Private Hospitals in London:
Private Hospitals in London (2026): Compare, Costs & Insurance
London has more private hospitals than any other UK city. This independent guide covers every major facility — costs, insurer coverage, London surcharges and how to choose the right hospital for your clinical need.
Need health insurance covering London hospitals?
Compare Bupa, AXA, Aviva & Vitality — find out which plans cover London hospitals and what surcharges apply on each.
In this guide
London has 20+ independent private hospitals across five areas — Central, North, South, East and West. Top facilities include The Wellington Hospital (HCA, complex surgery), Cromwell Hospital (Bupa, Kensington), London Bridge Hospital (HCA, SE1), The London Clinic (independent oncology) and Royal Marsden (cancer). Consultations from £200. All major insurers accepted — but London weighting surcharges apply at HCA hospitals on many plans. Always confirm your hospital list tier before booking.
Browse London hospitals by area
Each area hub lists every private hospital in that part of London with full guides, costs and insurer coverage.
All London private hospital guides
Every major London private hospital — independently reviewed with costs, insurer coverage and booking information.
The Wellington Hospital
HCA’s flagship London hospital — neuroscience, orthopaedics, oncology and complex surgery. 24/7 emergency. London’s most comprehensive private inpatient facility.
Full guide → Consultations from £250Cromwell Hospital
Bupa’s flagship London hospital — orthopaedics, oncology, diagnostics and general surgery. On-site parking. Excellent for Bupa policyholders.
Full guide → Consultations from £250London Bridge Hospital
HCA’s major South London hospital — complex surgery, cardiology and urgent care. Directly at London Bridge station. 8,100 monthly searches.
Full guide → Consultations from £250The London Clinic
One of the UK’s largest independent private hospitals — renowned for oncology, cardiology and neurosurgery. Full ICU on site. Founded 1932.
Full guide → Consultations from £250Cleveland Clinic London
US-backed ultra-premium hospital — world-class cardiology, orthopaedics and complex medicine. MyChart digital records. 184 beds, 8 theatres. Opened 2022.
Full guide → Consultations from £300Royal Marsden Private Care
World’s leading cancer hospital — private care at Chelsea and Sutton. Every cancer type, clinical trials, PET-CT and specialist multidisciplinary teams.
Full guide → Consultations from £250The Lister Hospital
HCA Chelsea hospital — fertility (Lister Fertility Clinic), orthopaedics and general surgery. Top IVF centre in the UK.
Full guide → Consultations from £250The Portland Hospital
London’s leading private maternity hospital. Also paediatrics, gynaecology and women’s health. Maternity packages from £6,000.
Full guide → Consultations from £250Highgate Private Hospital
North London’s leading independent hospital — orthopaedics, general surgery and diagnostics. No HCA surcharges. Closest private hospital for N-postcode patients.
Full guide → Consultations from £200Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth
Independent charitable hospital — holistic care ethos, orthopaedics and surgery. No HCA surcharges. Founded 1856.
Full guide → Consultations from £220King Edward VII’s Hospital
Royal-associated charitable hospital — orthopaedics, urology and surgery. No commercial surcharges. Founded 1899.
Full guide → Consultations from £250Princess Grace Hospital
HCA Marylebone — London Breast Institute, orthopaedics and diagnostics. Specialist breast cancer screening and treatment centre.
Full guide → Consultations from £250BMI London Independent Hospital
East London’s main private hospital (Circle Health Group) — orthopaedics, surgery and diagnostics at lower prices than central London.
Full guide → Consultations from £200Bupa Basinghall Clinic
Bupa outpatient clinic — private GP (same day from £79), health assessments and blood tests. 3 mins from Bank tube. Not a hospital — no inpatient beds.
Full guide → GP from £79HCA at The Shard
HCA outpatient and diagnostics centre — MRI, CT, consultant appointments and physio. 1 min from London Bridge station. Not a hospital — no inpatient beds.
Full guide → Consultations from £250Nuffield Health Parkside Hospital
Full private hospital in Wimbledon — orthopaedics, surgery and diagnostics for South West London patients.
Full guide → Consultations from £220Best London hospitals by specialty
Cancer
Neurology & Neurosurgery
Orthopaedics
Maternity
- The Portland Hospital — best in London
- King Edward VII’s
Fertility (IVF)
- The Lister Hospital — Lister Fertility Clinic
- The Portland Hospital
Typical private hospital costs in London (2026)
London prices are typically 20–40% higher than outside London. Always request a written fixed-price quote before committing.
| Hospital | Typical Consultation | MRI From | London Surcharge? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington (HCA) | £250–£450 | £550 | ⚠️ Yes — HCA London |
| Cromwell (Bupa) | £250–£420 | £500 | ⚠️ Check plan tier |
| London Bridge (HCA) | £250–£430 | £550 | ⚠️ Yes — HCA London |
| The London Clinic | £250–£400 | £500 | ⚠️ London weighting |
| Cleveland Clinic | £300–£500 | £600 | ⚠️ Premium London tier |
| Highgate Private | £200–£350 | £450 | ✅ No HCA surcharge |
| King Edward VII’s | £250–£420 | £500 | ✅ No commercial surcharge |
| BMI London Independent | £200–£320 | £450 | ✅ No HCA surcharge |
Prices are indicative 2026 ranges. London surcharges are applied by insurers, not hospitals. Always confirm your specific cover before booking.
Health insurance & London hospitals
London is where insurance rules matter most. Here’s everything you need to know before booking.
Best access to Cromwell Hospital (Bupa-owned). HCA hospitals carry surcharges on some plans. Bupa hospital list →
Covers London hospitals on most plans. HCA access guide available. AXA hospital list → · AXA & HCA London →
London hospitals covered — Expert Select plans offer broadest access. Aviva hospital list →
HCA London hospitals carry surcharges on most standard Vitality plans. Vitality hospital list →
The Exeter covers London facilities subject to your plan limits. The Exeter hospital list →
Full matrix of which insurers cover HCA hospitals in London and what surcharges apply: Which health insurers cover HCA hospitals in London? →
Check your hospital list
Before booking any London appointment, confirm the specific hospital is on your plan’s hospital list — and check whether a London surcharge applies. Call your insurer or check via their app.
Get pre-authorisation
Always obtain a pre-authorisation code from your insurer before any appointment. Without this, claims are frequently refused. Full pre-authorisation guide →
Check your outpatient limits
Consultations and scans typically use your outpatient benefit. A low outpatient limit can be exhausted quickly in London where costs are higher. Outpatient limits guide →
Want insurance that covers London hospitals without hidden surcharges?
Compare Bupa, AXA, Aviva & Vitality — free, no obligationHow to choose a private hospital in London
With 20+ options across the capital, choosing the right London private hospital comes down to four factors:
Clinical need first
Match the hospital to your condition. For cancer, Royal Marsden or The London Clinic. For cardiac, Cleveland Clinic or London Bridge Hospital. For maternity, The Portland Hospital. For complex neurosurgery, The Wellington. General orthopaedics or surgery — most London hospitals work equally well.
Check your insurance first
Your insurer’s hospital list determines which hospitals are cost-effective. Booking an HCA hospital on a plan with HCA surcharges can add significant out-of-pocket costs. Always confirm your specific cover before choosing a hospital — not after.
Location & accessibility
London’s transport network means most hospitals are accessible from anywhere. However, North London patients have better options in St John’s Wood/Highgate. East London patients are better served by BMI London Independent. South London by London Bridge or Royal Marsden.
Clinic vs hospital
Not all “hospitals” in London have inpatient beds. Bupa Basinghall (GP/health assessments only), HCA The Shard (outpatient/diagnostics only) and similar facilities cannot perform surgery. Make sure the facility can actually deliver your needed treatment before booking.
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