| 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: hip. 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 hip MRI show?
A hip MRI shows the ball and socket joint, the labrum (the ring of cartilage around the socket), the joint cartilage, the muscles and tendons around the hip and buttock, and the bone itself. It can show problems an X-ray misses: early loss of blood supply to the head of the thigh bone, stress fractures, labral tears, tendon problems on the outside of the hip, and inflammation.
For the common wear-and-tear arthritis of later life, an X-ray is usually the first test, and NICE guidance on osteoarthritis (NG226) says the condition can often be diagnosed from symptoms and examination alone. MRI is more often used in younger, active people with groin pain, when a sports injury is suspected, or when a specialist wants to plan surgery.
Can I refer myself for a private hip MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral. Vista Health's hip page says scans start from £249 and offers self-referral for adults, after a clinical and safety questionnaire. Hospital groups usually ask for a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. A consultant may want an MR arthrogram, with contrast injected into the joint; that needs a referral and costs more. See self-referral.
How much does a private hip 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, and Fortius Clinic Wimbledon listed £735 before consultant fees. Ask whether "hip" means one hip or both: some centres image the whole pelvis, which shows both hips, and price it as one area; others price each hip separately.
What happens during a hip MRI?
You lie on your back, usually feet first, with your hips in the middle of the scanner. Your head may stay near the opening, which helps some people who dislike enclosed spaces. Expect 20 to 40 minutes. A metal hip replacement affects the images and the safety check; tell the centre about it, and about any other implants, before you book.
What should I ask before booking a hip MRI?
- One hip, both hips or the pelvis, and how is that priced?
- Self-referral, or do you need a letter?
- Is an arthrogram needed instead?
- Report time, and can you share the images with a physio or surgeon?
Private hip 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 hip MRI without a GP?
Yes, at some dedicated centres that accept self-referral. Hospital groups usually want a referral from a GP, consultant or physiotherapist.
How much does a hip MRI cost privately?
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.
Does a hip MRI scan both hips?
Sometimes. Some centres image the pelvis, which includes both hips; others scan one hip. Ask how the centre defines and prices the area.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.