One time, my niece asked for my help on her algebra homework. I was confident, of course, but I soon realised I had forgotten absolutely everything since secondary school.
As her frustration grew, I had to accept an uncomfortable truth: well-meaning relatives don’t always make the best teachers. If you want to avoid evening arguments and unnecessary family tension, leaving the teaching to a professional is the smarter move.
To help other families avoid the same fate, my team and I explored London’s online tutoring scene. We put virtual classrooms under the microscope, spoke to parents, and compared tutoring services to identify the best online tutors in London.
Read on, whether you need an English or maths tutor!
How much does an online tutor cost in London?
The cost of hiring an online tutor in London generally ranges between £40 and £200 per hour, depending on the student’s academic level and the instructor’s background.
| Subject / Service Type | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Primary / Key Stage 2 | £20 to £40 per hour |
| 11+ / Entrance Exams | £40 to £60+ per hour |
| General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) | £30 to £55 per hour |
| Advanced Level (A-Level) | £35 to £70+ per hour |
| University / Degree Level | £50 to £100+ per hour |
| University Students / Emerging Tutors | £15 to £25 per hour |
| Experienced Private Tutors | £30 to £45 per hour |
| Qualified Teachers & Examiners | £50 to £85+ per hour |
How We Reviewed
- Tutor Qualifications: You don’t want to match a student with someone who lacks curriculum knowledge. We looked at tutor backgrounds, screening practices, and training or professional development.
- Teaching Methods: Sitting quietly on a video call rarely keeps a younger learner engaged. We looked for useful online tools, such as interactive whiteboards and lesson recordings, as well as ways to track student progress.
- Subject Specialisation: Passing a competitive entrance exam requires a completely different strategy than passing a university module. We looked at the specific academic levels each agency handles to help you match your exact goal.
- Pricing Structure: Platform fees and paid trial lessons can quickly inflate a tutoring budget. We checked baseline rates, cancellation rules, and trial charges where available to help you understand the potential costs.
1. Clarendon Tutors
Website: https://clarendontutors.com/
Address: Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road
Contact: +44 20 7971 1326 | WhatsApp: +44 7951 922 995 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: Contact available anytime
Clarendon Tutors individually assesses students whilst considering learning preferences and school reports before building a schedule. With this approach, their online tutors can easily identify your child’s blind spots.
The agency prepares students for 7+, 8+, 11+ and 13+ entrance exams.
On top of that, they help with specialist university admissions prep, including Oxbridge interviews and the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).
Parents also receive weekly and monthly progress reports, so you see exactly how the lessons translate into real academic growth.
The only catch is the entry price. Their school admissions test preparation programme starts at a steep £81 per hour.
For many of the families we talked to, though, that price is very much worth it for the quality of tuition their kids receive.
Clear and structured plan
Orlando and the team at Clarendon were fantastic in developing my daughter’s capabilities and confidence. They matched her with a brilliant tutor who blended IRL and remote sessions with a clear and structured plan that delivered exactly the results we had hoped for. Thank you! Thoroughly recommend.
- Will | Google Review
Clearly knew how to explain things
Can’t say enough good things about Clarendon Tutors. My daughter just got her GCSE results and did brilliantly across the board. She’s had the same English tutor since Year 4 – that kind of continuity really paid off, she built a great relationship with her over the years and it showed in her results. For science, she had two different tutors who were both brilliant, patient, and clearly knew how to explain things in a way that actually clicked for her.
So grateful to everyone at Clarendon for the time and care they put in over the years…
- Taikwan C | Google Review
2. Tavistock Tutors
Website: https://tavistocktutors.com/
Address: 65 Schomberg House, Page Street
Contact: +44 20 7803 1190 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tavistock Tutors provides agency support using a direct system where you can browse profiles and contact candidates yourself. You get to review qualifications and past feedback before committing, helping students find a match for their learning style.
They also offer free preliminary video chats, letting you test the waters before booking a block of sessions.
They cover everything from standard GCSEs to complex postgraduate subjects and specialist aptitude tests.
Plus, the platform provides recorded lessons and an interactive whiteboard so students can revisit difficult concepts right before an exam.
The downside is that their system adds a service fee on top of the base rates set by the instructors.
Highly intense and concentrated session
I found Travistock Tutors online while searching for information about the Oxford interview to which my grandson had been invited. I called from the US only 4 days before he was to leave for the UK and not more than two days later he was being tutored by an extremely qualified and pleasant English tutor working in Washington DC. It was as he reported a highly intense and concentrated session via Skype which included two mock interviews during his two hour session in our library. Immediately following this we both received the tutor’s comprehensive emailed report…
- Richard Rogovin | Google Review
Good price and great convenience
I was looking for a tutor to assist me in my preparation for my Cambridge Law Interview and the Cambridge Law Test. Tavistock Tutors replied the next day (I emailed on a Sunday) and asked me for some details on the Monday. By Tuesday, they had found me a tutor whom I was able to speak to on the phone to confirm their expertise. I’ve started my sessions and my tutor has been perfect. Not only this, I will end up paying so much less than similar Oxbridge Preperation services online! I would recommend this company…
- Ali Hammoudi | Google Review
3. London Tutors Online
Website: https://londontutors.online/
Address: Silverstream House, 45 Fitzroy Street, Fitzrovia
Contact: +44 20 4568 5121 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 24 hours
London Tutors Online stands out for providing specialised support for home education, special educational needs, and English as a second language.
This broad coverage gives parents a safety net when a child needs extra, more patient support than a busy classroom can offer.
They handle both one-to-one and group tuition, giving families a choice between focused instruction and collaborative peer learning.
If your teenager faces exam resits, they run targeted revision sessions to help drill past papers.
To boot, they guide applicants through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) process with personal statement checks and interview coaching.
But you must manage your schedule carefully, as cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice may incur a 50% session fee.
4. Keystone Tutors
Website: https://www.keystonetutors.com/
Address: 5 Blythe Mews
Contact: +44 20 7602 5310 | WhatsApp: +44 20 3326 5353 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Keystone Tutors employs more than 60 full-time professionals who undergo continuous career development. Their strict selection process includes practice lessons and academic assessments to ensure every hire knows how to teach.
When we trialled their booking process, it became clear how much smoother their scheduling system is.
On top of that, parents are always updated through monthly reports. These outline recent achievements, focus areas, and upcoming learning goals.
During sessions, they use video conferencing and shared materials on interactive whiteboards, which students can access later for revision.
The catch is that trial lessons are billed at the full hourly rate, so testing compatibility costs you upfront.
Clear in his explanations
Donal has been an excellent tutor for my son. He was really easygoing, but clear in his explanations and helped to build Oliver’s confidence in the process. He not only helped with the preparation for the exam, but also helped Oliver to think for himself and he became really focussed in other subjects as well. They worked together and Oliver never felt like he was in a lesson, but rather sitting with someone else and solving problems together. If all teachers were like that, kids and schools would be in a much better situation…
- Lynette Stulting | Google Review
Subject matter expertise and focused support
Highly recommend. We had an excellent experience with several tutors over the course of three years to prepare for the IB exam. In particular, my son had an exceptional experience with his HL Chemistry Tutor, Claire. Both her subject matter expertise and focused support led to a positive experience and outcome.
- Meredith Trabinska | Google Review
5. Smart Tutors
Website: https://smarttutors.co.uk/
Address: 4 Cumberland Court, Princess Drive, Harrow
Contact: +44 7719 705050 | +44 20 8861 2815 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Smart Tutors combines standard online support with an exam-centre service, allowing homeschooled students to prepare for their GCSE and A-Level exams and sit them at the centre. This creates a cohesive path from early revision right through to test day.
They run a highly structured 12-week GCSE preparation programme that groups students by examination board and drills them using past papers.
For younger learners, they help with 11+ entrance exam preparation with an emphasis on core fundamentals.
The instructors also monitor progress strictly, sending weekly reports for Key Stage 1 to 3 students alongside monthly reviews to keep parents informed.
The main downside is that their GCSE curriculum only covers English, Maths, and Science. This leaves families to find separate help for optional subjects like humanities or languages.
Grasped things she struggled with very easily
My daughter loved attending smart tutors on preparation for her SATS. She has grasped things she struggled with very easily due to the very helpful tutors there. They want to see your child achieve. I’ve had positive feedback from school teacher and my daughter’s improvement in maths. Will be definitely using smart tutors again in the near future 😊
- Ardita Sadiki | Google Review
Teaching quality is way above
Teaching quality is way above than any other institution. Their professional staff and tutors helped our 10 year old son in every single subject he was struggling with. The results have been excellent since we have enrolled our son. They are very responsible and organised group of people. I would highly recommend them.
- zain zainy | Google Review
