| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated scanning centre group (Vista Health) | £249 off-peak; £360 standard; £380 fast track (within 7 days) | Self-referral accepted (18+) | Written report within 3 working days | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Dedicated scanning centre group: contrast add-on (Vista Health) | +£125 if contrast is needed (not for under 16s) | Contrast scans go through an enquiry form first | Written report within 3 working days | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group (50+ hospitals) (Circle Health Group) | From £347; varies by hospital, quote may be higher | Priced on the scans requested by the professional who referred you | Same day in some cases; otherwise within one week | circlehealthgroup.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group diagnostic suite (Nuffield Health Manchester Diagnostic Suite) | £400 one part; £538 two parts; £658 three parts (guide prices) | Referral from a registered healthcare professional needed | Results within a few days | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Hospital group hospital (Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital) | £620 one part (guide price) | Referral from a healthcare professional needed | Results to your referrer within a week | nuffieldhealth.com | 5 October 2026 |
| Online booking service (150+ partner centres) (Scan.com) | From £305, including a referral written by its medical team | No GP letter needed; its clinicians compile the referral | Estimated 7 to 10 working days | uk.scan.com | 5 October 2026 |
- Price is per single body area. Contrast, if needed, is £125 extra.
Prices are the centres' own published figures, checked by Pete on 5 October 2026. A centre may change a price at any time; the centre's quote is what counts. We delete a row we cannot re-check. Listing a centre here does not mean it is a partner of ours. Full list on Sources.
What we can and cannot do
We are not a clinic and not the NHS. We do not scan, diagnose, refer or book a confirmed slot. We cannot tell you whether you need an MRI. If you have new weakness, numbness in the saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe headache, chest pain or any symptom that frightens you, call 999 or NHS 111, or see your GP, today.
What we can do: explain the price, the referral rule and the centre types in plain English, and, if you ask, pass your request to one independent scanning centre that covers your area so it can contact you. That is free for you. The centre may pay us a fee.
Four steps to a private MRI
- Body area. Name the one area to be scanned: brain. Two areas usually cost more than one.
- Referral rule. Check whether the centre takes self-referral or wants a letter from a GP, physio or consultant. See self-referral and GP letter.
- Centre type. Dedicated scanning centre, hospital group, or open MRI. Compare the from-price, the referral rule and the report time.
- Ask one centre to contact you. Use the form. One partner centre may call or email you. Nothing is booked until you agree a time and price with them.
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What does a brain MRI show?
A brain MRI (often called a head MRI) shows the brain tissue, the fluid spaces, the blood vessels in outline, the pituitary area, the inner ear nerves and the bones of the skull base. It can show areas of inflammation, old and new strokes, tumours, the white-matter changes seen in multiple sclerosis and in ageing, and structural causes of seizures. With a dedicated sequence it can also show the arteries; that is an MRA.
A brain MRI cannot explain most headaches. NICE guidance on headaches (CG150) advises against referring people for brain imaging solely for reassurance when the headache is typical of migraine or tension-type headache. Many scans of healthy people show small, harmless findings, and those can cause worry and further tests.
When should I not wait for a private brain scan?
Call 999 or go to A&E for a sudden severe headache, weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, slurred speech, confusion, a first seizure, or a headache with fever and a stiff neck. Those need urgent NHS care, not a private appointment.
Can I refer myself for a private brain MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral. Vista Health's head scan page says scans start from £249 and offers self-referral for adults, after a questionnaire that the centre's clinicians review. Many centres are more cautious with head scans than joint scans because findings can be hard to interpret without a doctor involved. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP or consultant. A private GP or neurologist consultation can give you a referral and someone to explain the report. See self-referral and GP letter.
How much does a private brain MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £249 off-peak, £360 standard and £380 fast track for a single area, plus £125 if contrast is needed. Hospital guide prices for one part ranged from £400 to £620 at the Nuffield Health sites we checked. Some brain scans, for example to look more closely at a known lesion, need contrast; see contrast.
What happens during a brain MRI?
You lie on your back with your head in a cage-like coil. Your head goes into the middle of the scanner, so tell the centre in advance if you are claustrophobic. A scan without contrast usually takes 20 to 30 minutes; with contrast, longer. If contrast is used, a small needle goes into a vein in your arm, and the centre may ask about your kidney function first.
Who explains the report?
A consultant radiologist writes it. Words like "non-specific white matter foci" are common and often harmless, but you need a doctor to tell you what they mean for you. Before booking, ask the centre who receives the report and whether a follow-up consultation is available and at what cost.
Private brain MRI by city
City pages are work in progress and are not yet indexed. They show what we checked locally: London · Birmingham · Manchester · Leeds · Liverpool · Sheffield · Bristol · Newcastle · Nottingham · Leicester · Southampton · Brighton · Cambridge · Oxford · Reading. See all cities.
Can I get a private brain MRI without a GP?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral for adults, such as Vista Health. Many people choose a private GP or neurologist first so someone can explain the result.
How much does a private brain MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, from £249 off-peak at a dedicated centre plus £125 if contrast is needed, and £400 to £620 at the hospital sites we checked.
Will a brain MRI explain my headaches?
Usually not. NICE advises against brain imaging solely for reassurance in typical migraine or tension-type headache. A sudden severe headache needs 999 or A&E.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.