the year, and organic lunches and snacks included.
On top of that, all team members have enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, and several staff members are trained in paediatric first aid. These features give parents extra peace of mind while their children explore and learn.
However, the reservation fee is strictly non-refundable, and cancelling a place requires two full calendar months’ written notice.
Customer Reviews
Our son started when he turned one and he settled in so quickly
Owls was recommended to us by a friend and we are so happy that we chose to send our baby there. Our son started when he turned one and he settled in so quickly. He really loves it there and is excited to go in in the mornings. The nursery is family run and that really shows. The team is consistent, they all know the babies so well and they take the time to tell you about their day at pick up.
- Clare M | Google Review
At Owls Daycare, the baby room care is exceptional
At Owls Daycare, the baby room care is exceptional. Our daughter started there when she was around a year old, so coming back again with our second child felt really special and a little emotional for us. We were genuinely excited, because we already knew how wonderful Owls is, and it made us so happy that our son now gets to spend his days with the same incredible people our daughter grew to love so much.
- Janina Vilsmaier | Google Review
5. Notting Hill Nursery School
Website: https://nottinghillnurseryschool.co.uk/
Address: 26A Artesian Rd.
Contact: 020 3771 2772
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (8:30 AM drop-off on request)
Notting Hill Nursery School provides care for children aged 1 to 5, with balanced morning and afternoon sessions. Their structured programme covers key personal, physical, and artistic development in a secure environment.
Their highly qualified teachers hold full paediatric first aid certifications and have passed comprehensive background checks.
Families who enrol their children for five full days receive a helpful 15% discount on afternoon fees, which can reduce the overall cost.
Plus, the setting offers optional early drop-off at 8:30 AM, which adds convenience for parents with morning commutes across West London.
Unfortunately, core hours finish at 3:30 PM. Additionally, securing a place requires a steep £2,000 deposit.
Customer Reviews
Notting Hill’s best kept secret!
We came across the NHN by chance and could not reccomend it more highly – it is run by a wonderful family, who are fully immersed in the day to day running of the nursery, ensuring the highest of standards, which is very rare for central London. Soraiya and Denise are simply wonderful, loving, unbelievably professional … any child starting their schooling life here is immensely lucky!!! Notting Hill’s best kept secret!
- Marie-Louise Chaldecott | Google Review
The staff are very kind, engaging and professional
My son started at the Notting Hill Nursery in September this year and we are very impressed with how much he has learned in this couple of weeks. He is just 2 years old and he keeps surprising us pointing the numbers, letters and saying which one is it, he can also say the name of animals that I never taught him before (he doesn’t watch TV).
The staff are very kind, engaging and professional, the individual attention they give to each child is just beautiful.
- Celia | Google Review