Research from Santander Mortgages revealed that around a fifth of parents move home to secure a place at a good school, with most willing to relocate up to 25 miles away. Securing a good education is a major priority for a large number of parents and many start thinking about schools before their child is born.
If you’re in the position of looking for areas to live with high-quality schools, central London is home to some of the best schools in the country. So, if you are looking to move, areas such as Victoria, Pimlico and Westminster will be ideal.
There are many good nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, independent schools, and colleges of further education close to Victoria and we’ve provided an overview of them below.
For parents in search of the best local schools in Victoria, the independent day and boarding institution, Westminster School, is described as one of the UK’s ‘leading academic schools’. This is not to be confused with Westminster City School, a secondary school for boys.
Grey Coat Hospital, a well-regarded state secondary school for girls, is also in the vicinity, while St Peter’s Eaton Square C of E Primary School enjoys a good reputation. For further education, the Victoria Centre, which forms part of Westminster Kingsway College, is nearby.
For a more comprehensive list of the best nursery, primary and secondary schools in Victoria, see below:
Fountain Court, Buckingham Palace Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 9SU
Miss Daisy’s aim was to create a village nursery school in the heart of London, where the education offered is a balance between formal learning and learning through play.
In the most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024, Miss Daisy’s was awarded Outstanding.
There are also Miss Daisy’s nurseries in Belgravia, Brook Green, Chelsea, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge.
Chelsea Day Nursery and Preschool offers high quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. The nursery boasts bright, spacious rooms, each tailored to your child’s age group, it also has two large outdoor play areas where your child can explore and play.
Bright Horizons’ last Ofsted inspection took place in October 2022, when they were rated as Good. Bright Horizons has nurseries located across England, with several in central London.
Eaton Square Prep School is an independent, co-educational nursery, and preparatory school in the heart of central London, educating children from the age of 2 ½ to Year 6.
Many children who study at Eaton Square Prep School head on to top schools including the City of London School and the City of London School for Girls.
St Peter’s is a Church of England school placing Christian values as a key emphasis within school life. With roots going back to the 1800s, St Peter’s is one of the longest established schools in the area and has welcomed two visits from Queen Elizabeth II.
The latest Ofsted report in 2025 recorded that the quality of education was Good, and behaviour and attitudes, and personal development was Outstanding (it is based on the new format where a single rating is not provided).
St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School Victoria, Morpeth Terrace, London SW1P 1EP
St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School is a thriving one-form-entry primary school, uniquely located in the shadow of Westminster Cathedral, with whom they maintain close links. They provide an education with a distinct Catholic identity for children aged 3 to 11 years.
The most recent Ofsted report in March 2025 rated the school as Good across all categories.
Every place at this mainstream independent school for boys aged between four and eight is allocated on a first come first served basis with priority given to siblings, children of staff, ex-staff and old boys.
The Good Schools Guide reports that Eaton House has a traditional 3Rs curriculum with lots of added extras, particularly in the arts and science. Pupils are divided into small classes, no streaming but informal sets for maths to ensure that every child meets his potential. The school’s aim is to give boys a good grounding and a full understanding in all maths and English topics, rather than rushing ahead.
Westminster City School is a comprehensive school for boys with a Christian foundation and character, but they welcome boys of all faiths and of no faith. Their strong moral and spiritual ethos ensures pupils develop and prosper during their time at the school.
They also have a mixed sixth form which is located close to Buckingham Palace, with over 60% of students having recently secured places at Russell Group or top 25 ranked UK universities.
This leading independent day school for girls aged between four and 18 has impressive academic results, with 70% of GCSE grades at 9-8 in 2025. At A Level, 72% of grades were A* to A.
However, the school says that academic achievements alone will not provide the springboard for success in this competitive and evolving world, which is why it develops creativity, flexibility, lateral thinking and enterprise.
Facilities at this school, which lies on the border of Belgravia and Sloane Square, include a large gym, ultra-modern IT room and Carmel Hall – a stunning new performing-arts centre.
WAES is Westminster’s adult college, offering full-time and part-time study in the daytime, evenings and at weekends. The college offers a large programme of courses including childcare, teaching, business and accounting.
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Courtney Manton
Courtney is a Chartered Surveyor, the senior partner and owner of the Best Gapp group.
His special talent honed over the last 30 years is winning. Winning for his many clients.
Winning a Leasehold Enfranchisement case, winning a negotiation to sell or buy, winning a lower rent at review, winning a planning permission to enhance value, winning trust.
