Ambulatory ECG · London
24-hour Holter monitor - private in London.
A small portable recorder that captures every heartbeat for a full day. Fitted at a Harley Street clinic, reported by a consultant cardiologist, routed back to your GP or specialist. From £180.
- Clinically reviewed
- Vetted CQC-registered clinics
- Reply within one working day
- Free
What it is
A pocket-sized ECG that never stops recording.
A resting ECG captures ten seconds of your heart. A Holter captures every one of the roughly 100,000 beats you make in 24 hours. That is why it finds things a clinic ECG cannot.
The recorder
A matchbox-sized battery-powered device that clips to your belt or hangs on a strap around your neck. It weighs under 100 grams and sits under a shirt without showing.
The electrodes
Three, five or seven adhesive stickers on your chest, each connected to the recorder by a fine lead. A standard 3-lead Holter captures the same information a resting ECG needs to identify almost every clinically important rhythm.
The symptom diary
A short paper log where you note the exact time of any palpitation, dizziness or blackout. When the cardiologist reads the trace, they line up your notes against the rhythm at that minute. It is often what turns a raw recording into a diagnosis.
Who it is for
When a Holter is the right next test.
Any symptom that is intermittent, cardiac in nature, and either felt by you or suspected by your doctor. If symptoms occur less than once every 24 hours, we usually recommend a longer patch monitor from the outset.
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Palpitations
Skipped beats, fluttering or a racing heart. The commonest reason for a Holter.
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Dizziness or presyncope
Lightheadedness, particularly on standing or exertion.
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Unexplained syncope
Blackouts where a cardiac cause has not been excluded.
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Suspected paroxysmal AF
Intermittent atrial fibrillation missed on a resting ECG. A patch monitor often yields more.
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Post-ablation surveillance
Confirming rhythm control after AF ablation or pulmonary vein isolation.
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Medication effect check
Assessing rate control on beta-blockers, or QT interval on new medication.
How it works
From fitting to consultant report - what happens, in order.
A 15-minute fitting appointment. Wear it for 24 hours. Return the device the next day. Written report in 3-5 working days.
- 01 Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms, timeline, referral or insurer if you have them.
- 02 Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which monitor (24-hour, 48-hour, 7 or 14-day patch), which clinic, indicative price.
- 03 Before
We arrange the fitting
Often same or next day. A 15-minute appointment to fit the device, print the diary and brief you.
- 04 During
Wear the recorder for 24 hours
A small pocket-sized recorder with three or seven ECG electrodes on your chest. Go about your normal day.
- 05 During
Keep your symptom diary
Note the time of any palpitations, dizziness, breathlessness or blackout. It lets the reporter correlate rhythm with symptoms.
- 06 During
Return the device
Drop the monitor back at the clinic the next day. It takes two minutes.
- 07 After
Consultant report
A cardiologist report in 3-5 working days. We route it to your GP or specialist.
Extended monitoring
When 24 hours isn't long enough.
If symptoms are weekly or monthly, a longer recording is likely to pick up what a 24-hour Holter would miss. Diagnostic yield rises sharply with patch monitors of 7 days or more.
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48-hour Holter
Doubles the recording window for symptoms that occur less than once every 24 hours. Same electrodes, same fitting.
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7-day patch monitor (Zio, ePatch)
A single adhesive patch worn continuously for a week. Waterproof, discreet under clothing, no leads.
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14-day patch monitor
For infrequent palpitations or suspected paroxysmal AF that a shorter recording is likely to miss. Higher diagnostic yield than 24-hour Holter.
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Implantable loop recorder
A matchstick-sized device inserted under the skin for up to three years. Reserved for unexplained syncope or very infrequent events.
Preparation
How to get a clean recording.
A few small steps that make the difference between a clear trace and one full of artefact.
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Shower before your fitting
Once the electrodes are on, you cannot get the monitor wet. Some patch monitors are waterproof; the fitter will confirm.
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No lotion, oil or talc on the chest
They stop the electrodes sticking. Come with clean, dry skin.
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Wear a loose top
Something easy to lift for electrode placement. Men with chest hair may have small patches shaved.
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Keep the symptom diary
Log the exact time of any symptom, what you were doing, and how long it lasted. The report is only as good as your diary.
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Avoid water while worn
No baths, swimming or showering during a standard 24 or 48-hour Holter. Patch monitors are usually splash-proof.
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Otherwise, live normally
Exercise, work, sleep, drive. Only through normal activity will the abnormality show up.
Cost in London
Honest ranges across our partner clinics.
Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options - almost always with insurer pre-authorisation handled for you.
In short
Standard 24-hour Holter in our network: £180-£350, reported in 3-5 working days.
| Monitor type | Indicative range | Recording window | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-hour Holter monitor | £180-£350 | 24 hours | 3-5 days |
| 48-hour Holter monitor | £280-£450 | 48 hours | 3-5 days |
| 7-day patch monitor (Zio, ePatch or similar) | £400-£650 | 7 days | 5-7 days |
| 14-day patch monitor | £550-£850 | 14 days | 5-10 days |
| Implantable loop recorder (device plus fitting) | £3,500-£5,500 | Up to 3 years | Ongoing |
| Symptom-triggered event recorder | £250-£450 | 2-4 weeks | 3-5 days |
Prices vary by clinic and whether the report is authored by a general cardiologist or an electrophysiologist. Insurance almost always covers ambulatory ECG when clinically indicated.
Where it is done
Vetted London cardiology centres.
A small panel of centres with in-house electrophysiology reporting, chosen for report quality and turnaround. We introduce you to the right one privately, once we understand your case.
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One Welbeck Heart Health
Marylebone
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London Cardiovascular Clinic
Harley Street
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HCA The Wellington Hospital
St Johns Wood
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Cromwell Hospital Bupa
South Kensington
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Royal Brompton Private
Chelsea
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Barts Heart Centre Private
City of London
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Spire Bushey Hospital
North London
What the report shows
The five things a cardiologist looks for.
Every Holter report has a similar structure. The correlation with your symptom diary is almost always the answer to why the test was ordered.
A quiet reminder
Your report is written for your doctor, not for you.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Your details and the question
Who you are, the type of monitor, the recording window and the clinical question your referrer wanted answered.
- 02 Rate
Average, minimum and maximum HR
The full 24-hour heart rate profile, including overnight lows and peak rates during activity.
- 03 Arrhythmia
Ectopy and arrhythmia burden
Counts of ectopic beats (SVE, VE), runs of SVT or VT, and the percentage of the recording spent in any abnormal rhythm.
- 04 AF
Atrial fibrillation episodes
Number, duration and longest episode of AF or flutter detected during the recording.
- 05 Diary
Correlation with your symptom diary
The reporter cross-references your logged symptoms against the rhythm at that exact time. Often the key answer.
Related
Tests and conditions related to ambulatory ECG.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Coverage varies by clinic and policy. We confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked before someone enquires.
Quick answers on showering, exercise, symptom diaries, insurance and results.
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Can I shower while wearing the Holter monitor?
Not during a standard 24 or 48-hour Holter. The electrodes and recorder are not waterproof. Shower before your fitting appointment. Most 7 and 14-day patch monitors (Zio, ePatch) are splash-proof and can be worn in the shower - the fitter will confirm what applies to your device.
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Can I exercise while wearing it?
Yes, and you should live as normally as possible. Walk, work, cycle, use the gym. Only through normal activity will an intermittent arrhythmia have a chance to appear. Very heavy sweating can loosen the electrodes; if one falls off, press it firmly back and note the time in your diary.
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How important is the symptom diary?
It is the most important thing you do. The report matches your logged symptoms against the rhythm at that exact minute. If you feel palpitations at 14:23, note 14:23. Without the diary, the reporter can only say what your heart did, not whether it correlates with what you felt.
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Will my insurance cover a private Holter monitor?
Most policies cover ambulatory ECG monitoring when medically indicated and pre-authorised. Bupa, AXA, Vitality, Aviva, WPA, Cigna and Healix are all recognised at our partner clinics. We handle pre-authorisation for you.
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How long until I get the results?
Typically 3-5 working days for a 24 or 48-hour Holter, and 5-10 working days for a 7 or 14-day patch monitor (the recording is longer to analyse). Urgent cases can be reported within 48 hours where clinically justified.
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How often can I repeat a Holter?
There is no fixed limit. If a 24-hour recording is negative but symptoms continue, most cardiologists move you to a longer patch monitor (7 or 14 days) rather than repeat the same test. Repeat monitoring is common after starting rate-control medication or after AF ablation.
Ready when you are
Get a 24-hour Holter monitor in London, fitted this week.
Tell us what is happening. We come back within one working day with a clinic, a price and a fitting appointment. If a longer patch monitor is a better fit for your symptoms, we will say so.