| Centre type | From-price | Referral rule | Report time | Source | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open or upright MRI (dedicated centre group) (Vista Health) | From £575 (Birmingham upright); from £600 (London open and upright) | Self-referral form offered | Report by a consultant radiologist; time not stated on the page | vista-health.co.uk | 5 October 2026 |
| 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 |
- 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: the body area. 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.
What is an open MRI?
A standard MRI scanner is a tunnel. You lie on a table that slides into the middle of it, and the area being scanned must be at the centre. An open MRI has a different shape: typically two flat plates above and below you, with open sides. An upright MRI lets you sit or stand while you are scanned. Some centres also have "wide-bore" tunnel scanners, which are still tunnels but with a larger opening, and those suit many people too.
Who is an open or upright MRI for?
- People who are claustrophobic and have not managed a standard scan, or do not want to try.
- People who are larger and do not fit comfortably in a standard tunnel.
- People who cannot lie flat because of pain or breathing problems.
- Some spinal specialists want images with you sitting or standing, when your pain is worse in those positions.
What are the limits of open MRI?
State this first: open and upright scanners usually have a lower magnetic field strength than standard closed scanners. Lower field strength usually means less detailed images and longer scan times. For many joint and spine questions that is fine. For small structures, such as some brain, pituitary or detailed joint scans, a radiologist may prefer a closed scanner. Ask the centre whether its open scanner suits your scan.
Upright scanners are rarer and may not be close to you. Prices are higher, and fewer centres take self-referral for them.
How much does an open MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed upright MRI in Birmingham from £575 and conventional open and upright MRI in London from £600, both for one body part, with a self-referral form offered. For comparison, its standard closed MRI was £249 off-peak and £360 standard for one area. We did not find other open MRI prices we could verify, so we have not listed them.
What else helps if I am claustrophobic?
Many people who are anxious manage a standard scan with some help. Ask the centre about:
- A wide-bore scanner, which has a bigger opening.
- Going in feet first, possible for knee, ankle, foot and some hip scans.
- A prism mirror, music, or a radiographer talking you through each stage.
- Bringing someone with you to sit in the room, after their own safety check.
- Sedation. Few dedicated centres offer it, and it means someone must take you home. Ask your GP about anxiety medicine before the day.
Tell the centre when you book. Radiographers deal with this every day and would rather plan for it than have you leave half-way through.
How much does an open MRI cost?
On 5 October 2026, Vista Health listed upright MRI in Birmingham from £575 and open and upright MRI in London from £600 for one part.
Is an open MRI as good as a normal MRI?
Open scanners usually have a lower field strength, so images can be less detailed and scans take longer. For many joint and spine questions that is fine. Ask the centre.
Can I go in feet first to avoid my head being inside?
For knee, ankle, foot and some hip scans, yes. Ask the centre when you book.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.