Town and Country Prep Schools Guide

From bucolic country preps to schools on the edge of buzzy market towns or slap bang in the centre of a city, there are a myriad of prep school options up and down the UK and within a daily minibus-ride of the Big Smoke. Use our search filters, watch our videos and read our reviews to find the perfect town or country prep school for your child. 

Where to begin?

Whether you are moving away from the capital, looking for a school pencil-flinging distance from a commuter city or seeking delicious isolation for your child in their all-important prep school years, our Town & Country Prep Schools Guide is here to help you on your school search. We’ve brought together some of our favourite prep schools up and down the country – and if you want to know more about a school, we have all the answers.


Main image: Beachborough School. Above: Walhampton School


The best way to get under the skin of a prep school is by visiting in-person. Here, we bring you the lowdown on everything you need to know about school open days and how to make open days really count. Once you have your diary at the ready, check out our ultimate guide to school open-days all over the UK.
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Alphabetical
Offers boarding
Town/City Schools
Country Schools




Aberdour School
Tadworth
Abingdon Preparatory School
Abingdon
Ackworth School Coram House
Pontefract
Aldro
Godalming
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Argyle House Prep School
Sunderland
Aysgarth School
Bedale
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Barfield Prep School
Farnham
Battle Abbey Prep School
Bexhill
Beachborough School
Nr Brackley
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Bede's Prep School
Eastbourne
Bedford Prep School
Bedford
Beechwood Park School
St Albans
Bilton Grange
Rugby
Bishop's Stortford College Prep School
Bishop’s Stortford
Bishopsgate School
Egham
Boundary Oak Prep School
Fareham
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Breaside Preparatory School
Bromley
Bromsgrove Preparatory School
Bromsgrove
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Burgess Hill Prep School
Burgess Hill
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Caterham Prep School
Caterham
Chandlings Prep School
Oxford
Chard Prep School
Chard
Cheam School
Newbury
Chetham's School of Music - Lower School
Manchester
Chigwell Pre Prep & Prep School
Chigwell
Chinthurst School
Tadworth
Churcher's College Junior School
Liphook
City of London Freemen’s School Junior
Ashtead
Claremont Fan Court Junior School
Esher
Claremont Prep School
St. Leonards-on-Sea
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Cranleigh Preparatory School
Cranleigh
Cumnor House Boys' School
South Croydon
Cumnor House School for Girls
Purley
Cumnor House Sussex
Haywards Heath
Dean Close Preparatory School
Cheltenham
Dorset House School
Pulborough
Dragon School
Oxford
Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School
Cranbrook
Edgbaston High Preparatory School
Birmingham
Edgeborough
Farnham
Elstree School
Newbury
Embley Prep School
Romsey
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Feltonfleet School
Cobham
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Frensham Heights Junior School
Farnham
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hall Grove School
Bagshot
Hallfield Prep
Birmingham
Hazelwood School
Oxted
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Highfield and Brookham
Liphook
Hilden Grange Preparatory School
Tonbridge
Holme Grange School Prep
Wokingham
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells
Hurst Preparatory School
Hassocks
Ipswich Preparatory School
Ipswich
Junior King's Canterbury
Canterbury
Kent College Prep School
Tunbridge Wells
King's Ely Prep
Ely
King's Hawford
Worcester
King's School Rochester Junior
Rochester
King's St Alban's
Worcester
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Lancing Prep Hove
Hove
Lancing Prep Worthing
Worthing
Merchant Taylors' Prep
Rickmansworth
Micklefield School
Reigate
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Notre Dame Prep School
Cobham
Oakfields Preparatory School
Upminster
Papplewick School
Ascot
Pennthorpe
Rudgwick
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Reigate St Mary's Preparatory and Choir School
Reigate
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
Somerhill
Tonbridge
Springmead School
Frome
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St Faith's
Cambridge
St John's College School
Cambridge
St Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
St Neot's Preparatory School
Hook
St Peter's Junior School
York
St Swithun's Prep School
Winchester
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
Sutton Valence Preparatory School
Maidstone
TASIS England - Lower and Middle School
Thorpe
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Beacon School
Amersham
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
The Hawthorns School
Redhill
The Marist Prep
Ascot
The New Beacon
Sevenoaks
The Oratory Prep School
Reading
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester
Winchester
The Prep at Denstone College
Uttoxeter
Thornton College Prep
Milton Keynes
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Winterfold
Kidderminster
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford
Wolverhampton Grammar Junior School
Wolverhampton


Abingdon Preparatory School
Abingdon
Ackworth School Coram House
Pontefract
Aldro
Godalming
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Aysgarth School
Bedale
Barfield Prep School
Farnham
Beachborough School
Nr Brackley
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Beechwood Park School
St Albans
Bilton Grange
Rugby
Boundary Oak Prep School
Fareham
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Caterham Prep School
Caterham
Chandlings Prep School
Oxford
Chard Prep School
Chard
Cheam School
Newbury
Churcher's College Junior School
Liphook
City of London Freemen’s School Junior
Ashtead
Claremont Fan Court Junior School
Esher
Claremont Prep School
St. Leonards-on-Sea
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Cranleigh Preparatory School
Cranleigh
Cumnor House Sussex
Haywards Heath
Dorset House School
Pulborough
Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School
Cranbrook
Elstree School
Newbury
Embley Prep School
Romsey
Frensham Heights Junior School
Farnham
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hall Grove School
Bagshot
Hazelwood School
Oxted
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Highfield and Brookham
Liphook
Junior King's Canterbury
Canterbury
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Merchant Taylors' Prep
Rickmansworth
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Notre Dame Prep School
Cobham
Papplewick School
Ascot
Pennthorpe
Rudgwick
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
Somerhill
Tonbridge
Springmead School
Frome
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St Neot's Preparatory School
Hook
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
TASIS England - Lower and Middle School
Thorpe
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
The Hawthorns School
Redhill
The Oratory Prep School
Reading
The Prep at Denstone College
Uttoxeter
Thornton College Prep
Milton Keynes
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford
Aldro
Godalming
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Aysgarth School
Bedale
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Beachborough School
Nr Brackley
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Bede's Prep School
Eastbourne
Bedford Prep School
Bedford
Beechwood Park School
St Albans
Bilton Grange
Rugby
Boundary Oak Prep School
Fareham
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Cheam School
Newbury
Claremont Prep School
St. Leonards-on-Sea
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Cumnor House Sussex
Haywards Heath
Dragon School
Oxford
Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School
Cranbrook
Edgeborough
Farnham
Elstree School
Newbury
Feltonfleet School
Cobham
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hall Grove School
Bagshot
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Highfield and Brookham
Liphook
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells
Junior King's Canterbury
Canterbury
King's School Rochester Junior
Rochester
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Papplewick School
Ascot
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St John's College School
Cambridge
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
TASIS England - Lower and Middle School
Thorpe
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
The New Beacon
Sevenoaks
The Oratory Prep School
Reading
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester
Winchester
The Prep at Denstone College
Uttoxeter
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford


Aberdour School
Tadworth
Argyle House Prep School
Sunderland
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Battle Abbey Prep School
Bexhill
Bede's Prep School
Eastbourne
Bedford Prep School
Bedford
Bishop's Stortford College Prep School
Bishop’s Stortford
Bishopsgate School
Egham
Breaside Preparatory School
Bromley
Bromsgrove Preparatory School
Bromsgrove
Burgess Hill Prep School
Burgess Hill
Chetham's School of Music - Lower School
Manchester
Chigwell Pre Prep & Prep School
Chigwell
Chinthurst School
Tadworth
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Cumnor House Boys' School
South Croydon
Cumnor House School for Girls
Purley
Dean Close Preparatory School
Cheltenham
Dragon School
Oxford
Edgbaston High Preparatory School
Birmingham
Edgeborough
Farnham
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Feltonfleet School
Cobham
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Hallfield Prep
Birmingham
Hilden Grange Preparatory School
Tonbridge
Holme Grange School Prep
Wokingham
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells
Hurst Preparatory School
Hassocks
Ipswich Preparatory School
Ipswich
Kent College Prep School
Tunbridge Wells
King's Ely Prep
Ely
King's Hawford
Worcester
King's School Rochester Junior
Rochester
King's St Alban's
Worcester
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Lancing Prep Hove
Hove
Lancing Prep Worthing
Worthing
Micklefield School
Reigate
Oakfields Preparatory School
Upminster
Reigate St Mary's Preparatory and Choir School
Reigate
St Faith's
Cambridge
St John's College School
Cambridge
St Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
St Peter's Junior School
York
St Swithun's Prep School
Winchester
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sutton Valence Preparatory School
Maidstone
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Beacon School
Amersham
The Marist Prep
Ascot
The New Beacon
Sevenoaks
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester
Winchester
Winterfold
Kidderminster
Wolverhampton Grammar Junior School
Wolverhampton


Why opt for a town or country prep school?

Whilst many children are brought up and used to urban living and schooling in the city, some parents envisage their child bouncing off to a school in a less densely populated and quieter part of the UK – and it’s not hard to see why. Open spaces, less polluted air, fields for running off the stresses of the day, a closer-knit community and night skies away from the bright lights of any nearby city… the list goes on.   

Whilst many benefits cross over between the two types, we've rounded up some of the unique selling points of both a country and town prep school to help you make that all-important decision for your child:

Pros of a countryside prep school:

Connection with nature

 One of the most significant benefits of country prep schools is the opportunity for students to connect with nature. Many of these schools are located on large, picturesque campuses, surrounded by acres of natural beauty. This environment provides a peaceful and tranquil setting that allows students to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and focus on their studies. In addition, being surrounded by nature has numerous benefits for mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety. Studies have also shown that spending time in nature can improve academic performance, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Focus on outdoor activities

 Country prep schools often place a strong emphasis on outdoor activities, such as horse riding, DofE, and, in some schools, even water sports such as sailing and fishing! These activities not only provide a fun and engaging way for students to stay active, but they also teach valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. These activities also allow students to explore and appreciate the natural world and help encourage a sense of environmental responsibility.

Small class sizes

 Another key benefit of countryside prep schools is their small class sizes. Because these schools are typically smaller than their urban equivalents, class sizes tend to be smaller as well. This means that students receive more individual attention from teachers, allowing them to receive personalised instruction and support. Additionally, smaller class sizes make room for closer bonds among classmates which can in turn provide a supportive environment that encourages academic and personal growth.

Pros of a town prep school:

Balanced lifestyle

Town prep schools offer a blend of tranquil surroundings with the conveniences of town life, providing a balanced environment for children to thrive academically and socially. 

Community engagement

Schools in and around market towns often have strong ties to the local community, encouraging students to engage in local events and activities, fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility.

Feeling more clued up on the ins and outs of country and town schooling? Time to get stuck in and start exploring, comparing and applying to some of your personal favourites. Get in touch with our team of educational experts for extra information or explore our unbiased and unique reviews for yourself.


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