How many Montessori schools in London
London has roughly 80 settings that use the Montessori name in some form, the highest density in Europe. The cluster splits sharply. Around 50 are pure early years nurseries running from 18 months to age 5, the classic Casa dei Bambini model. Twenty are combined nursery and lower elementary settings that run to age 8 or 9. The remaining ten or so are full Montessori primary schools that take children through to age 11, including Maria Montessori School Hampstead, The Children's House Upper School in Stoke Newington and Greenwich Montessori. A single London setting, Lyndhurst House in Belsize Park, currently runs an extended Montessori adolescent programme to age 13, the only one of its kind in the UK.
The London market is shaped by a 1990s policy choice. When the UK relaxed the rules on private early years registration, dozens of new Montessori nurseries opened, often run by AMI-trained directors who had previously worked in north American or Indian schools. That wave produced the current depth of the market and explains why London Montessori is unusually well-credentialled by international standards.
AMI, MEAB and the pure Montessori debate
Two accreditation bodies dominate the London Montessori landscape. AMI, the Association Montessori Internationale founded by Maria Montessori herself in 1929, runs the strictest training programme and accredits roughly 14 settings in Greater London. MEAB, the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board run by the Montessori Schools Association, accredits about 35 settings across a wider definition of Montessori practice.
The pure Montessori debate matters more in London than in most cities because a number of nurseries use the word Montessori in their name without holding either accreditation. Parents should check the accreditation register before signing a contract. For an explainer on the difference and what to ask on a school visit see our editorial guide on what Montessori actually means.
Wondering if Montessori is right for your child?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three London Montessori settings based on your child's age, your home borough and your budget. Free, no obligation.
Fees and the London tiers
London Montessori fees divide into three tiers driven by setting size and central-zone location. The value tier sits at GBP 9,200 to GBP 13,500 a year for a typical morning-only Casa dei Bambini place. The mid tier covers full-day Casa dei Bambini and lower elementary at GBP 14,000 to GBP 19,400, the bulk of the market. The premium tier at GBP 19,500 to GBP 24,800 captures the AMI-accredited central-London settings such as Maria Montessori School Hampstead and the Children's House Upper School.
Registration fees of GBP 250 to GBP 600 are non-refundable. Most settings also charge an acceptance deposit equal to one half term's fees on offer, credited to first-term billing. Sibling discounts of 5 to 12 percent are common across the cluster. For a wider London cost picture see our London fees breakdown.
Illustrative example schools
The settings below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds current AMI or MEAB accreditation and at least ten years of recorded inspections.
Maria Montessori School Hampstead, founded 1946 and AMI-accredited, takes children from age 2 through age 12. It is the oldest continuously operating Montessori school in the UK and remains the reference institution for AMI training across Greater London.
The Children's House Upper School in Stoke Newington runs the AMI 6 to 12 elementary programme alongside its early years setting on Kings Avenue. The two-site model preserves continuity from nursery through age 11.
Hampstead Hill Montessori takes children from 12 weeks to age 5 across two campuses. It is the largest Montessori nursery group in north London and a frequent feeder into the local UK independent preparatory schools.
Greenwich Montessori School covers age 2 through age 11 and remains south London's only full primary Montessori. Strong outdoor learning curriculum and a regular feeder into Blackheath High and Colfe's.
Lyndhurst House Montessori in Belsize Park is currently the only London setting offering Montessori adolescent education to age 13, modelled on the Hershey, Pennsylvania erdkinder approach.
Where Montessori families live
Montessori families in London cluster around four neighbourhoods. Hampstead, Belsize Park and Primrose Hill anchor the densest concentration, supported by Maria Montessori School, Hampstead Hill, Lyndhurst and the Stepping Stones group. Notting Hill, Holland Park and Kensington host the central-west cluster around Maria Montessori Children's House and Pembridge Hall pre-Montessori. Stoke Newington, Islington and Dalston form the north-east Montessori belt around the Children's House and Hopscotch group. South London Montessori is sparser but concentrates in Greenwich, Blackheath and Dulwich Village. Across the cluster the demographic skews towards dual-earner professional households who value the unstructured day and the cross-age class model.
Admissions calendar
Most London Montessori settings operate three intake points: September, January and the Easter break. Premium settings often have waiting lists 12 to 18 months long, particularly for the under-three rooms. Apply as soon as a London move is confirmed; deposit-based waiting lists rank applicants by registration date.
Elementary settings run to a more formal timetable. The Children's House Upper School and Greenwich Montessori hold assessment mornings in October and February for the following September. Maria Montessori School Hampstead accepts elementary applications all year subject to space but holds a single formal assessment day in November. For a wider picture of London admissions see the London city hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many Montessori schools are there in London?
Greater London supports roughly 80 settings that operate as Montessori, ranging from morning-only Casa dei Bambini nurseries through to full primary schools. Around 14 hold AMI accreditation and roughly 35 hold MEAB accreditation.
What ages do London Montessori schools cover?
Most London Montessori settings cover ages 2 to 6, the classic Casa dei Bambini cycle. About 20 settings extend to age 8 or 9, and around 10 run a full Montessori primary through to age 11. Only one setting currently offers Montessori adolescent education to age 13.
How much do Montessori schools in London cost?
Fees range from GBP 9,200 a year for a morning Casa dei Bambini place at the value tier to GBP 24,800 a year at the most premium AMI-accredited central London schools. Most full-day settings cluster at GBP 14,000 to GBP 19,400.
What is the difference between AMI and MEAB?
AMI is the international Montessori body Maria Montessori founded in 1929 and runs the strictest accredited training programmes. MEAB is the UK-based accreditation board operating since 1990 with a wider definition of Montessori practice. Both audit settings on a six-yearly cycle.
Do Montessori schools in London follow the EYFS?
All registered London Montessori nurseries are inspected against the Early Years Foundation Stage framework by Ofsted. Most overlay the EYFS learning goals onto a Montessori work cycle. A minority operate as Steiner-Montessori hybrids.
When should I apply for a Montessori school in London?
Apply 12 to 18 months ahead at premium central London settings, especially for the under-three rooms which carry the longest waiting lists. Outer-borough settings often place children within four to eight weeks.
