Nurseries in London: A Parent's Complete Guide (2026)

London is the largest and most varied childcare market in the country. With more than 8.8 million residents spread across 33 local authorities, from the City to the outer suburbs, the capital draws in working families on a scale no other UK city matches. That demand is reflected in the numbers: there are over 13,500 active registered childcare providers in London, of which more than 5,300 are nursery settings based on non-domestic or domestic premises. The rest are childminders and home childcarers.

For families, London offers extraordinary choice but also real complexity. Fees are the highest in the country, availability varies enormously between boroughs, and the difference between a quiet residential street in Bexley and a busy corner of Hackney is not just postcode deep. A nursery two miles away can cost hundreds of pounds more a month and have a six-month waiting list.

This guide breaks down London's nursery landscape using current Ofsted data, so you can see how provision, quality, and cost vary across the capital before you start booking visits.

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London Nurseries at a Glance

Across London's 5,361 premises-based nursery settings, here is how they are currently rated by Ofsted (data as at 31 August 2025):

Rating	Count	Percentage
Outstanding	348	6.5%
Good	2,362	44.1%
Requires Improvement	58	1.1%
Inadequate	27	0.5%
Not yet rated	2,566	47.9%

A few things are worth pulling out. Just over half of London's nurseries hold a current Ofsted judgement of Good or Outstanding, which is broadly in line with the national picture. The proportion rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate is very small, under 2% combined.

The striking figure is the 47.9% that are not yet rated. London has a high turnover of settings and a steady stream of new openings, particularly in regenerating areas and around new housing. A setting without a rating has often simply not had its first inspection yet, which is common in the first months after opening. It does not signal poor quality, but it does mean you will not have an independent Ofsted assessment to lean on, so an in-person visit carries more weight. If you want to understand what the ratings actually measure, our guide to understanding Ofsted ratings walks through what inspectors look at and why a recent Good can be more reassuring than an older Outstanding.

Compare ratings, filter by borough, and see which settings have places: browse all London nurseries on ChildcareHub.

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Nurseries by Area

London's nursery market is best understood borough by borough, because that is the level at which funding, waiting lists, and local family services are organised. Below is a breakdown by region of the capital, with the number of premises-based nursery settings in each borough.

Central and Inner London

Inner London has the highest fees and, in the central boroughs, the smallest supply relative to demand. Westminster (104 settings) and Kensington and Chelsea (96) have fewer nurseries than their outer-London counterparts, and prices here are the steepest in the country. Camden (120), Islington (128), Hackney (156), and Tower Hamlets (128) sit just outside the centre and combine workplace nurseries with a growing number of community settings. South of the river, Southwark (196), Lambeth (186), and Lewisham (220) offer more choice and a wider range of price points. The City of London itself has only 7 settings, almost all aimed at commuting parents rather than residents.

If you work centrally and want a nursery near the office, places exist but they fill early and command premium fees. Many families in inner London end up choosing a setting close to home in a neighbouring borough instead.

North London

North London is dominated by Barnet, which has 254 nursery settings, the largest count of any London borough. It is a popular area for families thanks to its schools and green space, and the nursery market is correspondingly deep. Enfield (175), Haringey (165), and Harrow (158) round out the north, offering a mix of large day nurseries and smaller independent settings. Fees here are generally lower than in the centre, though Barnet and parts of Haringey can be at the higher end of outer London.

East London

East London has grown rapidly, and its childcare supply has grown with it. Redbridge (212), Havering (192), Newham (179), Waltham Forest (140), Bexley (136), and Barking and Dagenham (132) together form one of the most affordable parts of the capital for nursery care. Newham and Waltham Forest in particular have a young population and strong demand, so popular settings can still have waiting lists despite the overall supply.

South London

South London offers some of the best balances of choice and value in the capital. Bromley (244) and Croydon (235) have the largest markets, both with a suburban character and a wide spread of provision. Richmond upon Thames (206) is one of the more affluent boroughs and its fees reflect that, while Merton (131), Sutton (115), and Kingston upon Thames (88) offer quieter residential settings popular with commuting families. Wandsworth (229) and Greenwich (205), which straddle inner and outer London, are both strong markets with a lot of choice.

West London

West London combines well-connected commuter boroughs with established residential areas. Ealing (231) has one of the largest nursery markets in the capital, followed by Brent (173), Hillingdon (154), and Hounslow (147). Hillingdon and Hounslow benefit from proximity to Heathrow and the major employment around it, which supports a steady demand for flexible and full-time places.

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What Does Nursery Care Cost in London?

London is the most expensive place in England for childcare, and inner London is the most expensive part of London. National figures from the Coram Childcare Survey put the average cost of a full-time (50 hours) nursery place for a child under two at around £239 per week across England, but London sits well above that average, and the central boroughs sit well above the London average.

Here is an indicative guide to monthly costs for a full-time place (50 hours per week) for a child under two:

Area	Estimated Monthly Cost (Under 2s)
Central and inner London (Westminster, K&C, Camden)	£1,800 to £2,400+
Other inner London (Hackney, Lambeth, Wandsworth)	£1,500 to £1,900
Outer London (Ealing, Bromley, Croydon, Barnet)	£1,250 to £1,600
East London (Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Bexley)	£1,100 to £1,450

These are indicative ranges. Individual nurseries set their own fees, and prices can vary significantly even within the same borough. Always ask for the full fee schedule, including registration fees, deposits, meal charges, and late-collection penalties, which can add meaningfully to the headline rate in London.

Costs for children aged two and over are usually lower, and funded hours can reduce the bill substantially from age nine months if you are eligible. For a fuller picture of how fees work nationally, see our region-by-region nursery cost breakdown for 2026 and our guide to childcare costs in England.

Work out what you would actually pay after funded hours are applied: try the ChildcareHub cost calculator.

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Funded Childcare Hours in London

Funded hours in London work the same way as everywhere else in England, but they are delivered through your borough, so the application is national while the place is local.

As of the 2025-26 year, the entitlements are:

• 15 hours per week (38 weeks/year) for all 3 and 4-year-olds, regardless of working status, from the term after your child turns three.
• 30 hours per week (38 weeks/year) for eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age, following the expansion that completed in September 2025. To qualify, each parent generally needs to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Living Wage, and neither parent can earn more than £100,000 per year.

Funded hours cover the childcare itself but not extras such as meals, nappies, or trips, and London nurseries commonly charge for these separately. Some settings "stretch" funded hours across more weeks of the year at fewer hours per week, so ask your provider how they apply the entitlement. In high-cost boroughs, it is also worth checking whether a nursery charges a top-up fee on funded hours, as not all settings offer fully funded places.

You apply through the government's Childcare Choices service and reconfirm your eligibility code every three months. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide to 30 hours free childcare in England.

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What to Look for When Choosing a London Nursery

Check the Ofsted report

Every registered nursery in England is inspected by Ofsted, and reports are published online. Look at the overall effectiveness rating, the comments on safeguarding and the quality of teaching, and the date of the last inspection. In London, where nearly half of settings are not yet rated, pay particular attention to how long a setting has been open and what its leadership team brings from previous roles.

Understand staff ratios

England sets minimum staff-to-child ratios that all registered settings must meet:

• Under 2 years old: 1 staff member to 3 children (1:3)
• Age 2: 1 staff member to 4 children (1:4)
• Age 3 to 4 (with a qualified teacher): 1 staff member to 13 children (1:13)
• Age 3 to 4 (without a qualified teacher): 1 staff member to 8 children (1:8)

These are minimums. Many good nurseries exceed them, particularly for the youngest children, so ask about actual ratios rather than the legal floor.

Weigh up a nursery against a childminder

In a city as expensive as London, the choice between a nursery and a childminder is as much about budget and flexibility as it is about preference. Childminders often cost less per hour and offer a home environment with longer or more flexible hours, while nurseries offer a structured group setting and more staff. Our comparison of nursery versus childminder talks through how to weigh up the trade-offs for your own family.

Visit in person

No amount of data replaces seeing a setting for yourself. Look at the physical environment, watch how staff interact with the children, and ask about daily routines, food, outdoor time, and settling in. In London, where space is at a premium, pay attention to how a setting uses its outdoor area, even if it is small. For a full walkthrough of what to check, use our choosing a nursery checklist.

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Next Steps

• Browse all London nurseries: filter by borough, rating, and type, and see which settings have places.
• Estimate your monthly costs: our calculator factors in funded hours and your working pattern.
• Read our 2026 nursery cost breakdown: see how London compares with the rest of the country.
• Check your funded hours eligibility: find out whether you qualify and how to apply.
• Download our nursery visit checklist: everything to ask and look for when you visit.

Finding the right nursery in a city the size of London takes time and a clear shortlist. Start early, focus on one or two boroughs that work for your commute and your budget, and use the data to narrow your options before you book tours. With more than 5,300 settings to choose from, the right place is out there.