The Best French Classes in London (2026 Review)

Key takeaways

• Best for improving spoken French through personalized lessons: italki
• Best for official French exam preparation: Institut français du Royaume-Uni
• Best for slower-paced beginner classes: City Lit
• Best for a university evening course: Imperial College London
• Best for group conversation practice: Morley College London

The best French classes in London depend on your goal. Some learners want official exam preparation, a university evening course, or a weekly class with classmates. For many adults, the main goal is speaking French with confidence.

For conversation and personalized learning, one-on-one lessons with a French tutor in London on italki are the closest fit. An italki French tutor keeps you speaking for most of each lesson, corrects your pronunciation, grammar, and verb tenses as you talk, and plans every lesson around your goal, like a job interview in French or a move to Lyon. Learners in more than 190 countries have used italki for one-on-one lessons over more than 15 years.

This guide helps working professionals, university students, and other adults in London who want to learn French compare five French classes by format, price, location, level, and exam support, so you choose one that fits your schedule, budget, and goals.

Ready to speak more French each week? Book a trial lesson with one of the French teachers in London on italki.

How we chose the best French classes in London

We chose the best French classes in London by comparing speaking practice, feedback, teacher qualifications, level structure, location and format, and exam support.

Evaluation criterion	What we evaluated
Speaking practice	How much of each lesson learners spend speaking French, based on class format and lesson length
Feedback	How and when learners get corrections on French pronunciation, including nasal vowels and silent letters, and on grammar points like noun genders and verb tenses
Teacher qualifications	Training in teaching French as a second language, native or near-native French, and reviews from French learners
Level structure	Clear French levels from beginner to advanced, a placement test to find the right starting point, and alignment with the six levels (A1 to C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) that French diplomas use
Location and format	Where French classes meet in London, and the choice of in-person and online French lessons
Exam support	Preparation for the DELF and DALF, the official French diplomas from France’s Ministry of National Education for levels A1 to B2 and C1 to C2, and the TCF, an official French level test, plus access to an accredited exam center in London

Each provider receives a “Best for” label based on its format and the type of learner it serves. These labels are editorial recommendations, not an overall ranking.

Speaking practice and feedback at the top of your list? Start with a trial lesson with a London French tutor on italki, who corrects your own sentences as you speak.

Best French classes in London at a glance

Course	Best for	Format	Typical pricing
italki	Improving spoken French through personalized lessons	Online one-on-one lessons	From $4 (about £3) per lesson
Institut français du Royaume-Uni	Official French exam preparation	In-person and online group classes	£390 per term
City Lit	Slower-paced beginner classes	In-person and online group classes	£269 per course
Imperial College London	A university evening course	In-person group classes	£623 per course
Morley College London	Group conversation practice	In-person group classes	£225 per course

Prices were checked in October 2026 and may change depending on level, schedule, and format. Confirm current rates on each provider’s website before booking. italki prices are shown in US dollars, with pound amounts converted at the October 2026 rate.

Where to take French classes in London

1. italki: best for improving spoken French through personalized lessons

• Format: Online one-on-one video lessons
• Price: From $4 (about £3) per lesson
• Location: Online, from anywhere in London
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Learners who want more speaking time and corrections on their own mistakes

italki is an online language learning platform that connects learners with French teachers for live one-on-one video lessons. French teachers on italki include native speakers from across the French-speaking world, so you practice the accent and vocabulary your goal needs. Learners choose an italki French teacher by comparing profiles, intro videos, reviews, and specialties against their learning preferences, then book lessons at times that suit them.

Each italki French lesson is planned around the learner’s goal. An italki teacher preparing you for meetings with French clients works on business vocabulary and phone calls, while one preparing you for a move to Lyon focuses on everyday conversation, ordering food, housing, paperwork, and local culture. Complete beginners on italki start with basic French, including greetings, numbers, and basic vocabulary for everyday life.

Pros

• Personalized one-on-one lessons. Your teacher builds each lesson around your level, your goal, and the mistakes you repeat. For a specific goal, book a business French tutor for workplace communication, emails, and meetings, or a DELF tutor for the exam’s listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections.
• Learn on your schedule. italki French tutors offer lessons from early morning to late evening, so a lesson before work, at lunch, or after a late shift fits around London working hours.
• Review support between lessons. italki Plus summarizes each lesson and turns it into review exercises and flashcards, so you practice new words and corrections before your next session.
• Proven to improve speaking skills. An independent study found that 71.6% of italki learners improved their oral proficiency by at least one level on a scale based on the guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), after an average of about 16 hours of lessons over two months (Vesselinov and Grego, 2018).

Cons

• Results depend on regular lessons and practice between sessions.
• Lessons are one-on-one, with no classmates or in-person classroom.

What French learners say about italki

French learners who review italki on Trustpilot describe three things they value in their lessons:

• Natural spoken French. Reviewers say italki French lessons focus on natural spoken French, clear explanations, and practical usage, and that the lessons made them more confident speaking French.
• Structured, engaging lessons. Reviewers describe italki French tutors as teaching in a structured and fun way, and say learners pick up a lot in every class.
• Long-term progress. Reviewers who study long term with one italki tutor report better vocabulary, sentence structure, and confidence speaking French.

“Our lessons focus on natural spoken French, clear explanations, and practical usage. Whenever I have questions about grammar, vocabulary, or the nuances between similar expressions, Nicolas explains them in a way that is easy to understand and immediately useful. This has helped me build confidence and develop a much better feel for the language.”

— Trustpilot review

“Teacher is great and knows how to teach French in a structured and fun way. All classes are great and I learn a lot each time.”

— Trustpilot review

“I have been working with Carine for about 4 years now and she is an amazing teacher. My vocabulary and sentence structure has greatly improved, as has my confidence in speaking French.”

— Trustpilot review

How to get started on italki

1. Create a free account on italki.
2. Browse French tutors in London by availability, specialty, and teaching style.
3. Book a trial lesson to test fit.
4. Schedule regular French lessons at a pace and frequency that fits your life.

Want lessons planned around your goal, with corrections as you speak? Book a trial lesson with a London French teacher and start this week.

2. Institut français du Royaume-Uni: best for official French exam preparation

• Format: In-person and online group classes
• Price: £390 per term
• Location: South Kensington, with some evening classes in Kentish Town
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Learners who need a French certificate for work, study, or immigration

The Institut français du Royaume-Uni, in South Kensington, is the official French cultural center in the UK. Besides general French and a DELF-DALF preparation course, the institute runs conversation, grammar, legal, and business French courses. The Once a Week course has up to 15 students per class.

Pros

• Learners prepare for and sit the DELF, DALF, and TCF at the same center.
• A level assessment places new students at the right level.
• The Once a Week course covers every level from A1 to C2.

Cons

• The Once a Week course follows 15-week terms with fixed start dates.
• In-person classes take place only in South Kensington and Kentish Town.

3. City Lit: best for slower-paced beginner classes

• Format: In-person and online group classes
• Price: £269 per course
• Location: Keeley Street, Covent Garden, or online
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Adults starting French who like to review each topic before moving on

City Lit is an adult education college in central London with French courses from beginner to advanced, including French Beginners at a Gentle Pace, a slower-paced beginner module. The college also runs French conversation, pronunciation, and culture classes alongside its main levels. The course is designed for beginners who worry about keeping up in a standard class.

Pros

• The course covers the standard beginner material with more revision time.
• Beginners get extra support sessions alongside the classes.
• City Lit offers financial support options for eligible learners.

Cons

• The slower pace means learners take more weeks to finish each level. 

4. Imperial College London: best for a university evening course

• Format: In-person group classes
• Price: £623 per course
• Location: South Kensington Campus
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Adults with no French who prefer one long course to short modules

Imperial College London offers evening language classes for adults through its Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication. French 1 (Beginners), taught on the South Kensington Campus, is the starting point for learners with no French.

Pros

• The classes are open to the public, so learners don’t need to study or work at Imperial.
• The 20-week course keeps beginners in the same group for two terms.

Cons

• The beginner course is taught in person only.
• The beginner course meets on one fixed weekday evening, which doesn’t suit learners who work evenings or shifts.

5. Morley College London: best for group conversation practice

• Format: In-person group classes
• Price: £225 per course
• Location: Waterloo
• Level: Intermediate to advanced
• Ideal for: Learners who already know basic French and want to speak more fluently

Morley College London is an adult education college in Waterloo. Its Intermediate French Conversation course is a group class for learners with one to two years of French, with speaking as the main focus. Morley also runs French courses for complete beginners and advanced learners.

Pros

• The course centers each class on speaking French with other learners.
• Two-hour classes leave time for longer conversations and group discussion.
• Morley offers a lower course fee for eligible learners.

Cons

• The course meets on a weekday afternoon, which doesn’t suit learners with daytime jobs.
• The course focuses on conversation, so learners who want structured grammar lessons need a separate course.

Each French class in London suits a different goal, from official exam preparation to group conversation practice. For more speaking practice and real-time corrections, book a trial lesson with an online French tutor in London on italki.

Online vs. in-person French classes in London: which should you choose?

Online one-on-one lessons suit learners who want more speaking time and real-time corrections, while in-person group classes suit learners who want a weekly classroom routine with classmates.

Factor	Online one-on-one lessons (italki)	In-person group classes
Flexibility	Book lessons any day, from early morning to late evening	Fixed weekly class times and term dates
Individual attention	The full lesson centers on one learner	The teacher works with the whole group, with pair and group activities
Speaking time	More individual speaking time with your teacher	Speaking practice through class discussion, role plays, and pair work
Personalized feedback	Real-time corrections on your recurring errors	Teacher feedback during class activities
Cost structure	Pay per lesson	Pay per course or session
Social experience	One-on-one conversation with your teacher on topics you choose	Classmates, a shared classroom, and a regular routine
Commute	Lessons from anywhere with an internet connection	Travel to a class venue in London

• Choose online one-on-one lessons if you want to speak for most of each lesson, get corrections as you speak, follow lessons planned around a goal like client meetings or the DELF, and book lessons at times you choose.
• Choose in-person classes if you learn best in a group, want the same class each week, or want to prepare for an official exam in a classroom setting.

Many learners combine the two formats. Join a weekly group class for structure and listening skills, and add one-on-one speaking practice with a French language tutor in London to work on conversation between classes. Together, group classes and one-on-one lessons build a full range of language skills.

Which French class in London is best for you?

• Choose italki if you want to improve your spoken French for a specific goal, like a job interview, a move to France, or an exam, at times that fit your week.
• Choose the Institut français du Royaume-Uni if you plan to take the DELF, DALF, or TCF and want a preparation course at an official exam center.
• Choose City Lit if you’re a beginner who wants a slower-paced class with extra revision.
• Choose Imperial College London if you’re a complete beginner and want an evening course on a university campus.
• Choose Morley College London if you have one to two years of French and want conversation practice in a group.

For French classes in other cities, compare the best French class in NYC and the best French classes in Paris.

Ready to speak French with confidence in London?

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FAQ

How much do French classes cost in London?

italki lessons start from $4 (about £3) each, with no term fee. In-person courses typically cost between £225 to £623 per course or term, depending on the school, level, and course length.

Do italki tutors help with TCF preparation?

Yes. TCF tutors on italki prepare learners for the test’s listening, language structure, and reading sections, plus the optional writing and speaking sections.