Adult courses · Ages 16 and over
One-to-one lessons
The fastest way to learn English, because nothing is aimed at anybody else. You work alone with a teacher to plan lessons that fit your needs — your studies, your job, your future. Choose 10, 20 or 30 lessons a week of 45 minutes each, from £545 per week. Every lesson is made for you and your goals, and the timetable is arranged around you. You can also share private lessons with up to five friends or colleagues.
- Lesson length
- 45 minEach lesson
- Per week
- 10 · 20 · 30Lessons
- From
- £545Per week
- Share with
- Up to 5Friends or colleagues
Why work alone with a teacher
Private lessons are the right choice if you want to learn English quickly, in a way designed specifically for you.
In a group class the teacher divides their attention between twelve people and follows a programme that suits the average of them. That works, and for most students it works well. But if you have a deadline, an unusual goal, or one stubborn weakness that a general course keeps skating past, a private teacher is a different proposition entirely: every minute is spent on you.
Personal planning
Every lesson is made just for you and your goals. You and your teacher decide together what each session covers, and you can change direction whenever your priorities do.
Nowhere to hide
This is the honest advantage and the honest cost. You speak for the whole lesson. It is more tiring than a group class and it is considerably faster.
A flexible timetable
Private lesson timetables are flexible and depend on our teachers' schedules, so we arrange them with you rather than fixing them in advance.
Immediate correction
Mistakes get caught as you make them, rather than surviving a fortnight because the teacher was helping someone else at the time.
What students use it for
Lessons can help with your studies, your job and your future. In practice most students arrive with one of these:
An exam and a deadline
IELTS, Cambridge or a SELT with a date already booked, and one paper standing between you and the score. See exam preparation.
Your work
Presentations, meetings, negotiation, professional emails, an interview coming up. See business English.
A specific weakness
The tense you never mastered, a pronunciation habit from your first language, writing that reads as blunt when you meant to be polite.
Very little time
A week is not long on a group course. A week of thirty private lessons is a different matter, and some students take exactly that.
Two kinds of private course
CIP
Course in Private
General English one to one. Everything from grammar and conversation to exam preparation, planned around your level and your goals.
The right choice for most students.
SCIP
Special Course in Private
One-to-one tuition in a specialist field — business, technical or professional English taught by a tutor with expertise in your area.
Tell us the discipline when you enquire so we can match you to the right teacher.
Prices
Per week. Choose how many lessons you want each week — the more you take, the less each one costs.
| Course | 10 lessons | 20 lessons | 30 lessons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course in PrivateCIP 10, 20, 30 | £545 | £975 | £1,320 |
| Special Course in PrivateSCIP 10, 20, 30 | £635 | £1,085 | £1,575 |
- Includes
- Private tutoring, a personalised learning plan, all course materials
- Excludes
- Accommodation, administrative fees
Each lesson is 45 minutes. Prices for private lessons shared with a small group of friends or colleagues are available on request.
What two weeks actually costs
| Course in Private 20, 2 weeks £975 per week — 20 private lessons a week | £1,950 |
|---|---|
| Standard homestay, 2 weeks £225 per week, breakfast and dinner, 7 nights | £450 |
| Registration fee (one-off) | £60 |
| Accommodation arrangement fee | £40 |
| Total | £2,500 |
Build your own total with the fee calculator, or see every price on the fees page.
Bringing friends or colleagues
Private lessons for up to five people
You can take private lessons with a small group of friends or colleagues — up to five people. The lessons are still built around what your group needs rather than following a set programme, and the cost is shared between you.
This suits colleagues from the same company, couples travelling together, or friends at a similar level with a shared goal. Prices are available on request — email info@inlingua-cheltenham.co.uk with the number of people and their levels.
Other ways to get private lessons
Combination courses — the popular middle ground
Most students who take one-to-one classes still want the environment of a group course: other nationalities, conversation, people to have lunch with. A combination package gives you both — 20 or 30 group lessons a week plus 5 or 10 private lessons, from £625 a week.
See combination courses →Online one-to-one
The same idea without the travel, in blocks of 10, 20 or 30 hours timetabled around your working week. No administrative fees apply.
See online lessons →Group courses
General English 20 and Intensive English 30 in classes of 8 to 12, from £270 a week. Considerably cheaper, and better for conversation practice and making friends.
See group courses →Practical details
| Age | 16 and over |
|---|---|
| English level | Any, from complete beginner to C2 |
| Lesson length | 45 minutes |
| Lessons per week | 10, 20 or 30 |
| Timetable | Flexible, arranged with you and dependent on teacher availability |
| Start dates | Arranged with you — give us as much notice as you can |
| Location | Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX. Also available online. |
| Accommodation | Homestay from £225 a week, or a hotel within walking distance |
Because private lessons depend on teacher availability, early booking matters more here than on our group courses — particularly for specialist subjects. See accommodation options.
Common questions
How much do one-to-one English lessons cost?
In 2027, Course in Private costs £545 a week for 10 lessons, £975 for 20 and £1,320 for 30. Special Course in Private, for specialist subjects, costs £635, £1,085 and £1,575. Private tutoring, a personalised learning plan and all course materials are included. Accommodation and the £60 registration fee are charged separately.
How long is each lesson?
Forty-five minutes. Ten lessons a week is therefore about seven and a half hours of teaching; thirty lessons is around twenty-two and a half.
When do the lessons happen?
Private lesson timetables are flexible and depend on our teachers' schedules, so we arrange them with you rather than publishing fixed times. Tell us the hours that suit you when you enquire and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Can I decide what the lessons cover?
Yes — that is the whole point. Every lesson is planned for you and your goals, and you can change direction during your course if your priorities shift. Tell your teacher what you want to work on.
Can I take private lessons with a friend?
Yes, with up to five people. The lessons are still built around what your group needs, and the cost is shared. Prices are available on request — email us with the number of people and their English levels.
Is one-to-one better than a group course?
It is faster and more targeted, and it is considerably more expensive. A group course gives you conversation practice with people at your level, a social programme, and friends — none of which a private teacher can provide. Many students take a combination course precisely because they want both.
What is the difference between CIP and SCIP?
Course in Private is general English one to one, which suits most students. Special Course in Private is one-to-one tuition in a specialist field such as business, technical or professional English, taught by a tutor with expertise in that area. Tell us your discipline when you enquire.
Can I do this online instead?
Yes. Online one-to-one lessons are available in blocks of 10, 20 or 30 hours with a flexible timetable, and administrative fees do not apply to them. Some students take a few online lessons before travelling, then continue in Cheltenham.
Tell us what you need to work on
Your level, your goal and your dates. Because private lessons depend on teacher availability, the earlier you ask the better your choice of times — and of teacher.
Accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK · Prices valid for courses starting in 2027 · inlingua Cheltenham, Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, Cheltenham GL50 1HX · +44 (0)1242 250 493 · Last updated August 2026.