| 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 |
| 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 |
| Specialist orthopaedic clinic (Fortius Clinic Wimbledon) | £735 one part (guide price, excludes consultant fees) | Referral letter may be needed; physio referral may be accepted | Not stated on the price page | fortiusclinic.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: foot. 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 foot MRI show?
A foot MRI shows the bones of the midfoot and forefoot, the joints between them, the tendons along the top and sole, the plantar fascia under the heel, and the soft tissue between the toes. It is used for stress fractures that do not show on an X-ray, a suspected Morton's neuroma (a thickened nerve between the toes), tendon problems, plantar fascia problems that have not settled, and bone inflammation.
Ultrasound is often used first for the plantar fascia and for Morton's neuroma. MRI gives a wider view, including the bone marrow.
Can I refer myself for a private foot MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral. Vista Health covers foot and ankle together, says scans start from £249, and offers self-referral for adults after a questionnaire. Hospital groups usually ask for a referral from a GP, consultant, registered physiotherapist or podiatrist. See self-referral.
How much does a private foot MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £249 off-peak, £360 standard and £380 fast track for a single area. Hospital guide prices for one part were £400 to £620 at the Nuffield Health sites we checked. Fortius Clinic Wimbledon listed £735 before consultant fees. Ask whether forefoot, midfoot and ankle count as one area or two: the answer changes the price. If your pain is mainly at the ankle, see ankle MRI.
What happens during a foot MRI?
You go in feet first and lie on your back, with your foot in a coil. Your head usually stays near or outside the opening. Expect 20 to 30 minutes. Keeping the toes still is harder than it sounds; the radiographer will pad the foot.
What should I ask before booking?
- Which part of the foot will be scanned, and is that one area?
- Self-referral or a letter?
- Report time and image download.
- If the report shows a neuroma or a stress fracture, who will you see next?
Is a foot MRI the right next step?
Many foot problems, including most plantar heel pain, are diagnosed from the history and examination and get better with time, footwear changes and exercises. A scan helps most when pain stays in one bony spot, when you have had an injury, or when a podiatrist or surgeon wants to plan treatment. Ask the person treating you what a scan would change.
Can I get a private foot MRI without a GP?
Yes, at some dedicated centres that accept self-referral. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP, consultant, physiotherapist or podiatrist.
How much is a private foot MRI?
On 5 October 2026, from £249 off-peak at a dedicated centre, and £400 to £620 for one part at the hospital sites we checked.
Is a foot MRI the same as an ankle MRI?
Not always. Some centres image foot and ankle as one area, others as two. Ask which part will be scanned and how it is priced.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.