Ladbroke Grove. Portobello Road. Holland Park. There’s a lot to love about our bustling little section of West London. Parents and students alike love walking the leafy streets on their way to our school, and since our founding in 2003, we’ve created an inclusive, community-focused environment for all ages.
Nestled in the heart of Notting Hill on Lancaster Road, our accreditation as a Thinking School provides a learning environment for children aged 4-13 that champions both academic success and the joy of creativity.
For families searching for a prep school in West London, we offer small classes capped at 22, a distinctive thinking-skills curriculum, and a strong record of leavers’ offers from London’s most competitive senior schools.
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Why Families Choose Notting Hill Prep
Parents comparing prep schools in Notting Hill and West London are usually weighing up the same things: will my child be known as an individual? Will they be stretched academically? And will they be genuinely happy walking through the door each morning?
NHP was built around exactly this balance.
Academic Excellence Taught Differently
Every year group at NHP is taught ‘learning habits’ that instil flexible thinking, resilience, and metacognition skills alongside a comprehensive curriculum spanning English, mathematics, science, humanities and French.
Philosophy for Children (P4C) runs through the whole school, and lessons draw on Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats to build critical thinking from Reception onwards.
Pastoral Care
NHP’s well-being programme is led by a dedicated team, including an in-house school counsellor, and is built around mindfulness practice, drop-in counselling and the school’s own NHP Rabbit with Habits self-care journal.
Creativity and Individuality
Drama, music and art sit alongside academic subjects, not beside them. Pupils take part in poetry and public speaking competitions, and the school’s grounds – including a woodland-style adventure playground with rooftop beehives and resident hens – are part of the everyday learning environment rather than an occasional treat.
A Genuine Community
22-sized classrooms mean every child is known well by their teachers. Pupils build links with the local community through initiatives such as tea parties with elderly neighbours and a shared choir with other local primary schools and take on real responsibility through the school’s house and council system.
A Prep School at the Heart of West London
Notting Hill Prep sits in one of London’s most sought-after school catchments and is a natural fit for families across Holland Park, Kensington, North Kensington and Westbourne Park, as well as further afield in Shepherd’s Bush and Chiswick.
| Mode of Travel | Nearest options | Distance from school |
| Underground | Ladbroke Grove station (Circle, Hammersmith & City) | 2-minute walk |
| Bus | 7, 23, 52, 70 and 288 run from Ladbroke Grove
295 from Cambridge Gardens |
2-minute walk
4-minute walk |
Parking
Lancaster Road and Ladbroke Grove have plenty of parking spaces for pick-ups and taxis.
The school currently operates within the ‘Low’ parking rate area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Here is a breakdown of the rates Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 6:30 pm:
| Vehicle Type | Hourly Rate |
| Fully electric or zero emission | £3.10 |
| Petrol or Petrol-Hybrid | £4.10 |
| Diesel or Diesel-Hybrid | £4.70 |
Academic Excellence & Outcomes
In 2025, from 196 senior school applications that progressed to interview, NHP pupils secured an impressive 163 offers or waitlist places, along with 13 scholarships across academic, creative and all-round categories. Recent leavers’ destinations have gone on to schools including:
- 11+: The Harrodian, Francis Holland (Regent’s Park), City of London School, Highgate, Godolphin & Latymer, Ibstock Place, JAGS, South Hampstead
- 13+ (day and boarding): St Paul’s, King’s College Wimbledon, Brighton College, Marlborough College, Wellington College, Harrow, St Edward’s Oxford, Bradfield College, Bedales, Latymer Upper, UCS, Westminster, Radley
Award-Winning Education
Our approach has been recognised nationally, not just locally:
- NACE Challenge Award (2026)
- Most Innovative Preparatory School 2026 – England
- Best Place Space Award (2026)
- Featured and reviewed by the Good Schools Guide, Tatler Schools Guide, Talk Education and Muddy Stilettos
- Member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) and the Independent Schools Council (ISC), and inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
Pastoral Care & Pupil Experience
The ISI’s January 2025 inspection team observed that pupils “are respectful and make positive friendships,” are “aware of the need for inclusion” and “treat each other with kindness and empathy.”
Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported by our pastoral care staff who work closely with class teachers, and pupils learning English as an additional language (EAL) are monitored individually to ensure steady progress.
Beyond the school day, pupils take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including coding, chess, languages, drama, dance and sport. Older pupils take on leadership roles through the house system, and Year 8 pupils benefit from a dedicated careers programme featuring talks from visiting professionals – from journalists to medics.
