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Cessation · London

Private smoking cessation programme in London, specialist-led, evidence-based.

A specialist-led programme - behavioural support plus modern pharmacotherapy, structured over 12 weeks with proper relapse prevention. Not a leaflet.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private smoking cessation programme actually costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£600–£1,400, with weekly reviews and a written plan from day one.

Programme Indicative range
Initial cessation consultation £180–£360
Full 12-week programme £600–£1,400
NRT + support programme (12 wks) £450–£1,000
Varenicline / bupropion programme £550–£1,200
Vape-cessation programme £400–£900
Pre-op stop-smoking programme (6 wks) £350–£800

Prices vary by clinic, the medication chosen, and whether you need an accelerated pre-op pathway.

The problem

Willpower isn't a plan.

Cold-turkey quits fail more than 95% of the time. A proper programme roughly doubles your odds by combining the right medication with weekly behavioural support and a plan for the slips.

  • Which format?

    Full 12-week programme, accelerated pre-op pathway, or a vape-cessation taper - the right one depends on your situation.

  • What happens if I slip?

    Most successful quitters slip at least once. The plan is reset and continues - a slip is not a failed quit.

Who it helps

The main pathways - and who they're for.

Every cessation pathway is built around a specific situation. Here's who each one is for, and the honest red flag.

  • Adult smokers ready to quit

    The core programme - combination pharmacotherapy plus structured behavioural support over 12 weeks.

  • Pre-operative cessation (surgery in 4–8 wks)

    An accelerated 6-week pathway to reduce anaesthetic and wound-healing risk before surgery.

  • Vape / e-cigarette cessation

    A structured taper from vaping - nicotine strength step-downs plus behavioural support.

  • COPD-linked cessation

    A respiratory-physician-led pathway for smokers with COPD, integrated with lung-function review.

  • Post-MI or CV disease cessation

    A prioritised pathway after cardiac events - the single highest-yield intervention for secondary prevention.

  • Post-cancer diagnosis cessation

    A supported pathway alongside oncology - quitting improves treatment tolerance and outcomes.

  • Teenage / young-adult vaping

    A tailored pathway for under-25s vaping regularly - behavioural-first, with family involvement where useful.

  • Red flag: severe COPD or acute cardiac event - accelerated pathway

    A same-week specialist appointment where risk is high - see the honest-limits box below.

Programme options

Not all cessation programmes are the same.

What each option on your quote is actually for.

  • Initial cessation consult

    A 60-minute consultant or NCSCT-accredited advisor consultation: history, CO reading, medication review, quit date.

  • Full 12-week programme

    The complete pathway - combination pharmacotherapy plus weekly behavioural support and relapse prevention.

  • NRT-based programme

    Combination NRT (patch plus a fast-acting form) with weekly behavioural support. Suitable in pregnancy where needed.

  • Varenicline / bupropion programme

    Prescription-led programme with the highest-yield oral medications, with mental-health monitoring throughout.

  • Vape-cessation programme

    A structured nicotine-strength taper for people who switched to vaping and now want to stop entirely.

  • Pre-op stop-smoking

    A compressed 6-week programme timed to your surgery date - the evidence-based way to reduce peri-operative risk.

  • Family-based cessation

    A shared pathway for couples or households quitting together - the strongest predictor of a successful quit.

  • Corporate cessation programme

    A discreet, employer-funded pathway for teams - same clinical standards, group or 1:1 format.

Honest limits and safety

What a cessation programme can - and cannot - do.

Every effective programme comes with real trade-offs. Here they are, plainly.

  • Combination pharmacotherapy is the highest-yield approach

    Medication plus behavioural support roughly doubles the odds of a successful quit versus either alone.

  • Varenicline is back on the UK market

    After a supply pause, varenicline is available again - often the single most effective oral medication for smoking cessation.

  • Vaping is a harm-reduction tool, not a long-term solution

    Switching to vaping is safer than smoking, but the goal is to stop nicotine altogether where possible.

  • Pregnancy - behavioural support first, NRT if needed

    Behavioural support is first-line in pregnancy; NRT is added when behavioural support alone is not enough.

  • Mental-health monitoring on varenicline

    Mood is monitored throughout - historic warnings have been downgraded but clinicians still watch for changes.

  • Relapse is common - plan for it

    Most successful quitters relapse at least once. A slip is not a failure; the programme resets and continues.

  • CO monitoring is an evidence-based motivational tool

    A breath CO reading falls within days of quitting - a visible, honest measure of progress at each visit.

  • E-cigarette-associated lung injury is rare but real

    Regulated UK devices are far safer than illicit THC-vape products, but any new respiratory symptoms need urgent review.

  • Always share prior quit attempts

    Every previous attempt shows what worked and what did not - a good plan is built from that history.

Reading your report

Your quit plan on one page. Not a leaflet.

Whatever programme you're on, the plan keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant physician reviewing a smoking cessation plan at a London clinic

A quiet reminder

The impression is written first - quit date, medication, review dates.

If anything in it is unclear, ask your adviser or GP to talk you through it before your next review.

  1. 01 Header

    Motivation, prior attempts and medications

    Your smoking or vaping history, prior quit attempts, current medications and comorbidities - the starting point for the plan.

  2. 02 Technique

    Programme selected

    Which programme was chosen - NRT, varenicline, bupropion, or vape-taper - and why, with the dosing schedule.

  3. 03 Findings

    CO reading, cravings, triggers

    Objective CO measurements at each visit alongside a structured record of cravings, triggers and side effects.

  4. 04 Impression

    The quit plan: read this first

    Your quit date, medication schedule, review dates and relapse-prevention plan - up front, in plain English.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about smoking cessation.

Quick answers on medication, cost, referrals, pregnancy, vaping and getting started.

  • What does a private smoking cessation programme include?

    A consultant or NCSCT-accredited advisor consultation, a personalised medication plan (combination NRT, varenicline or bupropion), weekly behavioural support over 12 weeks, CO monitoring at each visit, and a structured relapse-prevention pathway with 12-month follow-up.

  • Is varenicline safe?

    Varenicline is one of the most effective oral medications for smoking cessation and is back on the UK market after a supply pause. Historic mental-health warnings have been downgraded by regulators, but mood is still monitored at each review and the plan adjusted if concerns arise.

  • Can I get help to stop vaping?

    Yes. Structured vape-cessation support typically uses stepwise reductions in nicotine strength combined with behavioural support. Vaping is a harm-reduction tool rather than a long-term solution, and stopping entirely is the goal for most people.

  • Can I do a cessation programme in pregnancy?

    Yes. In pregnancy, behavioural support is first-line and often enough on its own. NRT is added where behavioural support alone is not sufficient. Varenicline and bupropion are not used in pregnancy.

  • Is mental health monitored on varenicline?

    Yes. Mood, anxiety and any change in mental state are normally checked at each review for anyone on varenicline. If there is a concern the plan is adjusted - often swapping to NRT or bupropion.

  • How much does a private smoking cessation programme cost in London?

    An initial consultation is £180–£360. A full 12-week programme is £600–£1,400 depending on medication choice. Pre-op accelerated programmes are £350–£800.

  • Do I need a referral?

    No. Self-referral is standard. NHS Stop Smoking Services in your area may suit you better - a lot of people do very well on the free NHS pathway.

  • Is family-based cessation an option?

    Yes. Quitting with a partner or household member is one of the strongest predictors of success. Shared pathways usually keep one plan per person, with coordinated visits.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead of booking a cessation programme?

    If you have new chest pain, breathlessness at rest, coughing up blood, or any acute cardiac or respiratory symptom - see a GP or A&E first. A scheduled cessation programme is not the right route for urgent problems.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

How smoking cessation tends to unfold when you go private

With smoking cessation, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for smoking cessation is thorough, but the queue is real. Many patients are told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days - often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.

The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics - Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf - means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For smoking cessation specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

It helps to be realistic about what a private pathway for smoking cessation can and can’t promise. It can compress a wait, put you in front of a subspecialist quickly, and get a proper report in your hands within a week. It can’t rewrite what the imaging or the bloods say. Setting that expectation up front tends to make the whole experience less stressful.