Dulwich College

Dulwich College stands in leafy Dulwich, south London. Founded in 1619 by the Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn, it began as a charity to educate twelve poor boys. Over the centuries it grew into a large school and moved to its present site in the 19th century. The college occupies handsome brick buildings arranged around playing fields and gardens. Its chapel, schoolhouse and almshouses recall the original foundation. The college is one of the world’s top 150 private schools and among Britain’s top thirty senior schools. In recent years nearly two-thirds of its A-level candidates gained the highest grades. It belongs to the Headmasters’ Conference and the Eton Group. The school is divided into Junior, Lower, Middle and Upper Schools, each with its own buildings and playgrounds. A visitor walks past the 17th-century chapel and the Old College quadrangle. The Old Grammar School, designed by Sir Charles Barry, still stands opposite. The playing fields stretch beyond the main buildings, with views over south London. The college’s history is visible in every brick and pathway.