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Best nurseries in Wimbledon

A good nursery is an essential service for any working parent living in this corner of south west London. We explore what’s available, from babies just a few months old to pre-schoolers ready for the next step up.

Multiple nurseries in the area offer a range of childcare options. Most are conveniently located within a few minutes’ walk of a station and many a besuited parent can be seen depositing their offspring en route to the office or scooping them up again at the end of the day.

Offering year-round, full-day care for children from as young as 3 months are a predictable number of well-known national chain day nurseries. Among them, Fennies, on Elm Grove, offers care from 7 am to 6pm which is the longest option we have found in the area. In addition, there are several independent day nurseries, many of which rely on word-of-mouth to attract local parents: Wimbledon Day Nursery, Dees, Willows and Oak Tree Pre-School (not to be confused with The Oak Montessori) all have their local fan bases. Be aware, though, that waiting lists are often around 18 months and Wimbledon Day Nursery tells us that it is not unknown for parents to register their future progeny just after their 12-week scan.

For parents looking ostensibly for a first taste of education during conventional term times, rather than year-round childcare, there are several options. Montessori nurseries (Wimbledon Park, The Oak, Wimbledon Village and the Children’s House) remain a popular choice while several local primary and prep schools (namely Willington School and The Rowans School), offer term time nursery and pre-school options with ages catered for and days and hours of operation varying widely between one institution and another.

Where the state school nurseries are concerned, be under no illusion – this is not a shortcut into a reception class at a very popular school. There is no advantage at all and no guarantees as, when the time comes, the rigid criteria for admission to the reception classes will need to be followed.