Look, no one plans a trip to urgent care. It’s not exactly a highlight on your London itinerary.
But when you suddenly need a doctor now – whether it’s a rogue fever or a sprained ankle from underestimating cobblestone streets – you’ll be glad to know where to go.
So, here’s a handy guide to the best urgent care services in London. Life happens, and it’s always better to be prepared.
How much do urgent care services cost in London?
Urgent care services in London typically cost around £120 to £182 for an initial doctor consultation, with additional fees for tests, treatments, and procedures. However, the final price may change depending on the provider, required treatments, and any follow-up care.
How We Chose
- Medical Expertise & Qualifications – We looked into each clinic’s team of doctors, nurses, and medical staff. We ensured they had proper certifications, relevant experience, and a strong reputation in urgent care.
- Range of Services – Not all urgent care clinics handle the same medical concerns, so we reviewed what each location offers, from minor injuries and illnesses to X-rays and lab tests.
- Wait Times & Accessibility – Since urgency is key, we assessed how quickly patients can receive care by looking at online booking systems, walk-in policies, and average reported wait times.
- Patient Experience & Satisfaction – We examined firsthand accounts from patients by going through reviews, testimonials, and independent healthcare rating platforms.
1. Cromwell Hospital Urgent Care Centre
Location: Floor 3, Cromwell Hospital, 164-178 Cromwell Rd
Contact: +44 20 7244 4886
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cromwell Hospital Urgent Care Centre really gets a lot right, and we have to say, we were impressed with how fast and efficient the whole experience was.
One of the biggest standouts is the consultant-led approach. We’ve seen plenty of urgent care centres where you’re just seen by whoever’s available. But here, every patient gets assessed and treated by an actual emergency medicine specialist.
We also have to talk about the speed because we weren’t expecting it to be this quick. We saw how patients were triaged in about three minutes, saw a consultant in just over ten, and wrapped up their whole visit in around an hour.
We know nobody wants to be stuck in a waiting room for hours when they’re not feeling great, so we really appreciated how fast they moved.
We also love that they offer virtual consultations. We’ve all been in situations where we’re unsure whether a visit is necessary, so having the option to get professional advice from home is a huge plus.
However, we do wish they stayed open past 7 PM. We’ve reviewed a lot of urgent care services, and most of them are open later than that.
Fosters a strong team atmosphere that patients can feel
“I was very impressed with the level of friendliness, knowledge, and pace at which my visit occured. The staff are all very friendly, and you can really feel the team atmosphere that is fostered in this Urgent Care. Dr. Kate and the entire team were very caring and explained everything extremely well. If you are visiting London, I would highly reccomend this urgent care centre, and am confident you will enjoy the experience!”
Kevin C, Google Review
Eases stressful moments with friendly service
“My boyfriend and I are visiting from the states and we came to Cromwell Urgent Care because he was having an asthma attack. Sabrina got us checked in and she was so friendly and efficient, she immediately set us at ease in a really stressful situation. We were seen immediately and Nurse Rose was really attentive and empathetic, she and Dr. Farrhan continuously checked in on him made sure he had everything he needed to leave the facility feeling brand new. He’s doing much better now, thank you!!”
Dominique Huber, Google Review
2. Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Care Centre
Location: Central Middlesex Hospital, Acton Ln
Contact: +44 333 999 2575
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM
What we like about Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Care Centre is that it covers a solid range of non-life-threatening conditions. You can easily get treatment for minor burns, suspected fractures, stomach pains, and even minor head injuries.
We’ve seen some urgent care centres with more limited services, so we appreciate that this one is pretty well-equipped.
We also like that they have on-site diagnostic facilities, including X-rays. We know how frustrating it is when an urgent care visit just leads to another trip somewhere else for scans, so having everything in one place makes a big difference.
Plus, we noticed that their setup is GP-led, with emergency care practitioners and nurses supporting the team.
The Care Quality Commission even gave them a ‘Good’ rating across all key areas in their 2019 inspection, which we think says a lot.
Patients we talked to really appreciate how compassionate and respectful the staff are, and honestly, that’s just as important as the medical treatment itself.
However, we did come across reports of long wait times, which isn’t ideal for an urgent care centre.
Offers consistently high-quality service
“Efficient and friendly. Was seen very quickly. Nurse went above and beyond offering to help with my scooter, which I wasn’t expecting. Doctor did some tests immediately and did a thorough examination. He took the time to explain things in terms I could understand and helped reassure me about my symptoms and potential options for next steps. I have been here several times since moving to the area and everytime was highly impressed with the level of service here. Couldn’t recommend more. Keep up the good work! thank you!”
David Campbell, Google Review
Ensures quick access to nurses and diagnostic tests
“I was pleasantly surprised by this UCC. Very friendly staff, I have to say. I got seen by a nurse straight away. Then an X-ray in 10 mins. Then, about an hour or so, wait to see the nurse again. She told me I was fine and just needed rest. However, she was worried about a high heart rate. So she informed the GP. Who precautionary done and 5 min ECG test and said everything was normal. I like how the staff were friendly and how they checked me quite thoroughly. All in all, about 2 hours and left feeling well look after. Thank you!”
Sunny Patel, Google Review
3. Fulham NHS Urgent Care Walk-in Centre
Location: Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Rd
Contact: +44 20 3311 1005
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Fulham NHS Urgent Care Walk-in Centre has solid NHS nurses handling a range of minor injuries and illnesses, and best of all, 24/7 availability.
We’ve reviewed many urgent care centres, and most of them shut down at a certain hour. This isn’t exactly helpful when you suddenly need treatment late at night. So, we really appreciate that this place is actually open no matter when something happens.
We also like that if the nurses can’t fully sort you out, they don’t just send you packing. Instead, they point you in the right direction for further care, making the whole experience feel more helpful than just transactional.
That said, we did come across some complaints about rude receptionists. Look, we get that front desk staff deal with a lot, but the last thing you need when you’re already feeling unwell is a bad attitude at check-in.
Conducts thorough tests and examinations within hours
“I used the urgent treatment centre and was seen by the doctor and nurses and had blood tests, an X-ray and an ECG test done all within a couple of hours, they really did everything they could for me and were amazing and proffessional”
Katie O Connor, Google Review
Amazes international visitors with its efficiency and service
“Friendly, respectful and efficient staff. I’m a tourist visiting London for work and was treated here for acute shoulder pain. I received an exam, diagnosis and treatment within 2 hours, for free. Compared to the healthcare system in the United States, this experience was astonishing.”
Bonnie Bowes, Google Review
4. Newham University Hospital Urgent Care
Location: Newham University Hospital, Glen Rd
Contact: +44 20 7363 9200
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Unlike some standalone urgent care units, Newham University Hospital Urgent Care Centre is fully integrated with the hospital. This means you have access to emergency care, surgery, and specialists if needed.
We’ve been to urgent care centres that feel like a temporary patch before sending you elsewhere, but it’s different here.
They have on-site X-rays, ultrasounds, and a fully stocked pharmacy. We didn’t see the usual delays caused by waiting for external referrals or prescriptions.
That being said, we’ve come across plenty of reports about long wait times. We get it, hospitals get busy, but we’ve seen urgent care centres move people through faster.
If they could speed things up a little, we’d have a lot fewer reasons to look anywhere else.
Returns blood test results in record time
“This is one of the best A&E experiences I’ve had in London. All the staff are polite, friendly and efficient. Their triage service works very well and their blood test results come back within 4 hours (which I’ve never experienced before). Recommend Dr Manifold for his great bedside manner and follow up!”
Louise Hemfrey, Google Review
Creates a warm and supportive hospital environment
“This hospital takes very good care of its patients. Dr. Daniel and Dr. Rod are so professional. They also offered me free food. I haven’t eaten anything at all all day, So I felt grateful when they gave me food. Also, cleaner, The lady with the red hair was so sweet to help take the food tray away when I was having drip. They’re wonderful and sweet hospital.”
Hazel Tso, Google Review
5. Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) at Whipps Cross Hospital
Location: Emergency Room, Whipps Cross Rd, London E11 1NR
Contact: +44 20 8535 6402
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
We love that Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) has a dedicated space on the emergency floor, where they treat 25 to 30 patients daily. This means more people get seen without getting stuck in the usual hospital limbo.
We also love how SDEC skips the whole “admitted to a hospital bed” routine. Instead of ending up in a ward, patients get same-day specialist care without actually being admitted.
And rather than being stuck in a standard hospital bed, you’re in purpose-designed chairs that make everything feel more streamlined.
We think that’s a smart way to keep things moving while still making sure patients get the treatment they need.
Now, just keep in mind that wait times may vary since patient priority is based on the severity of their condition, and those with more urgent needs will be seen first.
Handles patient care with warmth and attentiveness
“I do not have enough words. Just amazing and extremely kind. Felt comfortable, welcomed, felt safe, well looked after with speedy process. Thank you to receptionists, lovely, positive and lively nurses and extremely professional DR, Mark. Many Thanks and really appreciated. Abdul Noorzai and Mrs Abida Noorzai.”
Abdul Noorzai, Google Review
Handles medical needs with efficiency and kindness
“Positive experience, staff members polite, respectful and supportive during my stay. They were prompt and really understanding. I’m happy with the service and the experience. Thanks to the nurses and the doctor for excellent NHS care.”
Denise Darling, Google Review
