Compare the best nursing homes in England

What to look for in nursing care

Unlike a residential care home, a nursing home always has registered nurses on duty. Many nursing homes also provide residential and dementia care, so one home can support changing needs over time.

When choosing a nursing home, check the CQC rating, the nursing cover, how the home manages specific conditions, and whether the NHS-funded nursing care contribution applies.

The counties with the most nursing homes are Greater London (376), West Midlands (219), Sussex (186), Greater Manchester (182), Surrey (166), Hampshire (155). Choose your area to compare local homes, each with its current CQC rating and a link to the full inspection report.

The Care Quality Commission inspects every care home in England and gives one of four ratings: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. The rating reflects whether the home is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. A Good or Outstanding rating is a strong starting point, but it is worth reading the full inspection report, which we link to on every profile, to understand the detail behind the rating.

When you visit a shortlisted home, it helps to ask how staff are trained for nursing care, what the staff-to-resident ratio is on each shift, how care plans are reviewed, what activities are on offer, and how the home communicates with families. Trust your impression of how residents and staff interact, and ask current residents' families about their experience where you can.

Fees for nursing homes depend on the home, the level of care and how the place is funded. Self-funded residents pay the full weekly fee; nursing and specialist care cost more than basic residential care. Where savings fall below the means-test threshold the local authority may contribute, and the NHS funds the nursing element of care in a nursing home, or the full placement through NHS Continuing Healthcare for those with the highest health needs. Fees are not held in the CQC record, so confirm the current fee with each home.

Every home in this directory is listed using official information from the Care Quality Commission, including its rating, registered beds and the care it is registered to provide. As homes claim and complete their profiles, you will also be able to compare facilities, photos, current vacancies and reviews to help you choose with confidence.