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Boarding in and around London gives a child the city on the doorstep with a structured residential week behind it. To see the wider field of senior schools first, start with our international schools in London directory, then use the shortlist below. These are London and Greater London schools we could confirm run genuine boarding provision, from full to weekly and flexible, with named houses and resident pastoral staff rather than a vague mention of accommodation.
Boarding patterns differ more than families expect, so decide early whether you want full, weekly or flexible boarding, since that shapes the shortlist as much as curriculum does. To filter London schools by boarding type, stage and curriculum, the school finder is the quickest route, and you should confirm current boarding places directly with each school.
The shortlist
DLD College London
DLD College London is one of very few schools offering boarding in central London itself, opposite the Houses of Parliament, with students living in single ensuite rooms on the campus. It is a senior college for ages 13 to 19 weighted heavily to the sixth form, which makes it a strong fit for an older student who wants city centre boarding alongside A Levels, BTEC or foundation study.
Mill Hill International
Mill Hill International is a school for international pupils aged 13 to 18, set in a large green campus in north London about half an hour from the centre. It offers full, weekly and part boarding across several houses, with a focus on preparing international students for GCSE and A Level, so it suits a family wanting space and pastoral structure within Greater London.
Marymount International School London
Marymount is an all girls IB World School in Kingston upon Thames, around twelve miles from central London, where roughly a quarter of students board across its halls under resident houseparents and a nurse. As a small, highly international Diploma school it suits a girl who wants the breadth of the IB with a close knit residential community near, but not inside, the city.
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is a long established boys' school in south London that runs boarding houses alongside its much larger day roll, with international boarders a notable part of the residential community. For a family wanting an historic London institution with extensive facilities and a senior boarding option, it earns a place on the shortlist.
Westminster School
Westminster School sits beside Westminster Abbey in the heart of the city and offers boarding alongside its day places at senior level. It is highly academically selective with strong university destinations, so it is a demanding option, but for the right student it pairs central London boarding with one of the country's best known academic records.
How we chose
We listed only schools in London or Greater London that we could confirm run real boarding provision with residential houses and pastoral staff, and we noted the type of boarding each offers because full, weekly and flexible patterns suit different families. We did not rank or rate the schools, since the right choice depends on your child's age, curriculum, the boarding pattern you need and the daily fit of the house. Boarding places are limited and fill early, so confirm current availability and the exact pattern directly with each school.
Boarding pattern is the decision most families underestimate. Full boarding gives the steadiest routine and suits children whose parents live overseas or travel often, while weekly boarding lets a child come home at weekends and keeps a London family close. Flexible or occasional boarding can ease a long commute on busy days without committing to a full term away. When you visit a house, ask about the ratio of resident staff to students, the weekend programme for full boarders, the policy on phones and study hours, and how the school supports a younger or first time boarder through the settling in weeks. For international families, ask early about guardianship, since many schools require a United Kingdom based guardian for students under eighteen.
Find a London boarding school for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and the boarding pattern you want and the school finder returns a matched London shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Boarding fees combine tuition with a residential charge, so the total sits well above day fees and varies with full, weekly or flexible boarding. Because the figures move every year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in London and confirm the exact boarding figure, plus deposits and guardianship where required, with each school.
To go further, use the school finder, browse the full London schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for the best sixth forms and university preparation in London.
Common questions
DLD College London offers boarding in central London, Mill Hill International offers full, weekly and flexible boarding in north London, and Marymount International School offers boarding for girls in Kingston upon Thames. Dulwich College and Westminster School also run senior boarding alongside day places. Confirm current boarding availability with each school.
Yes, although it is rare. DLD College London provides residential places on its campus opposite the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster School offers boarding in the heart of the city. Most other boarding options sit in Greater London, within about thirty minutes to twelve miles of the centre.
Schools offer different mixes of full, weekly and flexible or part boarding. Mill Hill International and Marymount both publish full, weekly and flexible options, while a senior college such as DLD is geared to full boarding. Decide which pattern you need first, as it shapes the shortlist.
Boarding fees add a residential charge to tuition, so the total is well above day fees and depends on the boarding pattern. Figures change each year, so we keep current bands in our international school fees in London guide and recommend confirming the exact figure plus deposits with each school.
Yes. Mill Hill International and Marymount are built around international students, and DLD College London enrols students from many countries. International families should also ask about guardianship requirements and English entry expectations when they apply.