How much do tutors cost in the UK? A 2026 pricing guide

Tutoring in the UK spans an enormous price range — from £15/hour for an undergraduate giving a few sessions a week to £150+/hour for specialists at the very top end. This guide explains what drives the variation and what represents fair value.

Headline ranges (UK average, 2026)

Across the country:

• Primary tutoring (KS1–KS2): £25–£45/hour
• Secondary KS3: £30–£50/hour
• GCSE: £35–£65/hour
• A-Level: £40–£90/hour
• 11+ specialists: £40–£80/hour
• SEND specialists: £50–£90/hour
• Oxbridge / very specialist prep: £80–£200/hour

London premium

London tutoring rates run typically 30–50% higher than the rest of the UK. Outside London, the West Midlands, Manchester, Bristol and the North East cluster around similar rates. Northern Ireland and Scotland tend slightly lower.

What drives the variation

Three main factors:

• Tutor experience and qualifications — a working teacher with 10 years' classroom experience commands more than a recent graduate
• Subject specialism — shortage subjects (maths, physics, MFL) sit at the upper end
• Service model — agencies that vet, train and back tutors charge more than marketplaces with no vetting; one-to-one is more than group

What you should NOT pay extra for

Avoid these markups:

• Upfront "setup" fees — reputable agencies don't charge them
• Long-contract discounts that lock you in for 6+ months
• "Concierge" or "premium" tiers that are just normal tutoring with a fancier name
• Hourly rates that don't include the tutor's planning time, materials and reporting

Red flags below the market rate

Tutoring at £15/hour usually means an unvetted tutor, no insurance, no agency support, and limited recourse if something goes wrong. For a one-off topic boost it might be fine. For sustained work with a child you care about, you generally get what you pay for.

What we charge

Our West Midlands rates sit mid-range: KS1–KS2 from £30, KS3 from £35, GCSE from £40, A-Level and 11+ specialists from £45–£60, SEND specialists from £55. Everything is confirmed in writing before lessons start, and there are no setup fees, hidden charges or long-contract clauses.

For more detail see our West Midlands tutoring cost guide.