Heart chambers
Size and thickness of all four chambers, assessed for enlargement or thickened muscle.
- Chamber enlargement
- Wall thickness from high blood pressure
- Wall motion after a heart attack
- Cardiomyopathy patterns
Harley Street Medical District · Central London & St Albans
Private Echocardiogram in London
A private echocardiogram (Echo) at London Private Ultrasound costs £299, cardiologist-led, assessing your heart chambers, valves, pumping function and blood flow. No GP referral, findings explained the same day, and a written report within 24 hours.
If you’ve been asked to have an Echo for breathlessness, palpitations, a heart murmur or an abnormal ECG, this scan gives your cardiologist a direct structural answer. Twenty to thirty minutes, no preparation, same-day and next-day appointments frequently available.
- £299 all-inclusive
- 20–30 minute scan
- Cardiologist-led
- No preparation needed
- No GP referral
- Same-day appointments often available
Quick facts
Echocardiogram at a Glance: Cost, Coverage and Timings
| Price | £299 all-inclusive · no hidden fees |
|---|---|
| What’s included | Heart chambers · valves · ejection fraction · blood flow · pericardium · aortic root |
| Not included | ECG, Holter monitoring and stress echo are not part of the £299 scan, but can be added at the same visit. |
| Scan time | 20–30 minutes · allow around 40 minutes for the appointment |
| Who performs it | GMC-registered cardiologist |
| Preparation | None. Eat, drink and take medication as normal. Wear easy chest access clothing. |
| GP referral | Not required — book directly |
| UK price range | Private echocardiogram typically £179–£500+, more for consultant-led hospital clinics |
| Locations | 27 Welbeck Street, Central London W1G 8EN · 54–56 Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3HZ |
| Results | Verbal on the day · written report within 24 hours |
| Availability | 7 days a week, 9am–7pm · same-day appointments often available |
Book online
Book Your Private Echocardiogram
Choose your appointment securely through the London Private Ultrasound booking system. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.
Private Echocardiogram · £299
Cardiac ultrasound with same-day explanation
Your echocardiogram assesses heart chambers, valves, pumping function, blood flow and the pericardium. No GP referral is required.
- £299 all-inclusive
- 20–30 minute scan
- Findings explained on the day
- Written report within 24 hours
- Central London & St Albans
What is included
What an Echocardiogram Actually Examines
An Echo gives your cardiologist a live, moving picture of how your heart is built and how well it’s working, all from outside the body.
Pumping function
How efficiently the heart contracts, summarised as an ejection fraction percentage.
- Ejection fraction estimate
- Overall contraction strength
- Signs relevant to heart failure
Heart valves
All four valves are assessed for narrowing, leakage and their effect on chamber size.
- Valve narrowing (stenosis)
- Valve leakage (regurgitation)
- Effect on chamber size
Blood flow
Colour and spectral Doppler map the direction and speed of blood through the heart.
- Flow across each valve
- Pulmonary pressure estimates
- Right heart strain
Pericardium
The sac surrounding the heart is checked for fluid or thickening.
- Pericardial effusion (fluid)
- Pericardial thickening
Aortic root
The base of the main artery leaving the heart is measured for dilatation.
- Aortic root diameter
- Early dilatation
What an Echo cannot do. A standard resting echocardiogram does not directly show the coronary arteries, so it cannot on its own confirm or exclude blocked arteries — that needs CT coronary angiography, a stress test or specialist review. It also doesn’t continuously record your heartbeat, so intermittent palpitations may need an ECG or Holter monitor alongside it. If your Echo suggests either is needed, you get a same-day referral letter at no extra charge.
Reasons to scan
When Do You Need an Echocardiogram? Common Symptoms & Reasons
These are the reasons an Echo gets requested, and the reasons people book one privately rather than wait.
Breathlessness
Unexplained shortness of breath, especially on exertion or lying flat, is one of the most common reasons for an Echo.
Palpitations or dizziness
A racing or fluttering heartbeat, or episodes of dizziness and fainting, warrant a look at heart structure alongside rhythm testing.
Heart murmur or abnormal ECG
A murmur heard on examination, or an ECG that shows changes, is usually followed up with an Echo to see the structure behind the finding.
High blood pressure
Long-standing high blood pressure can thicken the heart muscle. An Echo checks whether this has happened and how the heart is coping.
Known valve disease or heart failure
Interval Echoes track whether a known valve problem or heart failure diagnosis is stable, improving or progressing.
Family history or pre-op assessment
A family history of cardiomyopathy, or an upcoming operation requiring cardiac clearance, both make a baseline Echo worthwhile.
Do not book a routine scan if you have chest pain right now. If you have current chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, collapse, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, call 999 or attend A&E immediately.
Choosing the right test
Echocardiogram, ECG and Holter Monitoring: Which Do You Need?
These tests are often confused, and booking the wrong one first wastes time. Here is what each one actually answers.
| Test | Question it answers | Best for | Radiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echocardiogram (Echo) | What does the heart’s structure and pumping function look like? | Breathlessness, murmur, valve disease, heart failure, high blood pressure | None |
| ECG (electrocardiogram) | What is the heart’s electrical rhythm doing right now? | Palpitations at the time of the test, suspected arrhythmia, chest pain triage | None |
| Holter monitor | What is the rhythm doing over several days of normal activity? | Intermittent palpitations, dizziness or blackouts not caught on a single ECG | None |
| CT coronary angiography | Are the coronary arteries narrowed or blocked? | Suspected coronary artery disease, arranged by a specialist | Low dose |
The short version. If your main question is about the heart’s structure or pumping strength, start with an Echo. If it’s about rhythm at a specific moment, add an ECG. If palpitations come and go, Holter monitoring catches what a single ECG misses. Many patients combine an Echo with an ECG or a cardiology consultation in one visit.
Your appointment
What Happens During Your Echocardiogram
Nothing enters the body, nothing is injected and there is no radiation. Here is the appointment end to end.
0min
Arrival and check-in
No fasting, no special preparation. Take your usual medication and arrive as you are.
5min
Your clinical history
Your cardiologist goes through your symptoms, medication, previous ECGs and any earlier cardiac reports you bring.
10min
Positioning
You lie on your left side, undressed from the waist up with a gown provided. This position brings the heart closer to the chest wall for clearer images.
10–30min
The scan itself
Ultrasound gel and a probe are moved across the chest to image the chambers, valves and blood flow, sometimes with ECG electrodes attached to time the images to your heartbeat.
30min
Findings explained
Your cardiologist talks you through what was seen, including ejection fraction and valve function, and what it does or does not mean.
24hrs
Written report
A full written report arrives by email within 24 hours, with a GP or cardiology referral letter included at no extra charge if anything needs onward investigation.
Cost and value
How Much Does a Private Echocardiogram Cost in London?
Private echocardiograms in London generally range from around £179 at sonographer-led clinics to £500–£725+ at consultant-led hospital cardiology clinics, depending on who performs the scan and whether a written report is included. Ours is £299, cardiologist-led and all-inclusive.
What the £299 covers
| Full transthoracic echocardiogram | Included |
| Ejection fraction & pumping function assessment | Included |
| Valve assessment for narrowing and leakage | Included |
| Pericardium & aortic root review | Included |
| Consultation and verbal findings on the day | Included |
| Written report within 24 hours | Included |
| GP or cardiology referral letter if needed | Included |
| Total | £299 |
ECG, Holter monitoring and stress echo are priced separately. If you’d like structure and rhythm assessed together in one visit, ask about adding an ECG when you book.
Why cheaper scans are not always comparable. The lowest advertised prices are often performed by a cardiac physiologist rather than a cardiologist, and reports may only go to your NHS GP rather than being sent directly to you. Before comparing prices, check three things: who performs and interprets the scan, whether a written report is included, and how quickly you receive it.
Related services
Tests People Often Book Alongside an Echocardiogram
If your concern is broader than a single scan, these are the pathways that usually make sense.
ECG (Electrocardiogram)
Records the heart’s electrical rhythm, complementing the structural picture from your Echo.
Holter Monitoring
Ambulatory ECG rhythm monitoring over several days, for intermittent palpitations or blackouts.
Cardiology Consultation
A GMC-registered cardiologist reviews your symptoms, history and results in a dedicated consultation.
Heart Health Check
Echo combined with ECG and blood tests for a fuller cardiovascular risk assessment in one visit.
Carotid Doppler
Assesses the carotid arteries in the neck for plaque and narrowing, often booked alongside heart checks.
Private Blood Tests
Cholesterol, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk markers, with GP review of your results.
Questions
Echocardiogram: Frequently Asked Questions
The questions our team is asked most often at the front desk and on the phone.
How much does a private echocardiogram cost in London?
A private echocardiogram at London Private Ultrasound costs £299, cardiologist-led and all-inclusive. That covers the scan, verbal findings on the day and a written report within 24 hours.
Across London, private echocardiograms generally range from around £179 at sonographer-led clinics to £500–£725+ at consultant-led hospital cardiology clinics, depending on who performs the scan and whether a written report is included.
Do I need a GP referral for a private echocardiogram?
No. You can self-refer and book directly online or by calling 020 7101 3377. If you have previous ECGs, echo reports or medication lists, bring them, as they give your cardiologist useful clinical context.
Can I get a same-day echocardiogram in London?
Same-day and next-day appointments are frequently available at both our Central London and St Albans clinics. Availability varies by day, so call or check the live booking calendar above for the soonest slot.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram, or Echo, is a non-invasive ultrasound scan of the heart. It uses sound waves rather than radiation to show the heart chambers, valves, pumping function and blood flow in real time.
What is the difference between an ECG and an echocardiogram?
An ECG records the heart’s electrical activity and rhythm using sticky pads on the skin, and takes about five to ten minutes. An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to show the heart’s structure, valves and pumping function as a moving image, and takes twenty to thirty minutes.
The two tests answer different questions and are often used together for a fuller picture.
Can an echocardiogram detect blocked coronary arteries?
Not directly. A standard resting echocardiogram does not show the coronary arteries themselves, only the effects of reduced blood supply on the heart muscle in some cases. If blocked arteries are suspected, tests such as CT coronary angiography, a stress test or specialist cardiology review are the appropriate next step.
Can an echocardiogram detect arrhythmias?
An Echo can show whether structural heart disease is present alongside a rhythm problem, but it doesn’t continuously record your heartbeat. For intermittent palpitations, an ECG or a Holter monitor is the right test to catch the rhythm itself.
How long does an echocardiogram take?
The scan itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Allow around 40 minutes for the full appointment, which includes your history, the scan and the discussion of findings before you leave.
Is an echocardiogram painful?
No. You’ll feel gel on the skin and gentle pressure from the probe, but the scan is non-invasive and painless. There are no needles or injections involved.
Should I book an echocardiogram if I have chest pain right now?
No. If you have current chest pain, especially with breathlessness, sweating, collapse, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, call 999 or attend A&E immediately rather than booking a routine scan.
What symptoms may need an echocardiogram?
Common reasons include breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness or fainting, ankle swelling, a heart murmur, an abnormal ECG, high blood pressure, or monitoring a known valve or heart muscle condition.
Can I use private medical insurance?
Many insurers cover echocardiography when clinically indicated. Check with your insurer before booking and obtain pre-authorisation if required, as our standard £299 self-pay price may differ from insurer-negotiated rates.
When will I get my results?
Your cardiologist explains the main findings before you leave. A written report is emailed within 24 hours, together with a referral letter for your GP or a specialist at no extra charge if anything needs onward investigation.
Where can I get a private echocardiogram near me in London?
London Private Ultrasound has two clinics. Central London is at 27 Welbeck Street, W1G 8EN, in the Harley Street Medical District, a short walk from Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Marylebone. St Albans is at 54–56 Victoria Street, AL1 3HZ.
Both offer echocardiograms seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, with same-day appointments often available.
Find us
Private Echocardiogram Near You: Central London and St Albans
Two clinics, seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, with same-day and next-day appointments frequently available. Both offer the full echocardiogram at £299.
Central London — Harley Street Medical District
27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN
Two minutes from Bond Street (Elizabeth line, Central, Jubilee), five from Oxford Circus, eight from Marylebone and Baker Street. Convenient for patients travelling in from Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Soho, the City and Paddington.
St Albans — Hertfordshire
54–56 Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3HZ
A short walk from St Albans City station, with parking nearby. Convenient for patients across Hertfordshire, North London, Watford, Hatfield, Harpenden and Welwyn Garden City.
4.8Google Rating
1,200+Verified Reviews
35,000+Patients Served
2012Harley Street Est.
Who performs your scan
Our GMC-Registered Cardiology Team
Dr Farveh Vakilian Aghouee
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist specialising in echocardiography, ECG interpretation and cardiovascular risk assessment
Dr Hana Pospisilova
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist involved in heart health assessment, echocardiography and ECG interpretation
Dr Mohammad Al-Majali
CardiologistGMC-registered cardiologist involved in cardiac assessment and interpretation of cardiology investigations
Dr Babak Soleimanpour
Medical Director & GPMD · MRCGP · DRCOG · GMC 6060555 · Overall clinical governance responsibility
Medical disclaimer. This page is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. An echocardiogram is a diagnostic imaging test and cannot on its own confirm or exclude coronary artery disease or arrhythmia. If you have current chest pain, breathlessness, collapse or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, seek urgent medical attention rather than booking a routine scan.