A selection of our best language schools
Quality you can rely on
The British monarch grants favourite British companies a so-called “Royal Warrant”, which makes them suppliers to the Royal Household. We cannot offer that, but we have put together an overview of our favourite British language schools in England, Scotland and Ireland. We particularly enjoy working with these schools and work with them particularly well; we like the schools more every time, and the customer feedback is excellent. If you are interested in a language course at one of these language schools in England, Scotland or Ireland, do get in touch with us! We will be happy to advise you free of charge.
Here you will find some of our favourites among the language schools in England, Scotland and Ireland – in our view, they would certainly deserve a “Royal Warrant”:
Affordable language courses in England, Scotland and Ireland
Centre of English Studies
The Centre of English Studies (CES) runs language schools at various locations in England, Scotland and Ireland and offers a wide variety of English courses at affordable prices there. The school in London is in the quiet suburb of Wimbledon, an alternative to the schools in hectic central London. In Oxford, too, the language school is a little outside the centre. Away from the usual locations, CES runs more affordable schools, for example in Worthing on the south coast and Leeds in the north of England. And anyone who prefers the Irish capital will find what they are looking for at CES Dublin in the city centre. Besides General English lessons, in summer the school also offers affordable Business English courses and programmes for young people with accommodation at a boarding school or with a host family.
The best English courses in the south of Ireland
Cork English College
Cork English College (CEC) is in the south of Ireland and is the largest language school in Cork, right in the city centre, with a wide range of language courses including Business English. CEC offers both host family accommodation and the school’s own apartments. For young people, a language course with university or host family accommodation has proved its worth; it can be combined with a golf, football, riding or rugby programme if desired.
Learning English and horse riding in the wild west of Ireland
Donegal English Language School
The Donegal English Language School is in the scenic north-west of Ireland. Alongside the English lessons, the social programme offers excellent opportunities for horse riding, surfing and hiking. Wide sandy beaches alternate with dunes and green hills here – the ideal area to enjoy Irish nature to the full. The school offers both language courses for adults and holiday courses for young people, the latter at Easter and in summer. The language school is right by the beach; accommodation is with local host families or in local B&Bs and hostels, and supervised hostel accommodation is also available for young people.
Family-run language school in the heart of Edinburgh
ECS Scotland
ECS Scotland is a small, family-run language school in Edinburgh, in the middle of the famous 18th-century “New Town”. The historic building has a pleasant ambience, and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Support is very individual, as there are often only approx. 30 language students at the school at the same time. Besides recommendable General English in small groups, ECS also offers many business and specialist courses as one-to-one lessons. The language school also has specialised teachers who offer English courses on topics such as “English for Law” or medical English. Thanks to the school’s central location, you can easily immerse yourself in Edinburgh’s rich culture with its many famous sights after lessons.
English and sport at a boarding school
Exsportise
Exsportise offers English courses combined with various sports and arts programmes for young people in summer. Whatever the focus, professional coaches help the students develop their skills. The courses offer 20 lessons of English combined with sports such as golf, horse riding or football, but also music or dance. Exsportise runs the language courses at three well-known English boarding schools: Worth, Oundle and Seaford College. In cooperation with Arsenal Football Club, the school also offers a professional training programme for young footballers.
English courses in Newcastle, the lively university city in the north of England
International House Newcastle
International House Newcastle is a language school in Newcastle upon Tyne, the unofficial capital of north-east England. The city is close to the coast and has several sandy beaches. Thanks to the city’s universities, many young people live in Newcastle, so there is a rich cultural scene and a famous nightlife. IH Newcastle offers various recommendable language courses, with course options for smaller budgets too. Besides General English lessons, the school also offers English for teachers and Business English courses. In addition to host family accommodation, the school also offers a very attractive residence of its own in the city centre.
English with horse riding or golf in idyllic north Dublin
Irish College of English
The Irish College of English (ICE) is in Malahide, a small coastal town just north of Dublin known for its marina and numerous golf courses. Malahide is surrounded by greenery; north of the little town there are only fields and meadows. Yet the Irish capital and Dublin Airport are only about 20 minutes away. In summer, ICE offers various programmes for young people with host family accommodation, which can be combined with riding lessons or a sailing course if desired. The language school also offers affordable English courses for adults.
Family-run courses for young people in Exeter
Isca
Isca is a small, family-run language school in Exeter, the county town of Devon, which offers a highly recommendable summer programme for young people. Although Exeter is a city, it has a rather rural feel. The school is housed in two Victorian villas in a very green district near the historic old town. Alongside the English lessons, the language school offers a varied activity programme visiting the sights of the region. Trips to London are also offered regularly. With 24 lessons, the programme is more intensive than comparable programmes for young people, and the groups, with an average of ten participants, are very small. Accommodation is with local host families.
Business English courses and more in the heart of London
London School of English
The London School of English is the oldest language school in Great Britain and offers exceptionally good teaching in Business English. The school is in Holland Park in west London; the better-known Notting Hill and the modern Westfield shopping centre are right next door. Lessons are held in small groups in a historic villa, and the facilities are state of the art. The language school has a large teaching staff who, besides general Business English courses, also offer specialist courses in fields such as law, economics and finance, and human resources. There are also special Business English courses at lower prices for those starting their careers. Accommodation is with selected host families in the area; various residences and apartments complete the offer.
General and Business English lessons on the south coast of England
LSI Portsmouth
LSI Portsmouth is a language school on the eastern part of England’s south coast. Portsmouth is a well-known port city with a very chic marina. To the south of the city are the well-known beaches of Southsea, with the Isle of Wight directly opposite. But London is also close – it takes about an hour and a half by train. LSI is one of the leading language schools for Business English. Business English lessons are held in a dedicated executive centre. Besides small groups with a maximum of four participants, there are also various options for effective one-to-one lessons: LSI tailors the course content to the participants’ professional needs and offers specialist courses for lawyers, managers and other professional groups. Besides the executive area, very good General English and IELTS training and a combined General and Business English course are also offered.
Family-run language school for young people and adults
Melton College
Melton College in York is a language school with a family atmosphere, housed in a Victorian villa with a large garden of its own. It offers intensive English courses for adults as well as for children and young people. The courses for young people take place not only in summer but also at Easter and in autumn. The school uses the many historic and scenic sights of the city of York and the region for its social programme and can therefore offer many varied excursions and activities alongside the English lessons. The language school’s “Gold course” offers participants aged 40 or 50 and over a programme among people of their own age. Accommodation is with host families in the York city area.
Excellent English courses in small groups in the Midlands
Severnvale Academy
Severnvale Academy is in Shrewsbury in the English Midlands, a small English market town – almost an insider tip with good value for money. The old town impresses with its half-timbered buildings and numerous cosy restaurants and pubs. The Welsh mountains are only a stone’s throw away and invite you on weekend excursions. The language school specialises above all in Business English in small groups with a maximum of six participants. The age group 40 and over is the most strongly represented on the courses. Thanks to a modular system, the language course can be put together individually, which also makes more intensive programmes possible. Besides General and Business English training, the language school also offers preparation courses for the Cambridge exams. For young people there are two English courses of different intensity in summer with a lovely activity programme. The courses take place at the renowned Shrewsbury School.
Learning English on the cliffs of Devon
Sidmouth International School
Sidmouth International School is on the south coast of England and offers a highly recommendable programme with great leisure activities at a good price. Class sizes on the adult courses are a maximum of six participants, nine in summer. Older teenagers can also choose small-group courses. The language school also offers a transfer service from London Heathrow to Sidmouth, which makes for a convenient and affordable journey. Outside the summer season from mid-June to August, the school has very affordable offers for Business English as one-to-one lessons. For children and young people, the language school runs both holiday courses and year-round English courses. Age groups are very individual – everything is available, from children’s courses from the age of eight to the Young Adult course for young adults.
