Places to Advertise My Daycare Business in the UK (Complete 2026 Guide)

If you’re searching for places to advertise my daycare business, you’re likely trying to solve a very real problem:
how to get more enquiries and enrolments without wasting money on the wrong platforms.

In the UK, parents don’t choose a daycare or nursery after seeing a single advert. They search, compare, read reviews, scroll social media, and ask other parents before they ever book a tour.

That’s why successful daycare marketing in 2026 isn’t about advertising everywhere.
It’s about choosing the right places to advertise your daycare business, based on how parents actually behave.

This guide walks you through the best places to advertise a daycare business in the UK, how each channel works, and how to prioritise them for real results.

Why Choosing the Right Advertising Platforms Matters for Daycare Businesses

Advertising your daycare business isn’t about being everywhere.
It’s about showing up where parents are already looking — at the moment they’re ready to make a decision.

Choosing the wrong platforms can lead to:

• Lots of clicks but no enquiries

• High spend with low return

• Confused messaging

Choosing the right places helps you:

• Attract qualified parents

• Build trust before first contact

• Increase tour bookings and enrolments

Advertising works best when it’s part of a wider strategy. That’s why understanding the bigger picture of
marketing a nursery in the UK in 2026 helps daycare owners prioritise the platforms that actually support enrolments, not just visibility.

1. Google Search (The Most Important Place to Advertise Your Daycare)

If a parent types:

• “daycare near me”

• “nursery near me”

• “childcare near me”

They’re ready to enquire.

Why Google Search works so well for daycare advertising

• High intent

• Local visibility

• Immediate enquiries

• Works for all UK locations

What to advertise on Google

• Your daycare website

• Open day pages

• Availability or admissions pages

💡 Tip:
Even a small Google Ads budget can outperform social media if your website is clear and mobile-friendly.

2. Google Maps & Reviews: Where Parents Compare Options

Many parents don’t even click websites at first. They:

• Open Google Maps

• Compare ratings

• Read reviews

• Look at photos

• Call directly

How to use Google Maps effectively

• Fully optimise your Google Business Profile

• Add real photos of rooms and outdoor areas

• Collect and reply to reviews

• Keep details updated

For many nurseries, Google Maps drives more calls than social media.

3. Local Directories & Childcare Listings

Parents often use directories to compare options in their area.

Why directories work

• Parents are already researching

• Less competition than Google Ads

• High trust and local relevance

Focus on:

• Council childcare listings

• Well-known nursery comparison sites

• Local parenting platforms

Quality matters more than quantity.

4. Facebook: Still One of the Best Places to Advertise a Daycare

Facebook remains extremely effective for UK parents aged 25–45.

Best ways to advertise on Facebook

• Local Facebook Ads (radius targeting)

• Community and parenting groups

• Open day announcements

What performs best:

• Short videos

• Staff introductions

• Day-in-the-life content

• Parent testimonials

Facebook builds familiarity and trust, which supports enquiries.

5. Instagram: Showing Parents What Your Daycare Feels Like

Instagram rarely drives instant enquiries on its own, but it plays a big role in the decision process.

Parents use Instagram to:

• See daily routines

• Understand the environment

• Check consistency and professionalism

Instagram works best when combined with:

• Google visibility

• A clear website

• Easy enquiry steps

6. TikTok: A Fast-Growing Discovery Platform for Parents

In 2026, more UK parents search directly on TikTok.

They look for:

• “nursery day routine”

• Settling-in tips

• Honest, real experiences

TikTok works best when content is:

• Simple

• Reassuring

• Not overly produced

You don’t need viral videos — just clarity and consistency.

Your Website: The Hub All Advertising Points To

Every advert eventually sends parents to your website.

If parents leave without enquiring, the issue is often not the advert itself.

Understanding why your daycare website bounce rate is high can help you fix common problems like unclear messaging, slow mobile load times, or missing trust signals.

Your website should:

• Load fast on mobile

• Clearly explain your approach

• Make enquiries simple

• Show reviews and credibility

Email & SMS: Turning Interest Into Enrolments

Not all parents enquire immediately.

Email and SMS help you:

• Follow up after open days

• Nurture undecided parents

• Share availability updates

These channels are:

• Owned

• Low cost

• Highly effective

Many UK daycare businesses overlook this step and lose warm leads.

Local Partnerships & Offline Advertising

Some of the best places to advertise your daycare business are offline.

Examples include:

• Baby and toddler classes

• Children’s activity centres

• Health visitors

• Community noticeboards

These partnerships often cost little and build trust quickly.

Word of Mouth & Referrals

No advert beats a recommendation from another parent.

You can support referrals by:

• Asking happy parents for reviews

• Making your daycare easy to recommend

• Creating a consistently positive experience

Advertising should support word of mouth — not replace it.

Which Places Should You Prioritise First?

If budget or time is limited, start with:

1. Google Search + Google Maps

2. A strong, mobile-friendly website

3. Facebook (ads and local groups)

4. One social platform (Instagram or TikTok)

Expand once enquiries become consistent.

Common Daycare Advertising Mistakes

Many daycare businesses struggle not because of budget, but because of avoidable mistakes.

Being aware of common digital marketing mistakes daycare businesses make — such as advertising everywhere at once, ignoring website performance, or focusing on likes instead of enquiries — can dramatically improve results without increasing spend.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Places to Advertise Your Daycare Business

The best places to advertise your daycare business in the UK are the ones that:

• Match parent behaviour

• Build trust

• Make the next step easy

There is no single “best” platform — only the right mix for your location, capacity, and goals.