Tatler crowns the best private schools in Britain: Kate’s alma mater, remote Scottish institution disliked by King Charles and ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ all make the list – as well as places boasting scuba diving lessons, an F1 simulator and ‘no uniform’
Tatler has published its Schools Guide 2027, an annual ranking of the UK's leading private schools, celebrating institutions attended by royals and celebrities alongside their standout offerings, from marine biology trips to Dragon's Den-style business schemes. The list highlights the huge range in cost and character across Britain's independent education sector, from wellbeing-focused day schools to remote, adventure-oriented boarding institutions, underscoring the enduring appeal and social cachet of top private schools despite ever-rising fees.
Brighton College tops the list as the most expensive at £69,561 a year, prized for its focus on kindness alongside academic rigour, while Eton College follows closely, set to welcome Prince George this month at roughly £63,000 annually. Other notable entries include Harrow, whose alumni include Winston Churchill and Benedict Cumberbatch, with 124 students winning places at QS World Top Ten universities; St Paul's Girls' School, which has no uniform and sent 49 pupils to Oxbridge; Benenden, attended by the Princess Royal, known for pool parties and lockdown care packages; and Westminster School, currently transitioning to full co-education by 2030.
- Tatler names Britain's top private schools for 2027 guide
- Brighton College priciest at £69,561; Eton, Harrow also featured
- List spans royal favourites, "Hippie Hogwarts" and Westminster's co-ed shift
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Tatler, the glossy British society magazine, has published its annual Schools Guide, ranking the country's top private (fee-paying) schools. These are independent institutions parents pay to send their children to, often costing tens of thousands of pounds a year, and long associated with Britain's royal family, aristocracy and elite.
The guide includes well-known names such as Eton College, which counts many prime ministers and royals among its former pupils, and Harrow, whose alumni include Winston Churchill. It also features schools linked to the Princess of Wales and other royals, alongside smaller or more unconventional schools known for their distinctive approaches to teaching and pastoral care.
The ranking matters because it reflects the scale, cost and social significance of Britain's private education sector, which remains a hotly discussed topic given the size of school fees and the advantages some argue it confers on pupils who attend.