American Schools London: A Guide for Expat Families
Written by Sascha Pendigrast, Education Consultant at London Relocation | Last updated: November 2026
THE SHORT ANSWER
There are five American schools in and around London, run by three school groups: The American School in London (ASL) in St John’s Wood, ACS International Schools in Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon, and TASIS The American International School in England in Thorpe, Surrey. Only ASL is in central London. Day fees for 2026/27 run from around £12,000 to £50,000 a year including VAT.
- ASL fills up first. Apply by 15 January for a place the following August.
- ACS and TASIS accept applications all year, and their suburban campuses come with bigger homes and gardens.
- Want the IB as well as AP? ACS Cobham, ACS Hillingdon and TASIS offer both. ACS Egham is IB only, alongside its own high school diploma.
- The school you choose largely decides where you’ll live, so plan the two together.
Choosing an American school in London is really two decisions in one: the school, and the neighbourhood that comes with it. A family at ASL usually lives in a flat or townhouse in north-west London. A family at ACS or TASIS often rents a house with a garden in Surrey and relies on the school bus.
This guide compares the American schools in London side by side, covering curriculum, 2026/27 fees, admissions dates and where US families actually live, so you can make both decisions at once.
American schools in London at a glance
There’s no single best American school in London. The right one depends on your child’s age, the diploma you want and how you’d like to live. Here’s how the five campuses compare.
| School and location | Grades (ages) | Diplomas | Day or boarding | Day fees 2026/27 incl. VAT | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The American School in London (ASL), St John’s Wood | Pre-K to Grade 12 (4–18) | US high school diploma, AP | Day | £43,224–£49,932 | 15 January (first round) |
| ACS Cobham, Surrey | Pre-K to Grade 12 (2–18) | ACS High School Diploma, AP, IB Diploma | Day; boarding Grades 8–12 | £11,820–£39,960 | Rolling |
| ACS Egham, Surrey | Pre-K to Grade 12 (4–18) | ACS High School Diploma, full IB continuum | Day | £15,540–£37,440 | Rolling |
| ACS Hillingdon, west London | Pre-K to Grade 12 (3–18) | ACS High School Diploma, AP, IB Diploma | Day | £15,240–£36,000 | Rolling |
| TASIS The American International School in England, Thorpe, Surrey | Pre-K to Grade 12 (4–18) | US high school diploma, AP, IB Diploma | Day; boarding Grades 8–12 | £15,600–£37,170 | Rolling |
Fees are annual day tuition from each school’s 2026/27 fee page and include 20% VAT, which has applied to private school fees in England since January 2025. Joining fees, buses and exam fees are extra.
The American School in London (ASL)
The American School in London (ASL) is an independent, co-educational day school in St John’s Wood that teaches a US curriculum from Pre-K (which ASL calls K1) to Grade 12. Founded in 1951, it is the only American school in central London, and for many US families it is the first school they look at.
Curriculum and diploma
ASL follows a US curriculum throughout, with a wide range of AP courses in high school and college counseling for both US and UK universities. Students graduate with a US high school diploma. ASL does not offer the IB and has no boarding.
Admissions and waitlist
Applications for 2027/28 are open now. Families who complete their application by 15 January are considered in the first and most advantageous round, with decisions by the end of February. Applications completed by 15 March hear by 15 April, and after that ASL considers applications on a rolling basis as places allow.
Expect teacher recommendations, two and a half years of school reports and, for Grades 5 to 12, a recent standardized test such as the ISEE, SSAT or MAP. Popular grades often fill in the first round, and families who miss out are usually held in a wait pool rather than a numbered waitlist. Your child needs the right to live and study in the UK, as ASL does not sponsor visas. Full details are on ASL’s admissions page.
ASL fees and tuition for 2026/27
ASL’s published tuition, including VAT, is:
- Lower School (K1 to Grade 4): £43,224
- Middle School (Grades 5 to 8): £47,988
- High School (Grades 9 to 12): £49,932
New students also pay a one-off capital fee of £2,400, and a £3,000 deposit is due on acceptance and set against second-semester tuition. The two-way school bus costs £4,990 a year. Need-based financial aid is available.
Where ASL families live
Most ASL families live within a short walk, bus or Jubilee line ride of the school, in St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Primrose Hill or Hampstead. You get a short school run and central London on your doorstep, but you pay Zone 1 and 2 rents, and family houses with gardens are scarce.
London Relocation note
Our advice: don’t sign a lease before you have an offer. ASL decisions arrive between late February and mid-April, and London homes are usually listed only six to eight weeks before they’re available, so there’s time to do things in the right order.
ACS International Schools: Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon
ACS runs three of the American international schools in and around London, all to the west and south-west of the city. All three teach a US-style curriculum, award the ACS High School Diploma (accredited by NEASC and recognised by North American universities) and offer the IB Diploma. AP courses are available at Cobham and Hillingdon. Admissions are rolling, so you can apply at any point in the year and start mid-year if there’s space.
Each campus charges a £330 application fee and a £1,500 enrolment deposit, and runs door-to-door and shuttle buses. Egham and Hillingdon add a one-off campus fee of £1,680 in the first year.
ACS Cobham
ACS Cobham is the largest of the three, on a 128-acre campus in Surrey about 15 miles from central London. It takes children from age 2 to 18 and offers the IB Diploma, AP and the ACS High School Diploma. It is also the only ACS campus with boarding, for Grades 8 to 12. Day fees for 2026/27 run from £11,820 for a half-day Pre-K place to £39,960 for Grade 12, and boarding with tuition costs £56,940 to £69,060.
ACS Egham
ACS Egham, on a 20-acre campus in Surrey, is the only school in England offering all four IB programmes, from the Primary Years Programme to the Diploma and the Career-related Programme. Students also earn the ACS High School Diploma, but there is no AP. It is a day school for ages 4 to 18, with 2026/27 fees of £15,540 to £37,440.
ACS Hillingdon
ACS Hillingdon sits inside Greater London, about 14 miles from the centre near Uxbridge. It is a day school for ages 3 to 18 and offers the IB Diploma, the IB Career-related Programme, AP and the ACS High School Diploma. Fees for 2026/27 run from £15,240 to £36,000.
TASIS The American International School in England
TASIS England, founded in 1976, sits on a 46-acre campus in Thorpe, Surrey, about 45 minutes from central London and 25 minutes from Heathrow. The school uses both “The American School in England” and “The American International School in England”, but most families simply call it TASIS.
It teaches Pre-K to Grade 12 (ages 4 to 18) and offers a US high school diploma, AP and the IB Diploma side by side. Boarding is available for Grades 8 to 12 at £69,650 a year including tuition. Day fees for 2026/27 run from £15,600 for Pre-K to £37,170 for Grades 9 to 12. Admissions are rolling, and school buses and a shuttle from Virginia Water station serve the surrounding area.
Families tend to rent in Egham, Virginia Water or Sunningdale, which are also convenient for ACS Egham.
Other schools American families choose
Not every US family picks an American school. Some choose an IB international school such as Dwight School London in north London, founded in 1972 by Dwight School New York, especially if they may move again. Others, often on longer stays, choose a British private school; see our guide to the best private schools in London. State schools are free, but places depend on your address.
Outside the London area, the other American schools in England are run by the US military’s education agency on US Air Force bases such as RAF Lakenheath and RAF Alconbury. Unlike the other American schools in the UK covered here, they are open only to eligible military-connected families.
Where to live near each American school
The school you choose sets the radius for your home search. These are the areas US families most often rent in near each school.
| School | Areas families rent in | Typical school run | LR area guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL | St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Hampstead, Primrose Hill | Walk, or a short bus or Jubilee line ride; ASL school buses | St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Hampstead, Primrose Hill |
| ACS Cobham | Cobham, Esher, Oxshott | Short drive or ACS door-to-door bus | Nearby suburbs |
| ACS Egham and TASIS | Egham, Virginia Water, Sunningdale | Short drive or school bus; TASIS shuttle from Virginia Water | Nearby suburbs |
| ACS Hillingdon | Ickenham, Ruislip, Northwood | Short drive or ACS bus | Nearby suburbs |
Near the Surrey campuses, rent buys considerably more space, but most families find they need a car. For a wider view, see our guide to the best areas in London for families.
American, international or British school: how to choose
Choosing between schools in London for American students comes down to how long you’ll stay and where you’ll go next.
| American school | International (IB) school | British school | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuity | US grades, credits, AP and a US diploma | IB travels well; ACS and TASIS offer both | GCSEs and A levels; different structure |
| Cost | About £12,000 to £50,000 a year | A similar range | Private fees are similar; state schools are free |
| Location | One central campus (ASL); the rest in the suburbs | Spread across London | Everywhere; state places depend on your address |
| Moving back to the US | Smoothest, especially in Grades 9 to 12 | Works well; check how credits transfer | Fine for younger children; harder in high school |
| Best for | Assignments of one to four years, older children | Families who may move again | Longer stays, younger children |
The US and English systems differ in structure, exams and how high school ends. A US family planning to return within a few years, especially with a child in high school, usually finds an American school the safer choice.
When to apply to an American school in London
Start as soon as your move is likely, not when it’s confirmed. This is the timeline for an August start.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 12 to 18 months before | Shortlist schools and book open days or virtual tours |
| From 1 November | ASL opens teacher recommendation forms and the applicant questionnaire |
| By 15 January | Complete your ASL application for the first round |
| End of February | ASL sends first-round decisions |
| By 15 March | Last date for ASL’s second round, with decisions by 15 April |
| Any time | Apply to ACS or TASIS; admissions are rolling, but the schools advise applying early as some grades fill |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Secure your home near the school |
How US grades map to UK years
American schools in London place children by US grade, so this matters mainly if you consider a British school. English year groups are set by age on 31 August.
| US grade | UK year (England) | Age during the year |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K | Reception | 4–5 |
| Kindergarten | Year 1 | 5–6 |
| Grade 1 | Year 2 | 6–7 |
| Grade 5 | Year 6 | 10–11 |
| Grade 6 | Year 7 | 11–12 |
| Grade 9 | Year 10 | 14–15 |
| Grade 12 | Year 13 | 17–18 |
How London Relocation helps US families
We plan school and home together. Our education consultant helps you shortlist schools and time your applications, and our home search team finds you a home within easy reach of the school, timed around admissions decisions. With our Accompanied Home Search you can view homes near the school in a single day. Read more about how we help families moving to London, or start with our guide to moving to London from the US.
Plan school and home together: book a call with our education consultant.
FAQ
Where do American kids go to school in London?
Many attend The American School in London in St John’s Wood, the only American school in central London. Others go to ACS Cobham, Egham or Hillingdon or to TASIS England in Surrey, and some choose an international or British school.
How much does it cost to attend The American School in London?
For 2026/27, ASL tuition is £43,224 to £49,932 a year including VAT, depending on grade. New students also pay a one-off £2,400 capital fee, and the school bus is extra.
Is the American School in London prestigious? Is it a private school?
Yes, it’s an independent, fee-paying school. Founded in 1951, ASL is one of the best-known American schools outside the US, and its graduates go on to leading US and UK universities. Many grades are oversubscribed.
Are American schools better than UK schools?
Neither is better overall. American schools give continuity and an easy return to the US. British schools suit longer stays and children who want to settle into English life.
How many American schools are there in and around London?
Five campuses run by three groups: ASL in central London, three ACS International Schools campuses (Cobham, Egham and Hillingdon) and TASIS England in Thorpe, Surrey.
Where should we live to be near ASL, ACS or TASIS?
For ASL, St John’s Wood, Maida Vale, Primrose Hill or Hampstead. For ACS Cobham, Cobham, Esher or Oxshott. For ACS Egham and TASIS, Egham, Virginia Water or Sunningdale. For ACS Hillingdon, Ickenham, Ruislip or Northwood.