Wetherby School is a group of

private schools A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their financial endowme ...

for boys aged two to eighteen in

Notting Hill Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a wikt:cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan and multiculturalism, multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting ...

Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...

, and

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also ) is an area in London, England, and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropo ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, owned and operated by the Inspired Education Group. Its prep school is a member of the

Independent Association of Preparatory Schools The Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS, formerly Independent Association of Preparatory Schools) is a schools association, representing more than 660 Preparatory school (United Kingdom), preparatory schools. The majority of IAPS' sch ...

. The school is named after Wetherby Place, in turn named after a

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...

town,

Wetherby Wetherby ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is close to West Yorkshire county's border with North Yorkshire and lies approximately from Leeds city centre, from ...

, and should not be confused with

Wetherby High School Wetherby High School (formerly Wetherby Secondary Modern School) is a Mixed-sex education, coeducational secondary school located in the Hallfield area of Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. The school is run by the City of Leeds Local Educati ...

, a local secondary school. It has several notable former pupils, including

William, Prince of Wales William, Prince of Wales (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982), is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales. William was born during the reign of his pat ...

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984) is a member of the British royal family. As the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is fifth in the line of succession to t ...

, and the actor

Hugh Grant Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as a charming and vulnerable romantic leading man, and has since transitioned into a character actor. He has received List of awards ...

History

Wetherby School was founded in 1951 as a pre-preparatory school for boys aged 4–8. In 2004 it opened a preparatory department (known as Wetherby Prep, and intended to be a separate school) in a nearby building, allowing boys to stay on until the age of 13. The prep school has since moved to its current location in

. The school's original building, in 1951, was in Wetherby Place in South

(hence the name, Wetherby School) but in 1971 it moved to its present building in Pembridge Square, on the other side of

Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are among the Royal Parks of London. The gardens are shared by the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and sit immediately to the west of Hyde Pa ...

. The school building is a white stucco double fronted Victorian house in the Italianate style typical of Notting Hill and Holland Park architecture, constructed in about 1850. It is on the south side of Pembridge Square, a private garden square with keyholder-only access which the boys use as their playground. In 2020 the school was recognized as one of the world's 100 leading schools by

The Schools Index The Schools Index is an annual publication that lists internationally notable private schools and international schools. Published by Carfax Education, it is often considered a global list of the most prestigious schools of the world. In 2025 Time ...

Wetherby Preparatory School

In 2004, Wetherby expanded to open a prep division for boys aged 7 to 13, sited in

Bryanston Square Bryanston Square is an garden square in Marylebone, London. Terraced buildings surround it — often merged, converted or sub-divided, some of which remain residential. The southern end has the William Pitt Byrne memorial fountain. Next to ...

. In September 2012, Wetherby Prep was awarded 'Prep School of the Year' at the annual ''

Tatler ''Tatler'' (stylised in all caps) is a British magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. It focuses on fashion and lifestyle, as well as coverage of high society and politics. It is targeted towards the British upper and upper-middle c ...

'' School Awards at the Dorchester Hotel.

Wetherby Senior School

Due to popular demand, Wetherby Senior School for boys aged 11 to 18 opened for its first intake in September 2015. It is located at the former premises of DLD College London on

Lane, a ten-minute walk away from the prep school.

Wetherby School Kensington

Wetherby School Kensington is the most recent school to join the Wetherby family, with their doors opening in September 2017. Wetherby School Kensington is situated on Wetherby Gardens in

, which is the same street that the original Wetherby School was based back in 1951, and takes boys from Reception – Year 3 (4–8 years old).

Alumni

* Romeo Beckham, professional footballer and son of David and Victoria Beckham * Sir Lawrence Clarke, 7th Baronet, Olympic athlete and financier *

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford (born 17 August 1949), known professionally as Julian Fellowes, is an English actor, novelist, writer, producer, film director, and Conservative peer. He has received nume ...

, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, actor and writer;

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

peer of the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

(2011–) *

, actor *

, younger son of

Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997), was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William, ...

and

Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

Julian Lloyd Webber Julian Lloyd Webber (born 14 April 1951) is a British solo cellist, conductor and broadcaster, a former principal of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the founder of the In Harmony music education programme. Early years and education Julia ...

, cellist *

, elder son of

and

* Lord Frederick Windsor, son of

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

and

Princess Michael of Kent Princess Michael of Kent (born Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, 15 January 1945) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a grandson of George V, King George V. Prince ...

* Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark * Damian Hurley, son of actress

Elizabeth Hurley Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born 10 June 1965) is an English actress and model. Her best-known film roles are Vanessa Kensington in '' Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery'' (1997) and as the Devil in '' Bedazzled'' (2000).Archie Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, British aristocrat *

Constantine Louloudis Constantine Michael Louloudis (born 15 September 1991) is a Greek-British Rowing (sport), rower. He is an Olympic Games, Olympic medal winner, two-time World Rowing Championships, world champion and four-time The Boat Race, Boat Race winner. Pe ...

MBE, Olympic medal winner, two-time world champion and four-time Boat Race winner

References

External links

School website

Senior School website

Pre-Prep
an
Prep School
profiles on the ISC website {{authority control Private boys' schools in London Private schools in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Preparatory schools in London Private schools in the City of Westminster