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Imaging · London

CT scan in London, fast, detailed and justified.

A five-minute scan that resolves lungs, bones and acute bleeding in detail no other modality matches. It uses ionising radiation, so it should only be used when the clinical question genuinely needs it - with MRI or ultrasound preferred when they’d answer better.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private CT scan costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£350-£700, reported in 24-72 hours.

Scan type Indicative range
CT single region (head, chest, abdomen) £350–£700
CT with contrast £450–£900
CT chest, abdomen & pelvis £600–£1,100
CT coronary angiogram (CTCA) £650–£1,300
CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) £600–£1,100
Low-dose lung screening CT £350–£700

Prices vary by clinic, time of day, how many regions are covered, and whether iodinated contrast is used.

The problem

The fastest scan is not always the right one.

CT is superb for lungs, bone and bleeding, and it is quick. But it uses radiation, and for soft tissue MRI or ultrasound often answers better with none. Choosing correctly - and using a low-dose protocol - is the job.

  • CT or MRI?

    A clinician can advise which answers your question - and MRI uses no radiation.

  • Worried about the dose?

    Look for modern low-dose scanners and justify every scan first.

  • Need it quickly?

    A CT takes minutes and can often be arranged privately same or next day.

What it shows

What a CT scan is genuinely best at.

CT earns its place for specific questions - speed, lungs, bone and bleeding.

  • Lungs & chest

    The best test for lung detail - nodules, infection, scarring and screening.

  • Bones & complex fractures

    Superb bone detail, especially for complex or subtle fractures.

  • Bleeding & head injury

    Fast and decisive after head injury or when bleeding is suspected.

  • Kidney stones

    The definitive test for stones and the cause of sudden severe flank pain.

  • Cancer staging & follow-up

    Maps the extent of a known cancer and tracks response to treatment.

  • Coronary arteries (CTCA)

    A non-invasive look at the heart arteries for chest pain and risk.

  • Bowel (CT colonography)

    A virtual colonoscopy option when a camera test is unsuitable.

  • When speed matters

    A CT takes minutes - invaluable when a fast answer changes management.

CT scan types

Not all CT scans are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Standard CT

    Fast cross-sectional imaging of head, chest, abdomen or pelvis.

  • CT with contrast

    Iodinated contrast to highlight blood vessels, organs and masses.

  • CT coronary angiogram

    Images the heart arteries without a catheter, for chest pain and risk.

  • CT colonography

    A virtual colonoscopy when a camera test is not suitable.

  • Low-dose lung screening

    A reduced-dose protocol for lung screening in higher-risk people.

  • CT urogram

    Focused on kidneys, ureters and bladder, often for blood in the urine.

  • CT angiography

    Detailed imaging of arteries anywhere in the body.

  • Low-dose protocols

    Modern scanners cut the dose substantially - look for those.

Safety and eligibility

Radiation, contrast, and when to choose something else.

The honest headline for CT is radiation dose. The scan should be justified, low-dose protocols used, and contrast safety checked before you arrive.

  • Radiation dose

    CT does use ionising radiation. Modern low-dose scanners keep this small, and CT should only be used when the benefit clearly outweighs it.

  • When MRI is better

    For soft tissue, brain detail, joints and the pelvis, MRI is often better and uses no radiation. A clinician can advise which is better.

  • When ultrasound is better

    For gallbladder, thyroid and many soft-tissue questions, ultrasound answers it with no radiation at all.

  • Pregnancy

    CT is generally avoided in pregnancy.

  • Iodinated contrast allergy

    Reactions are uncommon but real.

  • Kidney function

    A recent eGFR is needed if contrast is planned, as it is cleared by the kidneys.

  • Children

    Paediatric low-dose protocols are used, and MRI or ultrasound is considered first wherever possible.

  • Weight and size

    CT scanners have a wide, short opening - far easier for claustrophobia than MRI.

Reading your report

A CT report can look intimidating. It isn't.

However much ground it covers, a CT report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant radiologist reviewing CT images on a clinical workstation in Central London

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your doctor, not for you - and that is normal.

If anything is unclear, ask the clinician who arranged the test to talk you through it before your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the question

    Your details, the region scanned, and the clinical question behind the referral.

  2. 02 Technique

    How the scan was done

    Which region was covered, whether contrast was used, and the dose protocol applied.

  3. 03 Findings

    What the radiologist saw

    A structured, region-by-region description of the organs and structures imaged, including any incidental findings.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    The conclusion in brief - read this first. Your specialist discusses it in context.

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Frequently asked

Common questions about CT scans.

Quick answers on radiation, cost, referrals, contrast and results.

  • How much radiation will I actually get from a CT scan?

    A CT chest is around 6–7 mSv and a low-dose lung screen closer to 1–2 mSv - roughly two years and six months of UK background radiation respectively. Modern London scanners use iterative reconstruction that has cut doses sharply, and a scan should only be booked when the clinical answer justifies the dose.

  • What is a CT scan used for?

    CT is fast and excellent for the lungs and chest, complex fractures, bleeding after head injury, kidney stones, cancer staging, and the coronary arteries. It takes minutes, which matters when a quick answer changes management.

  • Should I have a CT or an MRI?

    It depends entirely on the question. CT is better for lungs, bone detail, acute bleeding and speed. MRI is better for soft tissue, the brain, joints and the pelvis - and uses no radiation. A clinician can advise which fits.

  • Do I need a referral?

    CT is usually arranged with a referral, because the dose means it should be clinically justified.

  • Will I need contrast?

    Often, for organ and vascular detail.

  • How long does a CT scan take?

    The scan itself takes only a few minutes - typically 10-20 minutes in the room including positioning. Contrast studies take a little longer.

  • Is CT better for claustrophobia than MRI?

    Usually yes. A CT scanner is a wide, short ring rather than a long tunnel, and the scan lasts minutes rather than half an hour.

  • Can I have a CT scan if I am pregnant?

    It is generally avoided.

  • Will my insurance cover it?

    Most policies cover CT when clinically indicated and pre-authorised.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

The London pathway for CT scan

With CT scan, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for CT scan is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A typical private booking for CT scan in London starts with a consultant conversation - sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For CT scan specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle CT scan. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. It’s worth checking which is which - and being open to a different test or a different specialist if that would serve you better. UK-regulated providers work to CQC, GMC and Royal College standards; the choice is about fit, not floor.