London has always been one of the world capitals for learning English: every year tens of thousands of students of all ages arrive for courses of a week, a month or a year, to prepare for an exam, improve their CV or simply live abroad for a while. The choice is enormous, and picking the right school makes all the difference.
Choosing an accredited school
The first guarantee of quality is accreditation. The reference scheme is Accreditation UK, run by the British Council together with the industry association English UK: accredited schools are inspected regularly on teachers, methods, facilities, welfare and student protection. A non-accredited school is not necessarily poor, but the risk of unpleasant surprises is greater. Be wary of offers that look too cheap and always check average class size, teachers' qualifications and whether there is a placement test.
Teaching methods
London schools mainly use the communicative approach, which aims to get students speaking from day one through real-life situations, group work and discussion. Some schools adopt more structured methods, such as the Callan method or other "direct" methods, based on rapid questions and answers repeated by the teacher, which promise fast progress especially in comprehension and spoken fluency. There is no conclusive evidence that one method is better than the others: what really counts is daily effort, exposure to the language outside class and the quality of the teacher.
Courses and exams
The typical offer includes general courses (15 to 30 hours a week), intensive courses, business English, summer courses for teenagers and exam preparation courses. The most sought-after certificates are Cambridge English (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency) and IELTS, required by many universities and for some visas. Many schools are also exam centres.
Costs and accommodation
Prices vary widely: a general course at a good London school costs roughly £250-450 a week, less for long courses. Add accommodation, with a host family (homestay, often half board) or in student residences, and transport. Outside London, in Brighton, Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol or Edinburgh, the experience is similar and often cheaper.
Documents after Brexit
For courses of up to six months EU citizens can enter as visitors with a passport and an ETA; for longer language courses, up to eleven months, the Short-term study visa is required. Neither allows you to work. See studying and working after Brexit, schools and universities, where to stay in London and the London guide.