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




Ackworth School Coram House
Pontefract
ACS Cobham International School - Lower and Middle School
Cobham
ACS Egham International School - Early Childhood and Lower
Egham
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Ardvreck School
Crieff
Austin Friars Prep School
Carlisle
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Barfield Prep School
Farnham
Barnard Castle Preparatory School
Barnard Castle
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
Belhaven Hill School
Dunbar
Bilton Grange
Rugby
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Bryanston Prep
Blandford Forum
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Cargilfield
Edinburgh
Casterton - Sedbergh Preparatory School
Carnforth
Caterham Prep School
Caterham
Chandlings Prep School
Oxford
Chard Prep School
Chard
Cheam School
Newbury
Cheltenham Prep School
Cheltenham
Chetham's School of Music - Lower School
Manchester
Chigwell Pre Prep & Prep School
Chigwell
Claremont Fan Court Preparatory School
Esher
Claremont Prep School
St. Leonards-on-Sea
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Cranleigh Preparatory School
Cranleigh
Crown House Preparatory School
High Wycombe
Cumnor House Sussex
Haywards Heath
Dean Close Preparatory School
Cheltenham
Dragon School
Oxford
Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School
Cranbrook
Durham High School for Girls Prep
Durham
Edgeborough
Farnham
Elstree School
Newbury
Embley Prep School
Romsey
Eton End School
Datchet
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Feltonfleet School
Cobham
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Frensham Heights Junior School
Farnham
Giggleswick Prep School
Settle
Godolphin Prep
Salisbury
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hallfield School
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
King's Ely Prep
Ely
King's Hawford
Worcester
King's School Rochester Pre-Prep & Preparatory School
Rochester
King's St Alban's
Worcester
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Lancing Prep Hove
Hove
Lancing Prep Worthing
Worthing
Longacre School
Guildford
Longridge Towers Prep School
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Maidwell Hall
Maidwell
Merchant Taylors' Prep
Rickmansworth
Moulsford Prep School
Wallingford
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Old Buckenham Hall
Ipswich
Papplewick School
Ascot
Parkside School
Cobham
Pennthorpe
Rudgwick
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Pocklington Prep School
York
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Queen Mary's Prep School
Thirsk
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Repton Prep
Derby
Rose Hill School
Tunbridge Wells
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
Somerhill
Tonbridge
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St Faith's
Cambridge
St Hugh's School
Faringdon
St Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
St Neot's Preparatory School
Hook
St Peter's York 8-13
York
St Swithun's Prep School
Winchester
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
Sunninghill Prep School
Dorchester
Sutton Valence Preparatory School
Maidstone
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
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
Truro School Prep
Truro
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
Wells Cathedral Prep School
Wells
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Westfield School Junior House
Newcastle upon Tyne
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford


Ackworth School Coram House
Pontefract
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Ardvreck School
Crieff
Barfield Prep School
Farnham
Beachborough School
Nr Brackley
Beaudesert Park School
Stroud
Beechwood Park School
St Albans
Belhaven Hill School
Dunbar
Bilton Grange
Rugby
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Bryanston Prep
Blandford Forum
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Casterton - Sedbergh Preparatory School
Carnforth
Caterham Prep School
Caterham
Chandlings Prep School
Oxford
Chard Prep School
Chard
Cheam School
Newbury
Claremont Fan Court Preparatory School
Esher
Claremont Prep School
St. Leonards-on-Sea
Clayesmore Preparatory School
Blandford Forum
Cranleigh Preparatory School
Cranleigh
Cumnor House Sussex
Haywards Heath
Dulwich Cranbrook - Prep School
Cranbrook
Elstree School
Newbury
Embley Prep School
Romsey
Frensham Heights Junior School
Farnham
Giggleswick Prep School
Settle
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hazelwood School
Oxted
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Highfield and Brookham
Liphook
Junior King's Canterbury
Canterbury
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Maidwell Hall
Maidwell
Merchant Taylors' Prep
Rickmansworth
Moulsford Prep School
Wallingford
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Old Buckenham Hall
Ipswich
Papplewick School
Ascot
Parkside School
Cobham
Pennthorpe
Rudgwick
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Queen Mary's Prep School
Thirsk
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Repton Prep
Derby
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
Somerhill
Tonbridge
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St Hugh's School
Faringdon
St Neot's Preparatory School
Hook
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
The Oratory Prep School
Reading
The Prep at Denstone College
Uttoxeter
Thornton College Prep
Milton Keynes
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford


ACS Cobham International School - Lower and Middle School
Cobham
Amesbury
Hindhead
Ardingly College Preparatory School
Haywards Heath
Ardvreck School
Crieff
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
Brambletye School
East Grinstead
Bruern Abbey Prep
Bicester
Bryanston Prep
Blandford Forum
Caldicott School
Farnham Royal
Cargilfield
Edinburgh
Cheam School
Newbury
Cheltenham Prep School
Cheltenham
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
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Giggleswick Prep School
Settle
Godolphin Prep
Salisbury
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Gordonstoun Prep School
Elgin
Gresham's Prep School
Holt
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil
Highfield and Brookham
Liphook
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells
Junior King's Canterbury
Canterbury
King's School Rochester Pre-Prep & Preparatory School
Rochester
Lambrook School
Nr Ascot
Maidwell Hall
Maidwell
Moulsford Prep School
Wallingford
Mount Kelly Prep
Tavistock
Old Buckenham Hall
Ipswich
Papplewick School
Ascot
Pinewood School
Shrivenham
Pocklington Prep School
York
Port Regis School
Shaftesbury
Reddam House Junior School
Wokingham
Repton Prep
Derby
Saint Felix Prep Department
Southwold
Saint Ronan's
Hawkhurst
St Andrew's Prep Eastbourne
Eastbourne
St Hugh's School
Faringdon
St Peter's York 8-13
York
Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall
Clitheroe
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sunningdale School
Sunningdale
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Downs Malvern
Malvern
The Elms
Malvern
The Oratory Prep School
Reading
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester
Winchester
Walhampton School
Lymington
Wellington College Prep
Sandhurst
Wells Cathedral Prep School
Wells
Westbourne House School
Chichester
Windlesham House
Pulborough
Witham Hall Preparatory School
Stamford


ACS Cobham International School - Lower and Middle School
Cobham
ACS Egham International School - Early Childhood and Lower
Egham
Austin Friars Prep School
Carlisle
Badminton School Prep
Westbury-on-Trym
Barnard Castle Preparatory School
Barnard Castle
Battle Abbey Prep School
Bexhill
Bede's Prep School
Eastbourne
Bedford Prep School
Bedford
Cargilfield
Edinburgh
Cheltenham Prep School
Cheltenham
Chetham's School of Music - Lower School
Manchester
Chigwell Pre Prep & Prep School
Chigwell
Clifton College Preparatory School
Clifton
Crown House Preparatory School
High Wycombe
Dean Close Preparatory School
Cheltenham
Dragon School
Oxford
Durham High School for Girls Prep
Durham
Edgeborough
Farnham
Eton End School
Datchet
Exeter Junior School
Exeter
Feltonfleet School
Cobham
Framlingham College Prep School
Woodbridge
Godolphin Prep
Salisbury
Godstowe School
High Wycombe
Hallfield School
Birmingham
Hilden Grange Preparatory School
Tonbridge
Holme Grange School Prep
Wokingham
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells
Hurst Preparatory School
Hassocks
Ipswich Preparatory School
Ipswich
King's Ely Prep
Ely
King's Hawford
Worcester
King's School Rochester Pre-Prep & Preparatory School
Rochester
King's St Alban's
Worcester
Kingswood Prep School
Bath
Lancing Prep Hove
Hove
Lancing Prep Worthing
Worthing
Longacre School
Guildford
Longridge Towers Prep School
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Pocklington Prep School
York
Rose Hill School
Tunbridge Wells
St Faith's
Cambridge
St Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate
St Peter's York 8-13
York
St Swithun's Prep School
Winchester
Summer Fields
Oxford
Sunninghill Prep School
Dorchester
Sutton Valence Preparatory School
Maidstone
Taunton Prep School
Taunton
The Marist Prep
Ascot
The New Beacon
Sevenoaks
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester
Winchester
Truro School Prep
Truro
Wells Cathedral Prep School
Wells
West Buckland Prep
Barnstaple
Westfield School Junior House
Newcastle upon Tyne


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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