| 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: neck. 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 soft tissue neck MRI show?
A soft tissue neck MRI looks at the parts of the neck in front of the spine: the salivary glands, the lymph nodes, the throat and voice box, the muscles and the blood vessels in outline. It is used to look at a lump, a swollen gland that has not gone down, or to see how far a known problem extends. Vista Health's page for this area also covers the jaw joint (TMJ).
It is a different scan from a cervical spine MRI, which looks at the bones, discs, spinal cord and nerves. Make sure you book the right one.
When should a neck lump be checked by a GP first?
A neck lump that lasts more than a few weeks, keeps growing, is hard, or comes with hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, weight loss or night sweats should be seen by a GP. NICE's suspected cancer guidance (NG12) sets out urgent referral routes for some neck lumps. Ultrasound is often the first test for a neck lump, not MRI.
Can I refer myself for a private neck MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral. Vista Health's neck soft tissue page says scans start from £249 and offers self-referral for adults after a questionnaire. Because the right test for a lump is often ultrasound, and the result needs a specialist, many people do better with a GP or ENT referral. See self-referral.
How much does a private neck MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed £249 off-peak, £360 standard and £380 fast track, plus £125 for contrast. A neck lump scan often uses contrast. Hospital guide prices for one part ranged from £400 to £620 at the Nuffield Health sites we checked.
What happens during a neck MRI?
You lie on your back with a coil around your neck. Your head goes into the scanner. Try not to swallow or cough during each set of images. Expect 20 to 40 minutes, longer with contrast.
What should I ask before booking?
- Is this a soft tissue neck scan, not a cervical spine scan?
- Would ultrasound be the better first test?
- Is contrast needed, and what is the full price?
- Who will receive the report and act on it?
Is a neck MRI the same as a cervical spine MRI?
No. A soft tissue neck MRI looks at glands, nodes and the throat. A cervical spine MRI looks at the bones, discs and nerves.
How much does a private neck MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, from £249 off-peak at a dedicated centre plus £125 if contrast is needed, and £400 to £620 for one part at the hospital sites we checked.
Should I have an MRI for a neck lump?
See a GP first. Ultrasound is often the first test, and some lumps need an urgent NHS referral.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.