How many care homes are there really in England, where are they concentrated, and what do they cost in 2026? We combined Curalune's mapping data — our database of care homes, town by town — with real 2026 cost figures. Here are the numbers. The data is freely citable with attribution (Curalune, 2026).
How many homes: the coverage
For 2026, Curalune's mapping records across England
- 14,858 care homes published (residential and nursing).
- Across 1,283 towns and all 9 English regions.
It is one of the broadest and most granular publicly accessible maps of the English care-home landscape. (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are regulated separately.)
Where they are: the regional ranking
The leading regions by number of homes recorded
- South East — 2,831 care homes
- North West — 1,874 care homes
- South West — 1,865 care homes
- West Midlands — 1,697 care homes
- East of England — 1,639 care homes
- Yorkshire & the Humber — 1,477 care homes
- East Midlands — 1,455 care homes
- London — 1,280 care homes
- North East — 730 care homes
The South East leads by a wide margin, reflecting both population and the concentration of private-pay demand in the wealthier southern regions.
What a care home costs in 2026
Care in England is among the most expensive in Europe
- A residential care home costs on average around £1,160/week (roughly £60,000/year); a nursing home around £1,410/week (roughly £73,000/year), with wide regional variation — the South East and London being the priciest.
- The threshold families need to know: if you have capital above £23,250, you are a self-funder and pay in full; below it, the local council contributes after a means test.
- Where care needs are primarily health-related, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) can fund the entire placement — often missed, and worth pursuing.
How the means test works: council funding thresholds explained.
What it means for families
- Self-funders subsidise the system. Above £23,250 you pay full price — often more than councils pay for the same bed — so getting the funding assessment right matters financially.
- NHS CHC is the biggest missed opportunity. If health needs are high, the NHS may pay everything: NHS Continuing Healthcare explained.
- The paperwork decides the timeline. A missing financial record can delay the funding decision for months: care home admission paperwork checklist.
Methodology
Coverage data (number of homes, towns and regions) comes from Curalune's mapping database for England, updated 2026. Cost figures come from public 2026 sources on care-home fees. For citations or aggregated data by region: the source is Curalune (2026).
How to find the right home
With nearly 15,000 care homes, the problem isn't quantity — it's the choice. Curalune Care Help builds you a shortlist of 3–5 suitable care homes for your relative's situation and budget, usually within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How many care homes are there in England?
Curalune's 2026 mapping records 14,858 care homes across 1,283 towns and all 9 English regions (Scotland, Wales and NI are regulated separately).
Which regions have the most care homes?
The South East leads (2,831), followed by the North West (1,874) and South West (1,865). London has 1,280.
How much does a care home cost in 2026?
A residential home averages around £1,160/week (~£60,000/year) and a nursing home around £1,410/week (~£73,000/year), varying by region. Above £23,250 in capital you self-fund; below it the council contributes.
Can the NHS pay for a care home?
Yes — NHS Continuing Healthcare can fully fund a placement when care needs are primarily health-related. It is worth assessing and, if refused, appealing.
Bottom line
In England, Curalune maps 14,858 care homes across 1,283 towns, led by the South East. Fees in 2026 average roughly £1,160–1,410/week depending on care type and region — and the £23,250 threshold, council funding and NHS Continuing Healthcare decide how much a family actually pays.
Paying less is mostly a paperwork problem
What a family actually pays is decided less by the home's headline fee than by three applications: the council's financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare — which covers the entire fee when the need is primarily a health need — and Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested and is missed by a great many families. If the home is the only asset, ask the council about a deferred payment agreement before selling anything.
