The 15 private schools that are hardest to get into in the UK

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Annual fees: £32,340

Number of students: 565

Type: Mixed

Fettes College in Scotland might be the prettiest boarding school in the country. It counts former Prime Minister Tony Blair as a former pupil.

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Location: Moray, Scotland

Annual fees: £35,922

Number of students: 604

Type: Mixed

Notoriously strict, Gordonstoun in Scotland is named after its 150-acre estate, which was originally owned by Sir Robert Gordon in the 17th century. The school doesn't offer open days, with staff preferring to arrange private viewings for families throughout the year. The school was also attended by Prince Charles.

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Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire

Annual fees: £31,350

Number of students: 928

Type: Mixed

Marlborough won Tatler's Best Public School award in 2015, and was attended by the Duchess of Cambridge. Prospective students must complete two interviews with members of staff and a test organised by the school as part of their application.

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Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Annual fees: £34,302

Number of students: 873

Type: All girls

This girls' school in Gloucestershire has a strong academic record and a focus on the arts. Competition for places at sixth form is "fierce," according to the school. The newly refurbished theatre and arts centre is used by the town for its jazz, literature, and science festivals.

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Location: Tonbridge, Kent

Annual fees: £37,539

Number of students: 789

Type: All boys

Tonbridge School in Kent stands out for its handsome Victorian buildings and 150 acres of playing fields. There's a strong focus on academics, and the school achieved its best-ever GCSE results in 2014 with 94% of students achieving A* or A grades. Tonbridge's playing fields were recognised as an Olympic training venue in 2012.

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Location: Stowe, Buckinghamshire

Annual fees: £33,000

Number of students: 769

Type: Mixed

Sir Richard Branson famously left Stowe School with no qualifications at the age of 16. Students take a common entrance exam as part of their application, and must apply three years in advance.

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Location: Cranbrook, Kent

Annual fees: £34,455

Number of students: 544

Type: All girls

Benenden is the only girls' all-boarding school in the UK, and counts Princess Anne as one of its former pupils. A four-year waiting list to attend makes this a tough place to get into. There are around three applications for every place available.

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Location: Godalming, Surrey

Annual fees: £36,774

Number of students: 788

Type: Mixed

Founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611, Charterhouse School moved in 1872 from London to Godalming, where the new school was built in 200 acres of landscaped grounds. Famous alumni include TV presenter Jonathan Dimbleby, and health secretary Jeremy Hunt. Students apply three years in advance, with parents paying a £250 registration fee.

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Location: Ampleforth, Yorkshire

Annual fees: £32,733

Number of students: 607

Type: Mixed

Ampleforth College is the only Catholic full-boarding school in the UK. More than 70% of the student body is made up of practicing Catholics, but the school welcomes all religions. The school advises on its website that "children who come from Christian families are most likely to benefit from an Ampleforth education."

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Location: London

Annual fees: £14,886

Number of students: 920

Type: All boys

The City of London School is right in the heart of the capital on the river Thames. It doesn't offer boarding, but has a strong academic reputation, with around 10 applicants for every place in year six, according to Tatler. Daniel Radcliffe studied here while starring in the Harry Potter films, and there is also a sister-school for girls.

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Location: Winchester

Annual fees: £36,678

Number of students: 690

Type: All boys

Winchester is a boys-only boarding school in Hampshire. 35% of graduating pupils won places at Oxford and Cambridge last year, with 10 enrolling at Ivy League universities.

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Location: London

Annual fees: £36,462

Number of students: 741

Type: Mixed

Westminster School sits right next to Parliament and Westminster Cathedral. Weekly assemblies are held in "Westminster Latin" — a dialect that's unique to the school. Prospective students hoping to enrol in year nine take a"pre-test" in year six, and should register three years in advance.

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Location: London

Annual fees: £37,350

Number of students: 825

Type: All boys

London's Harrow School was founded in 1572, but there's some evidence that boys were taught on the site as early as 1243, according to Christopher Tyerman's book, "A History of Harrow School 1324 - 1991." The institution is famous for its strong academic record, fierce rivalry with Eton College, and boater hats.

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Location: Windsor, Berkshire

Annual fees: £37,602

Number of students: 1,300

Type: All boys

A favourite of the royal family, Eton College is the UK's best-known private school. Both Princes Harry and William are former pupils, as well as David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Eddie Redmayne. It's notoriously competitive, with around 23% of applicants earning a place.

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