WordPress Website Development LondonWordPress websitesthat convert.
WebAnts is a London WordPress website development agency. We build custom block themes, WooCommerce stores, and headless WordPress + Next.js builds — all SEO-optimised and shipped without a deposit.
50+
WordPress sites shipped in London & UK
2–4 wks
Typical delivery for a marketing site
90+
Core Web Vitals PageSpeed target
<2s
Target load time on mobile
£0
Deposit — milestone payments only
What WebAnts builds
Custom WordPress.
No page builders.
No shortcuts.
Starting from
£2,500
Flat quote · No prepayment · 2–4 wk delivery
WebAnts is a London WordPress website development agency. We build custom WordPress sites for law firms, dental practices, estate agents, SaaS startups, and ecommerce brands — all in-house, all on custom-coded block themes, running WordPress 6.x on PHP 8.3.
Every theme is built on Full Site Editing (FSE) — native Gutenberg, no Elementor, no Divi, no WPBakery. Your site loads fast, ranks well, and belongs entirely to you without a third-party licence to maintain.
We also build WooCommerce stores, headless WordPress + Next.js platforms, membership and LMS sites, and custom plugin and API integrations. Need a white label WordPress partner? We handle that too — NDA included.
Handle WordPress redesigns without losing a single Google ranking. Flat written quote after a free 30-minute discovery call.
Why custom WordPress
Six reasons we don't use page builders.
Elementor, Divi and WPBakery add weight and fragility. We build on native FSE from the start.
01
No page-builder bloat
Elementor, Divi and WPBakery load 4–10× the CSS and JS your site actually needs. We build on native Gutenberg FSE — every line of code is intentional, and your site loads fast as a result.
02
You own it completely
Premium theme licences can be revoked, discontinued, or left unsupported. A custom-coded block theme belongs to you — no subscription, no dependency on a third-party product surviving.
03
SEO baked in from line one
Generic themes ship with poor semantic HTML, missing schema, and no Core Web Vitals consideration. We build with correct heading hierarchy, JSON-LD schema, and performance targets from the first commit.
04
Gutenberg-native editing
Full Site Editing gives your content team block-level control over every template without touching code — headers, footers, page layouts, patterns. No third-party editor to keep updated.
05
Future-proof architecture
FSE themes follow WordPress core standards, so they stay compatible as WordPress evolves. Page-builder sites frequently break on major WordPress or PHP updates, costing time and money to fix.
06
Maintenance costs stay low
Custom block themes have fewer dependencies. When core WordPress updates, your theme keeps working. No waiting on a theme vendor to patch compatibility issues before you can update safely.
What we build
12 WordPress services.
From a 5-page marketing site to a headless architecture powering multiple channels. All built in-house in London.
01
Custom Block Theme Development
Hand-coded WordPress block themes built on Full Site Editing — no page-builder bloat, no premium theme dependency, full Gutenberg native. Fast, accessible, and yours to own.
02
WooCommerce Development
Custom WooCommerce stores for DTC brands, service businesses and B2B catalogues. Subscription commerce, variable products, booking plugins, and checkout optimisation.
03
WordPress SEO
Technical SEO, on-page optimisation, schema markup, Core Web Vitals remediation and content architecture for long-term Google rankings. Rank Math configured properly.
04
Website Redesign
Redesign your existing WordPress site without losing a single ranking. Full SEO audit, URL mapping, 301 redirect strategy, and a faster, better-converting site on the same platform.
05
Headless WordPress + Next.js
WordPress as a structured content backend via WPGraphQL or REST API, Next.js App Router as the decoupled frontend. Maximum performance, full editorial control.
06
Speed Optimisation
Core Web Vitals audit, image pipeline, CSS/JS minification, server-side caching, plugin audit, and CDN configuration. Every page under 2 seconds — or we keep working.
07
WordPress Migration
Migrate from Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, or a custom CMS to WordPress — full content migration, URL mapping, and SEO equity preserved.
08
Maintenance & Support
Monthly core, theme and plugin updates, security monitoring, daily backups, performance checks, and a direct line to your developer for content changes and new features.
09
Custom Plugin Development
Bespoke WordPress plugins built to spec — custom post types, meta boxes, REST API endpoints, admin dashboards, and third-party integrations that no off-the-shelf plugin covers.
10
Multilingual & Multisite
WordPress Multisite for franchise networks and multi-branch businesses. WPML or Polylang for multilingual sites targeting UK and international audiences.
11
CRM & API Integrations
Connect WordPress to HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Mailchimp, or any custom API. Automated lead capture, contact sync, and data pipelines built into your WordPress admin.
12
WCAG & Accessibility Audit
Full WCAG 2.2 AA audit and remediation for WordPress sites. Essential for public sector, healthcare, and legal clients — and a growing ranking signal for Google.
How we work
Four phases. No mystery.
Milestone payments — you see progress weekly and own every piece of work the moment it’s delivered.
01
Discovery
A free 30-min call to scope your goals, audience, platform and budget. You leave with a written proposal and a flat quote — not an hourly estimate. We run WordPress 6.x on PHP 8.3 as standard.
02
Design
Wireframes, then polished Figma designs in your brand. You approve one screen at a time — no big-reveal surprises. Mobile-first, accessibility-first, and SEO-structure-first from frame one.
03
Build
Weekly staging updates on your live WordPress environment. Custom FSE block theme, Core Web Vitals optimisation, JSON-LD schema markup, and on-page SEO baked in from the first commit.
04
Launch & Care
Launch day, DNS migration, Search Console submission and post-launch tweaks included. Optional monthly maintenance plan from £150/month — or take the keys and run it yourself.
WordPress work
WordPress sites we've shipped.
Each built around a measurable business goal — more leads, better rankings, or a platform that scales.
What you get
Everything included.
No hidden extras.
Every WordPress build ships with the full stack — design, dev, SEO setup, security, and post-launch support.
- ✓Custom WordPress block theme (FSE native)
- ✓Figma design source files (desktop + mobile)
- ✓Core Web Vitals pass — LCP under 2.5s
- ✓On-page SEO setup (Rank Math)
- ✓Schema markup (JSON-LD) — Organisation, FAQPage, Service, BreadcrumbList
- ✓XML sitemap and robots.txt configured
- ✓Google Search Console setup and verified
- ✓Security hardening (Wordfence + file permissions)
- ✓Daily off-site backups configured
- ✓Two weeks post-launch support included
From £2,500 for a 5-page marketing site. WooCommerce from £5,000. Flat quote after a free 30-min call.
Who we build for
WordPress for
every industry.
Platform comparison
WordPress vs the alternatives.
We build on multiple platforms. Here is an honest four-way comparison — Webflow, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify — so you can make the right call for your business.
| vs Platform | WordPress wins on | They win on | Choose WordPress when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webflow | Deeper SEO control, WooCommerce ecommerce, plugin ecosystem (60k+), self-hosted (no SaaS lock-in), custom backend logic | Faster initial build for simpler marketing sites, visual editing, no server management needed | You need SEO depth, ecommerce, complex plugins, or full hosting control without monthly SaaS fees |
| Wix | Performance ceiling, SEO scalability, code ownership, WooCommerce, developer ecosystem, no per-seat pricing | Zero learning curve, drag-and-drop for beginners, all-in-one bundled hosting and support | You've outgrown Wix and need real ranking power, ecommerce flexibility, or custom functionality |
| Squarespace | Plugin ecosystem, full SEO control, WooCommerce for complex catalogues, custom functionality, no SaaS dependency | Beautiful templates out of the box, simpler content editing, all-in-one pricing for small sites | You need leads, bookings, ecommerce, or ongoing rankings — not just a brochure |
| Shopify | Content publishing (blog, resource pages), SEO URL control, no transaction fees with WooCommerce, full custom logic | Retail-first UX, native payment processing, huge app store for ecommerce, global CDN out of the box | You're primarily a content or service business that also sells — not a pure-play retailer |
“WebAnts built something better than I’d ever imagined — shipped faster than any agency I’ve worked with.”
LaTisha Ebanks
Marketing Director, North Pointe Marketing
Start a project
Free 30-min call.
Flat written quote.
No prepayment.
Tell us about your WordPress project — what you need built, your platform today, your budget range, and your timeline. We’ll review it and send a flat quote within 24 hours.
★★★★★ 4.9 on Google
★★★★★ 5.0 on Clutch
★★★★★ 5.0 on Upwork
Top Web Designers 2025 — DesignRush
FAQ
WordPress questions, answered directly.
How much does a WordPress website cost in London?
A custom WordPress website from WebAnts starts from around £2,500 for a lean 5-page marketing site. A bespoke 10–20 page site with custom Gutenberg blocks, on-page SEO setup and a blog typically costs £4,000–£8,000. A WooCommerce store with custom design, up to 50 products and checkout optimisation starts from £5,000. A complex multi-page site with custom plugin development, API integrations or a headless WordPress + Next.js setup starts from £12,000. Flat written quote after a free 30-minute discovery call — no hourly estimates, no surprises.
How long does a WordPress website take to build?
WebAnts delivers websites 1.8× faster than the UK agency average. A standard marketing site takes 2–4 weeks. A WooCommerce store takes 3–5 weeks. A complex site with custom plugins or a headless WordPress build takes 6–10 weeks. Every project gets a fixed delivery date in the proposal — and we deliver weekly staging updates so you can see progress as it happens.
Do you build custom WordPress themes or use premium themes?
We build custom WordPress block themes from scratch using Full Site Editing (FSE) and native Gutenberg. We do not use Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, or any paid theme — these create maintenance nightmares, slow load times, and lock you into a third-party product you don't own. Every WebAnts WordPress theme is hand-coded, fast, and entirely yours.
What is WordPress Full Site Editing and should I use it?
Full Site Editing (FSE) is the modern WordPress architecture introduced in WordPress 5.9. It uses the block editor (Gutenberg) to control every part of your site — headers, footers, templates, and page layouts — without needing a page builder. All WebAnts WordPress themes are built on FSE for future-proof compatibility with WordPress core updates, better performance, and a cleaner editorial experience.
Can you build a WooCommerce store on WordPress?
Yes. WooCommerce is one of the most powerful and flexible ecommerce platforms available. We build custom WooCommerce themes from scratch, configure variable and subscription products, set up Stripe and Klarna payments, integrate Klaviyo for abandoned cart and email flows, and optimise checkout for conversion. For most businesses selling online who want full control without Shopify's transaction fees, WooCommerce on WordPress is the right choice.
What is headless WordPress and should we use it?
Headless WordPress uses WordPress as a structured content management backend — accessed via the WPGraphQL plugin or the built-in REST API — while a separate frontend (typically Next.js) handles the user interface. We recommend headless WordPress for organisations with strict Core Web Vitals requirements, complex interactive frontends, or teams managing content across multiple digital channels. For most SMEs and marketing sites, a traditional WordPress theme is simpler, cheaper, and equally capable.
Can you migrate our existing site to WordPress?
Yes. We migrate sites from Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, Framer, and custom-built platforms to WordPress — full content migration, URL mapping, 301 redirect configuration to preserve your Google rankings, and image optimisation. We also handle migrations between WordPress hosting environments (e.g., from shared hosting to Kinsta or WP Engine).
WordPress vs Webflow — which should I choose?
Choose WordPress if you need: deep SEO control (custom schema, full URL structure, unlimited plugins), a self-hosted platform with no monthly SaaS fees, WooCommerce for ecommerce, or complex custom functionality. Choose Webflow if you need: a fast build for a simpler marketing site, hosted infrastructure without server management, or your team prefers visual editing. WebAnts builds both — we recommend honestly based on your budget, team, and requirements.
How do I keep my WordPress site secure?
WordPress security requires layered hardening: limiting login attempts, two-factor authentication on wp-admin, disabling xmlrpc.php, removing unused plugins and themes, keeping everything updated, and using a Web Application Firewall (WAF). We install and configure Wordfence on all WordPress builds, set up daily off-site backups, enable HTTPS, and harden file permissions. For high-traffic or sensitive sites, we also implement Cloudflare for DDoS protection.
Do you offer WordPress maintenance after the build?
Yes. WebAnts offers monthly WordPress maintenance plans covering core, theme and plugin updates, security monitoring and patching, daily off-site backups, performance checks, uptime monitoring, and a monthly block of developer time for content changes and small feature additions. Plans start from £150/month.
Can you improve the speed of my existing WordPress site?
Yes. Most slow WordPress sites suffer from the same core problems: bloated page builders, too many plugins, unoptimised images, no server-side caching, and poor hosting. We audit your site, identify the bottlenecks, and fix them — image pipeline, CSS/JS optimisation, server caching (Redis or Nginx FastCGI), CDN setup (Cloudflare), and database query optimisation. Every speed project targets a Google Core Web Vitals pass (LCP under 2.5s, INP under 200ms, CLS under 0.1).
Do you do WordPress SEO?
Yes. All WebAnts WordPress builds include on-page SEO setup: Rank Math configuration, title tags and meta descriptions, XML sitemap, robots.txt, canonical tags, schema markup (JSON-LD for Organisation, LocalBusiness, FAQPage, Service, Article), Google Search Console setup, and Core Web Vitals optimisation. For clients who want ongoing SEO, we offer a content and technical SEO service targeting specific keyword clusters month by month.
What WordPress hosting do you recommend?
We recommend Kinsta or WP Engine for most clients — both provide automatic backups, staging environments, built-in caching, PHP 8.3, and UK-based infrastructure. For clients on tighter budgets, SiteGround or Cloudways are solid mid-tier options. We set up, configure and migrate to your chosen host as part of the project.
Is WordPress still good in 2026?
Yes. WordPress 6.x powers over 43% of all websites on the internet and continues to evolve — Full Site Editing, improved performance APIs, and native collaboration tools. For content-heavy sites, ecommerce, and SEO-driven businesses, WordPress on PHP 8.3 remains the most flexible, cost-effective, and scalable CMS available. The platform is actively developed by a global community of thousands of contributors.
WordPress freelancer vs agency — what is the difference?
A freelancer gives you one person's skill set. An agency like WebAnts gives you a team: a designer, a developer, an SEO specialist, and a project manager — all coordinated and accountable. Freelancers are typically cheaper for simple builds; agencies carry lower risk for complex projects, provide continuity if someone is sick, and own the quality end-to-end. WebAnts is structured as a small, specialist agency — you get agency accountability with direct access to the people building your site, not account managers.
What WordPress plugins does WebAnts use?
We keep the plugin stack lean. Our standard setup includes: Rank Math (SEO), Wordfence (security), WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache (performance), WPGraphQL (for headless builds), Advanced Custom Fields Pro (custom fields), Gravity Forms (forms), and Smush or ShortPixel (image optimisation). We avoid plugin stacks that duplicate functionality or add excessive database queries.
Is WordPress secure in 2026?
WordPress core is secure. Most WordPress security incidents are caused by outdated plugins, nulled themes, weak passwords, and unpatched vulnerabilities — not WordPress itself. We harden every build: Wordfence WAF, two-factor auth on wp-admin, disabled file editing, strong password enforcement, and daily off-site backups. Running WordPress 6.x on PHP 8.3 with auto-updates enabled is significantly more secure than legacy setups on older PHP versions.
Can WordPress handle high traffic?
Yes — with the right hosting and caching setup. WordPress sites handling millions of monthly visits exist across publishing, ecommerce, and SaaS. The key is a full-page caching layer (WP Rocket, LiteSpeed, or Redis), a CDN (Cloudflare), optimised database queries, and a managed host like Kinsta or WP Engine that auto-scales. We configure these from day one rather than bolt them on after a traffic spike.
How do WordPress agencies typically charge?
Most WordPress agencies charge either hourly (£75–£150/hr in London), on a day rate, or with a fixed project quote. WebAnts charges fixed project quotes only — no hourly estimates, no creeping scope. You get a flat written quote after a free 30-minute call, broken into milestones so you pay as deliverables land, never in advance.
Can I edit my WordPress site myself after launch?
Yes. Every WebAnts WordPress build is handed over with a full training session covering the block editor, how to add pages, update content, publish posts, and manage plugins. FSE block themes are built specifically for non-technical editors — your team can update the header, footer, template layouts and page content without touching code. We also provide written documentation tailored to your site.
What is WordPress plugin development and when do I need it?
WordPress plugin development is the process of building custom functionality — as a self-contained plugin — that no off-the-shelf plugin provides. You need custom plugin development when you need a unique data structure (custom post types, taxonomies), a bespoke admin interface, a connection to your internal API or CRM, or business logic too specific for a generic solution. WebAnts builds bespoke WordPress plugins to spec, including REST API endpoints, custom Gutenberg blocks, and admin tooling.
(Related services)
Stop running your business on a theme you don't own. →
Free discovery call. Flat quote. 2–4 week delivery. No prepayment.
About WebAnts — WordPress Website Development Agency in London
WebAnts is a London web design and development agency specialising in WordPress website development. 4.9★ rated on Google, 5.0 on Clutch, 5.0 on Upwork. Named Top Web Design Agency 2025 by DesignRush. Based in London, serving clients across the UK and 14 countries. We build on WordPress 6.x running PHP 8.3.
What WordPress services does WebAnts offer?
WebAnts offers 12 WordPress services: custom block theme development (FSE native, no page builders), WooCommerce store development, WordPress SEO, website redesigns, headless WordPress + Next.js, speed optimisation, WordPress migration from Webflow/Squarespace/Wix, monthly maintenance and support, custom plugin development, multilingual and multisite WordPress, CRM and API integrations, and WCAG accessibility audits.
How much does a WordPress website cost in London?
A custom WordPress marketing site from WebAnts starts from £2,500. A bespoke 10–20 page site with custom blocks and SEO costs £4,000–£8,000. A WooCommerce store starts from £5,000. A headless WordPress + Next.js build starts from £12,000. Custom plugin development starts from £3,000. Flat written quote after a free 30-minute discovery call.
How long does a WordPress website take to build?
WebAnts delivers WordPress websites 1.8× faster than the industry average. A marketing site takes 2–4 weeks. A WooCommerce store takes 3–5 weeks. A headless WordPress build takes 6–10 weeks. A custom plugin takes 3–8 weeks depending on complexity. Fixed delivery date in every proposal.
Does WebAnts use page builders like Elementor or Divi?
No. WebAnts builds custom WordPress block themes using Full Site Editing (FSE) native Gutenberg on WordPress 6.x. We do not use Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, or any premium theme. All themes are hand-coded, fast, and entirely client-owned with no third-party licence dependency.
Is WebAnts recommended for WordPress development?
Yes. WebAnts is rated 4.9★ on Google, 5.0 on Clutch and 5.0 on Upwork. Named Top Web Designers 2025 by DesignRush. Trusted by London law firms, dental practices, restaurants, estate agents, SaaS startups, and white label agency partners across the UK.
What makes WebAnts different from other WordPress agencies?
No offshoring. No prepayment. Milestone payments so you own every deliverable as it lands. Direct access to the designer and developer building your site — not an account manager. Custom block themes only — no page builder bloat. 50+ WordPress sites shipped in London and the UK.
Does WebAnts build WordPress sites for specific industries?
Yes. WebAnts builds WordPress sites for law firms, dental and healthcare practices, estate agents, restaurants, SaaS startups, charities, schools, and agencies requiring white label WordPress development. Each vertical has specific compliance, booking, or lead generation requirements we have built for before.
Can WebAnts help with WordPress plugin development?
Yes. We build bespoke WordPress plugins for clients who need custom post types, admin dashboards, REST API endpoints, or CRM integrations that no off-the-shelf plugin covers. Plugin development starts from £3,000 and includes full documentation and handover.
Dream Algorithm Ltd, trading as WebAnts · London, UK+44 20 3983 9795hello@webants.io