Nurseries in Southwark
Southwark is a central and vibrant South London borough, home to diverse neighbourhoods, riverside districts and excellent cultural landmarks. Postcodes SE1–SE17 cover areas including London Bridge, Borough, Bermondsey, Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich and Elephant & Castle. With a large number of young families and professionals, demand for nursery places is high, especially in Bermondsey and Dulwich. The borough benefits from Jubilee, Northern and Bakerloo lines, Overground links, national rail and comprehensive bus networks. Families enjoy parks, play centres, museums, libraries and world-class attractions. Southwark’s mix of urban living, green spaces and strong early years provision makes it an attractive borough for dependable childcare.
Parents in Southwark typically pay £110 per day for childcare, which is significantly 46% higher than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £110
- Comparison
- +46% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 9,350 places
Nurseries near you in Southwark
Frequently Asked Questions
In Southwark, children can typically start private nursery from around 3 months old. Funded early education begins the term after your child turns 3, with earlier eligibility available for some 2-year-olds or working-parent households.
In England, all 3 and 4-year-olds can receive 15 hours of funded early education per week during term time, with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. There is also funded support for some 2-year-olds based on household circumstances, and entitlement for working parents of children from 9 months old to receive 30 hours per week for eligible families. The exact offer and start dates depend on your child’s age, your work status and when their birthday falls in the school year. Families can also benefit from Tax-Free Childcare if both working parents earn less than £100k per year. For every £8 a parent pays into their online childcare account, the government adds an extra £2 up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.
Nursery fees in Southwark typically range from **£85–£150 per day**, with Dulwich and Borough at the higher end.
All nurseries in Southwark are regulated by **Ofsted**, with early years funding overseen by **Southwark Council**.
Ask about curriculum, staff ratios, outdoor provision, funded hours allocation and any top-up fees.
Applying for funding
Southwark is covered by Southwark, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Southwark website

