| 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: knee. 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 knee MRI show?
A knee MRI shows the soft parts of the joint that an X-ray cannot: the two menisci (the cartilage pads that cushion the joint), the cruciate ligaments in the middle of the knee, the collateral ligaments on each side, the tendons at the front, the joint cartilage and the bone underneath it. It can also show fluid in the joint, bone bruising and small cracks in the bone that do not show on an X-ray.
That is why a knee MRI is often requested after a twisting injury in sport, a knee that locks or gives way, or pain that has not settled with rest and physiotherapy. It is less useful for the common wear-and-tear knee pain of later life. NICE guidance on osteoarthritis (NG226) says the condition can usually be diagnosed from symptoms and examination without imaging. A scan can still be ordered when a clinician is unsure, or is planning surgery.
Do I need a referral for a private knee MRI?
Not always. A knee is one of the scans dedicated centres most often accept by self-referral. Vista Health's knee MRI page says you can refer yourself and that knee scans start from £249. You fill in a safety and clinical questionnaire, and the centre decides whether the scan is suitable.
Hospital groups usually ask for a referral. Nuffield Health's MRI pages say you need a referral from a healthcare professional such as a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. Many people with a knee injury see a private physiotherapist first, and a physio's referral is often accepted. If you are insured, your insurer will probably want a GP referral and an authorisation number before the scan. See self-referral and GP letter.
How much does a private knee MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026 the lowest published price we found was £249 for an off-peak single-knee scan at Vista Health, with standard slots at £360 and fast-track slots within seven days at £380. Hospital guide prices for one part ranged from £400 (Nuffield Health Manchester Diagnostic Suite) to £620 (Nuffield Health Cambridge). Fortius Clinic in Wimbledon, a specialist orthopaedic clinic, listed £735 for one part before consultant fees.
Both knees count as two areas. Nuffield's Manchester suite listed £538 for two parts. A knee MRI rarely needs contrast. The exception is an MR arthrogram, where dye is injected into the joint; that is a different procedure, usually ordered by a consultant, and costs more.
What happens during a knee MRI scan?
You lie on your back, feet first, and a coil (a padded frame that picks up the signal) is placed around the knee. Because only your legs and hips go into the scanner for most knee scans, many people who dislike enclosed spaces find a knee scan easier than a head or spine scan. The scan usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. You must keep the leg still. The machine is loud, so you will be given ear protection.
You will be asked about metal in your body before the scan: pacemakers, some heart valves, cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, metal fragments in the eyes and some joint replacements need checking first. Tell the centre about all of them, even if you think they are safe.
Should I get an MRI or see a physio first for knee pain?
That depends on what happened. After a clear injury with swelling, locking or giving way, a scan can confirm a meniscus or ligament tear and help a surgeon or physio plan. For gradual pain without injury, a physiotherapist or GP examination often tells you as much as a scan would, at lower cost. An MRI can also show changes that are common in people with no pain at all, especially over the age of 40, and that can lead to worry or treatment you do not need.
A sensible order for many people is: examination first, scan if the examination suggests something a scan would change. A good centre will tell you if it thinks a scan is unlikely to help.
What should I ask a centre before booking a knee MRI?
- Is the from-price for one knee, and does it include the radiologist's report?
- Do you accept self-referral for a knee, or do you need a letter?
- What field strength is the scanner (1.5T or 3T), and is it a closed or open scanner?
- How long until the report, and who receives it?
- Can I download the images to share with a physio or consultant?
- What happens if the report shows something that needs a specialist?
Write the answers down. The cheapest slot is not always the best value if the report takes longer or you then need to pay for a consultation to understand it.
Private knee 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 knee MRI without a GP?
Yes, at some dedicated centres. Vista Health accepts self-referral for knee scans. Most hospital groups want a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist.
How much is a private knee MRI?
On 5 October 2026 published prices for one knee started at £249 off-peak, with hospital guide prices from £400 to £620. Both knees count as two areas.
How long does a knee MRI take?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes in the scanner. Only your legs and hips go in for most knee scans.
Will a knee MRI show a torn meniscus?
MRI is the usual scan for checking the menisci and ligaments. Only a radiologist's report, read with your examination, can say what your images show.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.