When it comes to training to be an actor, the usual advice is to pick the best drama school that offers you a place. But what qualifies as ‘the best’? Some schools are better for certain specialisms, such as musical theatre or screen acting, so the school that’s best for you might not be right for someone else. To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of the best British acting schools, detailing their specialisations, notable alumni, and what the application process is like for those applying from the UK for three-year training.
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- Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
- London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
- Arts Educational Schools London (ArtsEd)
- The Oxford School of Drama
- Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS)
- Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD)
Located in the centre of London, RADA has provided conservatoire-style actor training (an immersive programme of practical classes that focuses on developing artistic and technical skills) since 1904. Known for offering rigorous training in classical and contemporary theatre, the BA Acting course provides three years of studio-based classes in voice, movement, acting techniques, singing, text analysis, and contextual studies.
Famous RADA alumni: Alan Rickman, Imelda Staunton, Adrian Lester, and Glenda Jackson.
RADA application process
Competition is fierce, and there are four rounds of auditions. The first two are by self-tape, the third is a live digital workshop, and the fourth and final round takes place in person at RADA (with a digital option for applicants unable to travel to London).
In the first round, you need to record three two-minute audition monologues (two classical and one modern) and a song. This tape will first be assessed by two members of the audition panel, and if successful it will be seen by a secondary panel of three people. If you get through this second round, you’ll be invited to a three-hour Zoom workshop in which you'll be asked to perform one of your classical monologues and take direction on it. If you pass this stage, you’ll be invited to a day-long workshop audition at RADA, which includes movement and voice exercises, scene study, the performance of your monologues, and an interview. Applications open in October and close in January for entry the following September.
Situated by Barons Court tube station in West London, LAMDA dates back to the 1860s, making it the oldest drama school in Britain. Here you can take a three-year training course resulting in a BA in Professional Acting. Classes include acting study based on a range of techniques (e.g., improvisation, Laban Movement Analysis, Michael Chekhov Technique), pure voice and movement training, singing (individual and group sessions), and a range of applied disciplines. You also get to work with industry professionals including writers and directors. If you’re after a shorter course, LAMDA also offers a two-year MFA in Professional Acting, as well as an MA in Classical Acting for the Professional Theatre – a good option if you’ve already gained a BA at university and want professional training.
Famous LAMDA alumni: Benedict Cumberbatch, Jim Broadbent, Anna Chancellor, Brian Cox, and Maureen Lipman.
LAMDA application process
If you're applying in the UK, you can submit your application for the BA through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Once your application has been processed, you’ll submit a self-tape audition performing a contemporary monologue. After your tape has been assessed, you'll either be invited to a second preliminary audition over Zoom or a final recall in person. Applications open in October and close in March.
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Situated in the City of London and based in the prestigious Barbican Centre, a performing arts complex, Guildhall was ranked number one in Arts, Drama & Music by the Complete University Guide 2024 and is one of the top five performing arts institutions in the world. The school is renowned for its combined focus on music and drama; its students enjoy a collaborative training experience working across disciplines. Guildhall boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including concert halls, theatres, recording and sound studios, theatrical workshops and labs, and an electronic music studio. You’ll get conservatoire-style training on the three-year BA Acting course, which is the only acting course the school runs (unlike other schools that also offer MA programmes). The school also trains musicians in its highly regarded Bachelor of Music programme.
Famous Guildhall alumni: Ewan McGregor, Daniel Craig, Michaela Coel, and Sarah Lancashire.
Guildhall application process
Applications are made directly to the school, and everyone who applies will be auditioned. There are three rounds of auditions, with the first being submitted by self-tape and the second two in person. You'll need to record two contrasting monologues for the first audition, three for the second, and an additional short, unaccompanied song for the third. Applications open at the end of September and close in January.
Central is a world-leading drama school, ranked No. 2 in Arts, Drama & Music by the Complete University Guide 2024. It has a selection of courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, enabling you to specialise in a particular style of acting. The two main courses (and the hardest to get onto) are BA Acting and BA Acting (Musical Theatre). The school also offers a BA Acting (Collaborative and Devised Theatre) and a BA in Experimental Arts and Performance. At the postgraduate level, you can choose a number of specialised MAs, including Screen Acting, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Acting, and Classical Acting.
Famous Central alumni: Judi Dench, Julie Christie, Peggy Ashcroft, and Christopher Eccleston.
Central application process
After applying through UCAS, you'll be auditioned for all three of the BA Acting courses (Acting, Musical Theatre, and Collaborative and Devised Theatre) regardless of your preference. All three rounds of auditions are in person either in London or at regional audition centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, and Newcastle. For the first round, you'll perform one classical monologue, one contemporary monologue, and a 30- to 90-second solo devised piece in response to a painting and a song. You may also be asked to do some group work and be redirected.
If the panel decides they want to further assess your suitability for a particular course, a second round of recalls will take place after the first round on the same day. Pass the second round and you’ll be invited for a third audition at a later date, where you can expect intensive workshop sessions involving voice, movement, and acting, as well as presenting your original pieces.
Based in Peckham in South London, Mountview is one of the UK's leading training grounds for aspiring performers and theatre practitioners. Founded in 1945, it moved to new state-of-the-art facilities in 2018. The new building has 200-seat and 80-seat theatres, plus a rooftop restaurant and bar with views across the London skyline, providing students a dynamic and inspiring environment to develop their craft. Choose between a BA Performance (Musical Theatre), BA Performance (Actor Musicianship), BA Performance (Acting), or MAs in Acting or Musical Theatre.
Famous Mountview alumni: Douglas Henshall, Ken Stott, and Amanda Holden.
Mountview application process
All first-round auditions for BA Performance are in person, with a range of audition dates and locations to make the process as accessible as possible. Acting candidates need to prepare a contemporary and classical monologue, and will take part in a physical improvisation session. Musical Theatre applicants additionally prepare two songs and take part in a dance audition. Successful applicants will then be recalled to a workshop and panel audition. Applications open in the autumn and auditions begin in February.
Arts Ed in Chiswick, in West London, is one of the few acting schools for which you can apply for a government Dance and Drama Award (DADA). Students awarded this scholarship pursue a Trinity College London Diploma – required for the DADA eligibility – and follow the same curriculum as those in the BA Acting or Musical Theatre programs. The diploma can be converted to a degree following completion of the course. The school has a particularly strong reputation for its musical theatre course, with many graduates performing in the West End within a couple of years of their training.
Famous ArtsEd alumni: Julie Andrews, Nigel Havers, and Bonnie Langford.
ArtsEd application process
Apply directly to the school and you'll be invited to upload your first-round self-tape audition, which will include two audition speeches: one modern and one classical. Second-round recalls are held in person at ArtsEd. Applications open in October and close at the beginning of March.
This small conservatoire in converted farm buildings in Oxfordshire is a good choice if you want to be away from the distractions of the city and focus entirely on your training. The school offers either a one-year or three-year Trinity College Diploma in Professional Acting, which means you can apply for a DADA to fund tuition and maintenance. All students are picked up from central Oxford each morning and dropped back on a school bus, and there is a strict all-black clothing policy to encourage students to be neutral. The school also runs a popular foundation course for those who want some professional training before they begin auditioning for drama school.
Famous Oxford School of Drama Alumni: Claire Foy, Babou Ceesay, and ​​Catherine McCormack.
Oxford School of Drama application process
Apply directly to the school with a first-round self-tape audition of one classical and one modern monologue. If successful, you’ll be called to an in-person recall audition at the school, where you'll perform your pieces again. Following this, you will have a final Zoom recall with the Acting Through Song tutor. Applications open in October and close in April.
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Established in 1946, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is one of the most prestigious and respected performing arts academies in the UK. Situated in the vibrant city of Bristol, the school and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre were founded by director Hugh Hunt as a branch of the Old Vic theatre in London. It has since evolved into an independent institution renowned for its rigorous training in theatre arts. Train on either the BA or MFA in Professional Acting, or the Screen Acting MA.
Famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Alumni: Olivia Colman, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Jeremy Irons.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School application process
There are three rounds of auditions. The first is a self-tape of two contrasting pieces (be it classical to contemporary, comedy to drama, or by choosing two very different characters). You’ll then be invited to a recall audition, either online or in person, and asked to do a third monologue, which has to be a classical piece and different to any you performed in the first round. If you’re successful, you’ll be invited to an in-person all-day audition where you’ll have sessions in singing, improvisation, movement, acting, and voice. You’ll be interviewed by the Director of Acting Courses and the Director of Drama. Applications open in September and close in January.
The RCS in Glasgow is among the top 10 performing arts institutions in the world. Established in 1847 as the Glasgow Athenaeum, it’s evolved over the years to offer a wide range of disciplines, including music, dance, drama, production, and film. The actor training courses are the BA in Acting and the BA in Musical Theatre. The movement style that’s taught in the Acting BA is based on the teaching of French practitioner Jacques Le Cocq.
Famous RCS alumni include: David Tennant and James McAvoy.
RCS application process
Apply via UCAS and state whether you want to be seen in Glasgow (at the RCS), London, or live online for the first- and second-round auditions. You'll perform two contrasting monologues for the first audition and participate in a workshop-style audition for the second round (this involves learning a script given in advance). For the third and final recalls, you'll be invited to the school, where you'll present a new monologue to the audition panel and have an in-person interview. Applications open in September and close in January.
This is Wales’s premier performing arts school and a leading UK conservatoire. Founded in 1949, RWCMD offers training in music, theatre, and related performing arts disciplines at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The college is celebrated for its high-calibre training, innovative teaching methods, and supportive, creative community that nurtures the talents of its students. Train on either the BA Acting or the MA Acting for Stage, Screen and Radio.
Famous RWCMD alumni include: Anthony Hopkins and Rob Brydon.
RWCMD application process
Apply via UCAS, and then the first-round audition will involve performing two contrasting monologues via Zoom. For the second round, you'll be asked to prepare two new monologues, one classical and one contemporary, as well as repeat your first ones. The audition will take place in Cardiff. The final recall will involve a longer workshop-style audition in Cardiff. Applications open when UCAS opens in September.
