| 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: thigh. 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 thigh MRI show?
A thigh MRI shows the large muscles of the upper leg (hamstrings at the back, quadriceps at the front, adductors on the inside), their tendons, the thigh bone and the soft tissue around it. It is mostly used for muscle and tendon injuries in sport, such as a hamstring tear, to judge how severe the injury is and whether a tendon has pulled away from the bone. It is also used for lumps in the thigh and for bone pain that an X-ray did not explain.
A hamstring tendon that has pulled off the bone at the top of the thigh may need an early surgical opinion. If you felt a sudden pop high in the back of the thigh with heavy bruising, get assessed promptly.
Can I refer myself for a private thigh MRI?
Some dedicated centres accept self-referral. Vista Health's thigh page says upper leg scans start from £249 and offers self-referral for adults after a questionnaire. Hospital groups usually ask for a referral from a GP, consultant or registered physiotherapist. Sports physiotherapists often refer for this scan. See self-referral.
How much does a private thigh 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. A lump in the thigh may need contrast, which adds to the price; see contrast.
What happens during a thigh MRI?
You lie on your back, usually feet first. Depending on which part of the thigh is scanned, your head may stay near the opening. Expect 20 to 40 minutes. The thigh is long, so the radiographer may need to know exactly where the pain or lump is; mark it or point to it before the scan.
What should I ask before booking?
- Which part of the thigh, and is it one area?
- Self-referral or a letter, and is contrast needed?
- Report time, and will the report go to my physio?
- Can I download the images?
When is a thigh MRI worth it?
Most muscle strains are diagnosed and graded by examination, and many recover with rehabilitation. A scan helps when a tendon injury may need surgery, when an athlete needs a clearer timeline for return, or when there is a lump that needs explaining. A new, growing or painful lump in the thigh should be seen by a GP first; NICE's suspected cancer guidance (NG12) sets out referral routes for soft tissue lumps.
Can I get a private thigh 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 is a private thigh 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.
Will an MRI show a hamstring tear?
MRI is commonly used to show and grade hamstring injuries. Only a radiologist's report, read with your examination, says what your images show.
Want one centre to call you? Request a private MRI. Free for you; the centre may pay us.