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Who these schools are for
The five primarily American schools in Greater London serve a distinct family profile: typically US passport holders on a three to seven year corporate, government or finance posting, expecting to return to the US for high school graduation or university. The schools are structurally optimised for that family. The calendar matches the US (mid-August start, mid-June finish, Thanksgiving and US holidays observed), the curriculum aligns with US university admissions (SAT, ACT, AP, US high school diploma), and the college counselling teams are deeply networked with US admissions offices.
Two adjacent profiles benefit. First, internationally mobile families whose next posting might be the US and who want to keep their child's curriculum aligned with that future. Second, dual nationality families wanting an American-flavoured education in the UK for cultural or identity reasons. For families with no US connection and no expectation of US university, a British independent or IB international school is usually the better fit, and our independent vs international schools guide covers that wider decision.
The five American schools, ranked
The American School in London (ASL)
The flagship American school in central London and one of the highest-profile US-style schools outside the United States. K through 12, all-through campus in St John's Wood. AP courses are deep (over 20 offered), SAT and ACT preparation is fully integrated, and the college counselling team includes former US admissions officers. Strong destinations to US Ivy League, top-50 US universities and selective UK universities. The most expensive school in our list, with senior fees above GBP 38,000 plus extras.
ACS Cobham International School
The largest of the ACS schools and a strong dual-curriculum option for American families wanting AP and IB optionality at sixth-form. Full continuum from preschool to Grade 12. Outstanding sports and arts facilities on a 128-acre campus. Cohort is internationally diverse but with a substantial US contingent. Particularly suited to families based in Surrey, Hampshire or near Heathrow corporate campuses. Strong US university destinations alongside UK and continental European options.
TASIS The American School in England
Smaller than ACS Cobham with a stronger arts and humanities tilt. Boarding option available, which is rare for American schools in the UK and useful for families with shifting work locations. Triple sixth-form pathway (US diploma, AP, IB Diploma) gives flexibility. Particularly attractive to families wanting a more contained, less corporate campus environment.
ACS Hillingdon International School
Sister school to ACS Cobham, west of London. Smaller cohort and a more contained campus, but the same curriculum framework. Easier daily commute for families based in west London, Buckinghamshire or near Heathrow. Strong fit for working parents at Heathrow-adjacent corporate campuses (BP, GSK, Diageo). Similar academic and university outcomes to Cobham but on a smaller scale.
ACS Egham International School
The third ACS campus, south-west of London. Smaller and quieter than Cobham. The cohort is the most internationally diverse of the three ACS campuses. Strong destinations record with a slight tilt towards continental European universities alongside US. Good fit for families in Surrey or near Windsor and Royal Holloway.
Compare the American schools side by side
Put ASL, ACS Cobham and TASIS next to each other on fees, AP offerings, US university destinations and SEN provision with our free compare tool. Most American families shortlist three of the five before tours.
AP, IB and the US high school diploma
All five schools award a US high school diploma. The differences emerge at sixth-form (Grades 11 and 12), where the curriculum stacking varies. ASL is AP only, with no IB Diploma offered. The four ACS schools and TASIS offer both AP and IB Diploma, letting families choose between two distinct sixth-form routes.
For families set on US university admissions, AP and the US high school diploma combined remain the most efficient route. AP courses translate directly into US college credit at many institutions, and US admissions offices know how to read an AP transcript. The IB Diploma also performs well in US admissions but is one extra layer to translate for the admissions officer.
For families considering UK or European universities alongside US options, the IB Diploma travels more easily than AP, particularly into continental European universities (Netherlands, Spain, Italy) where IB recognition is well established. The dual-curriculum option at ACS and TASIS lets families keep that flexibility open through Grade 10 and decide at sixth-form.
Fees and what they actually include
ASL is the most expensive school in our list, with senior fees above GBP 38,000 in Grades 11 and 12. The ACS schools and TASIS sit at GBP 30,000 to GBP 36,000 for the same age group. Add 20 to 30 percent for the standard extras (registration, capital levies, books, exam fees, transport, lunches, US college counselling fees, AP exam fees, trips) and the honest all-in for an ASL senior place is GBP 45,000 to GBP 50,000 per child. ACS and TASIS land at GBP 36,000 to GBP 42,000 all-in.
Two specific extras catch American families. First, the AP exam fee structure means a child taking five APs in Grade 12 will face several hundred pounds of exam fees. Second, US college counselling at the top schools is bundled into tuition, but families using external US college consultants on top should budget GBP 5,000 to GBP 20,000 across the application year. See our fees database for current numbers and our hidden fees guide for the line items that tend to surprise.
Where to live for each school
For ASL families, the natural family belt is St John's Wood, Maida Vale, Marylebone and the southern reaches of Hampstead. Walking distance from the school is the most-prized configuration. Housing inventory is tight but the lifestyle (Regent's Park, the Wallace Collection, Lord's) is among the most family-friendly in central London.
For ACS Cobham families, the dominant choice is Cobham, Oxshott, Esher and Weybridge in Surrey. The lifestyle is suburban: large gardens, golf clubs, the M25 corridor and a shorter daily school run. Working parents commute to central London (40 to 60 minutes by train) or to corporate campuses around Heathrow.
For ACS Hillingdon families, the catchment is Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Chalfont, Iver, Denham and Ruislip. Closer to Heathrow than central London. The Chiltern Line and Metropolitan Line give reasonable London access for working parents.
For ACS Egham families, Englefield Green, Virginia Water, Sunningdale and Windsor are the natural family belts. Mix of suburban and semi-rural lifestyles, with Royal Holloway and Windsor Great Park nearby.
For TASIS families, Thorpe, Egham, Wentworth and Virginia Water form the housing belt. Similar lifestyle to ACS Egham. Boarding option lets some families commute to weekly boarding from a different home.
US university outcomes
All five schools produce strong US university outcomes. ASL leads on Ivy League and top-25 destinations, with the deepest pipeline of US admissions relationships. ACS Cobham and TASIS produce a broader spread across top-50 universities, with strong destinations to the University of California system, the public Ivies, NESCAC liberal arts colleges and the major research universities. Hillingdon and Egham produce similar outcomes at slightly smaller scale.
For families aiming at specific US institutions, the differences narrow. A strong student at any of the five will receive serious consideration at US universities they target. The schools function as launchpads more than predictors. Our moving to London with kids guide covers the broader university decision context for relocating families.
One specific structural advantage these five schools share is the depth of their US college counselling teams. Most allocate a dedicated counsellor per 30 to 50 students in Grades 11 and 12, with counsellors who have either worked in US admissions offices or have been doing the job long enough to know individual admissions officers by name. The schools host annual visits from 50 to 80 US college admissions teams. By contrast, a child applying to US universities from a British independent school typically receives strong but less specialised guidance, and the US application timeline is layered on top of UK-focused careers advice. For a family confident the destination is the US, the American schools' college counselling depth is a meaningful structural advantage.
Cohort and culture
The five American schools share a recognisable cultural feel: US-style assemblies, school spirit weeks, homecoming-style events, Thanksgiving observances, and a more openly celebratory school culture than the typical British independent. For US families, this cultural continuity is one of the most valued aspects of the choice. For dual-nationality families and non-US families, it is a meaningful adjustment from the more reserved British school tradition.
Cohort composition varies. ASL is the most US-dominant cohort, with approximately 60 to 65 percent US passport holders. ACS Cobham, by contrast, is the most internationally diverse, with US families a substantial but not dominant cohort group. TASIS and the smaller ACS campuses sit between. Families wanting a strongly American immersion lean ASL; families wanting US-style structure with international diversity lean ACS Cobham. Visit both before deciding, ideally during a school day rather than an open evening.
Admissions timing
The American schools are more accessible than the British independent top tier, but ASL is the tightest of the five. Prime entry years (Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 9) at ASL register 12 to 18 months in advance. ACS Cobham accepts applications for September entry as late as the preceding April for most year groups. TASIS, Hillingdon and Egham have rolling admissions and can typically accept Grade 11 starters with two to three months of notice. Our admissions timing guide covers the full timetable.
FAQ
How many American schools are there in London?
Five primarily American-curriculum schools: ASL, ACS Cobham, ACS Hillingdon, ACS Egham, and TASIS England.
Which is the best American school in London?
ASL leads on profile, central London location and Ivy League destinations. ACS Cobham produces equally strong outcomes with broader curriculum optionality. The right choice is driven by location and curriculum preference.
Do these schools prepare students for US universities?
Yes. All five offer AP courses, SAT and ACT preparation, and dedicated US college counselling. Roughly half to two-thirds of graduates attend US universities.
Can my child also apply to UK or European universities?
Yes. All five schools support UK and European applications alongside US ones, and the four schools offering IB Diploma make that route particularly accessible.