How many American schools in London
Greater London has six full American curriculum schools delivering an explicit US K to 12 programme. The cluster is anchored by The American School in London in St John's Wood, three ACS schools at Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham, TASIS at Thorpe in Surrey and Southbank International School, which delivers IB rather than AP but functions as a frequent backup choice for US families who do not want to commute to Surrey.
Combined enrolment across the six schools sits around 5,500 students. The cluster expanded substantially through the 1980s and 1990s as US financial services firms established London operations, and has been broadly stable in size since the 2000s. Several schools have shifted their high school offer between AP only and AP plus IB Diploma during the past decade.
Outside this core cluster, a number of London UK independents and international schools serve American families. The American School in Switzerland's London-based outpost and a handful of mixed-curriculum schools cover the residual demand, but the AP pathway proper remains concentrated in the six named schools.
AP, IB and the high school track
The American School in London delivers Advanced Placement at high school, in line with most premium US independent schools. ACS Cobham and ACS Egham deliver both AP and the IB Diploma in parallel, with families self-selecting at end of Grade 10. ACS Hillingdon is IB-only at high school despite running US elementary and middle school programmes below. TASIS delivers both AP and IB Diploma at sixth form. The practical upshot is that a US-bound family choosing London has a choice of AP-only, IB-only or genuine dual pathway depending on the school.
SAT and ACT testing is offered on campus at the six AP and IB schools. Most US college counselling teams are staffed by former US admissions officers, which materially helps families with elite US college applications.
Fees and the London tiers
AP track tuition at London American schools divides into two tiers. The mid tier sits at GBP 30,000 to GBP 38,000 a year, covering ACS Hillingdon, ACS Egham, TASIS and the lower grades at ACS Cobham. The premium tier, GBP 38,000 to GBP 47,000, includes the senior grades at The American School in London and the high school years at ACS Cobham. Boarding capacity at ACS Cobham and TASIS adds another GBP 18,000 to GBP 25,000 on top of day fees. For a wider London cost picture, see our London school fees deep dive. Many US families relocating with corporate packages also commission a full London cost-of-living estimate covering housing, schools and net pay.
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Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each serves a different niche of the US family market in London.
The American School in London in St John's Wood is the dominant city centre US school, with most students from American families on three to seven year postings in London finance, law and diplomacy. AP track only, with a notable Ivy League and selective liberal arts college pipeline.
ACS Cobham in Surrey is the largest school in the cluster at around 1,500 students. Strong sport facilities, large boarding cohort and a long IB Diploma record stretching back decades.
ACS Hillingdon in west London serves the corporate population in west Hounslow, Heathrow and Buckinghamshire. IB Diploma only at high school.
ACS Egham in Surrey runs both AP and IB. Smaller cohort than Cobham, easier daily commute from Windsor and Virginia Water.
TASIS England at Thorpe runs a US boarding school model in addition to day classes, with a particular strength in the visual and performing arts.
For families seeking deeper US-specific intelligence, our blog covers the best schools for American families in London in detail.
Where US families live
American families in London cluster into two distinct zones. The St John's Wood, Hampstead and Belsize Park axis anchors The American School in London and the senior school cohort at the UK independents in north-west London. Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea provide a smaller central London core, with most ASL families using the daily school coach service. The Surrey commuter belt around Cobham, Esher, Weybridge and Walton-on-Thames anchors ACS Cobham, ACS Egham and TASIS, drawing families that prioritise green space, larger houses and a private US-style suburban lifestyle. West London around Chiswick, Ealing and Richmond serves ACS Hillingdon and the older grades at TASIS.
Admissions calendar
The American School in London operates a competitive November to January application round for the largest annual intake at the start of each grade. Late applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis but the strongest grades, particularly Grades 5, 7 and 11, fill quickly. ACS and TASIS run rolling admissions throughout the year, with the bulk of new arrivals concentrated in August before the start of the US-aligned academic year. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis when places exist, which is more often the case in Grades 4 to 8 than in the high school grades.
Frequently asked questions
How many American curriculum schools are there in London?
Greater London has six full American curriculum schools delivering an explicit US K to 12 programme. The cluster is anchored by The American School in London in St John's Wood, three ACS schools at Cobham, Hillingdon and Egham, TASIS in Thorpe and Southbank International School, which delivers IB rather than AP but is a frequent backup choice for US families.
Do London American schools offer AP or IB?
The American School in London delivers Advanced Placement at high school. ACS Cobham and ACS Egham deliver both AP and the IB Diploma in parallel, with most US-bound families choosing AP. ACS Hillingdon is IB-only at high school. TASIS delivers both AP and IB Diploma at sixth form.
How much do American curriculum schools cost in London?
AP track tuition at London American schools runs from GBP 30,000 at the entry-tier providers to GBP 47,000 at the senior years of The American School in London. Median high school fees sit near GBP 41,000. Capital levy, transport and trips add another 8 to 12 percent above headline tuition.
Do London American schools follow the US academic calendar?
Yes. The American School in London, ACS, TASIS and similar providers all run a US-style academic calendar from late August through to early June, with Thanksgiving and Spring Break aligned to the US schedule. This matters because it allows clean transfers in and out of US public and private school systems mid-year.
When should I apply for a London American school?
Apply 6 to 12 months ahead for autumn entry. The American School in London operates a competitive November to January round for the largest single intake. ACS and TASIS run rolling admissions but the desirable high school subject combinations fill by spring. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis when places exist, which they often do in Grades 4 to 8.
