Cervical screening · Central London EC1
Private Smear Test in London
Cervical screening carried out by a consultant gynaecologist. Includes sample collection, high-risk HPV DNA testing for 14 types and a written report. This is a screening test on its own, without a consultation. If HPV is detected, a cytology report is added at no additional cost.
You do not need a referral, and you do not need to wait for an NHS screening invitation. Screening is available whatever your age.
Consultant-led · Written report included · From £150
What happens
Four steps, about twenty minutes
01
Discussion
A consultant gynaecologist takes your history and explains what the test involves before anything begins.
02
Sample
The sample itself takes a couple of minutes. Most patients describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful.
03
Laboratory
Your sample is tested for 14 high-risk HPV types. If HPV is detected, a cytology report is added at no additional cost. More about private HPV testing in London.
04
Results
You receive a written report, with a clear explanation of what the result means and what happens next.
Fees
Private smear test cost
How much is a private smear test in London? At AristoGP the HPV smear test is £150 and HPV with a Pap smear reported together is £230, with results usually back in 2 to 5 days. Prices across London vary a lot, mostly because of what the fee covers: HPV only or both tests, whether a consultation is included, whether cytology costs extra if HPV is found, and whether anyone explains the result. Here, the sample is taken by a consultant gynaecologist, the cytology report is added at no extra cost if HPV is found, and there are no hidden lab fees.
The complete package adds a full gynaecology consultation, which is worth considering if you have symptoms or questions as well as wanting screening.
B1 — Cervical Screening: HPV Test (UK method)
High-risk HPV test (14 types), sample only. A Pap (cytology) report is added only if HPV is found
£150
B3 — HPV Test + Pap Smear Together
HPV and cytology (Pap) both reported whatever the result. 15 minutes, sample only
£230
A3 — Complete Well Woman Check
Consultation, pelvic ultrasound and high-risk HPV screening
£380
Who books privately
When private screening makes sense
You are under 25. NHS screening in England starts at 25. Privately you can be screened at any age if you and the consultant feel it is appropriate.
You are overdue or missed your invitation. Book when it suits you rather than waiting for a letter or a GP appointment.
You are not registered with an NHS GP, have recently moved to the UK, or are used to a yearly Pap test in their home country and want to keep a similar routine.
You want both tests reported together. HPV testing and cytology can be reported side by side rather than one after the other.
You find smears difficult. A consultant with time to go slowly, and a smaller speculum where needed, often makes the experience much easier.
Location and results
Where and how quickly
Screening takes place at 1-5 Portpool Lane, London EC1N 7UU, about four minutes on foot from Chancery Lane station and close to Farringdon, Holborn and Clerkenwell. Appointments run Monday to Saturday.
Results are usually back within 2 to 5 days, with a written report and a clear explanation of what the result means for you.
If you have symptoms as well as wanting screening, the complete Well Woman Check adds a consultation and pelvic ultrasound in the same visit.
Common questions
Questions about cervical screening
How much does a private smear test cost in London?
At AristoGP a private smear test (high-risk HPV test, UK method) costs £150, including sample collection by a consultant gynaecologist, laboratory testing and a written report. If HPV is found, the cytology (Pap) report is added at no extra cost. HPV and Pap reported together costs £230. A complete Well Woman Check with consultation, pelvic ultrasound and HPV screening is £380. There are no separate laboratory fees.
What is included at £150?
A high-risk HPV DNA test covering 14 types, sample collection and a written report. It is a screening test on its own, without a consultation. If HPV is detected, a cytology report is added at no additional cost.
Is a smear painful?
Uncomfortable rather than painful for most people. It takes under a minute. Tell the consultant if you have found it difficult before, as a smaller speculum and a slower pace usually make a considerable difference.
Do I need to be registered with an NHS GP?
No. You can book directly, whether or not you are registered with a GP, and you do not need a referral.
Can I have a smear test if I am under 25 or over 64?
Yes. NHS screening covers ages 25 to 64, but private screening is available at any age when it is appropriate for you.
I am overdue for my smear test. Can I book?
Yes. Being overdue is one of the most common reasons patients book with us. Book online or message us on WhatsApp.
Can I have a smear during my period?
It is best avoided during heavy bleeding, as blood can make the sample harder to read. Light spotting is usually fine. If you are unsure, contact the clinic rather than cancelling.
How is this different from NHS screening?
The test itself follows the same principle. The differences are timing and access: you choose the appointment rather than waiting for an invitation, and the sample is taken by a consultant gynaecologist who can discuss the result with you in the same visit.
What happens if HPV is found?
A cytology report is added at no extra charge to look for cell changes. Most HPV clears on its own and does not require treatment. If the cytology shows changes needing assessment, colposcopy is arranged, which AristoGP refers for rather than performs.
How often should I be screened?
NHS guidance in England is every five years from 25 to 64 if your HPV test is negative. For ages 25 to 49 this changed from every three years in July 2025. If you have had abnormal results previously, or symptoms such as bleeding after sex or between periods, that is a reason to be seen sooner rather than waiting.
Two ways to be screened
HPV first, or both tests together
The UK changed to testing for the virus before looking at the cells. If you were screened in another country, this will be different from what you are used to, so here is what each route involves. Full detail on the virus and the test itself is on our private HPV test page.
HPV first (the UK pathway)
The HPV test looks for the high-risk types of human papillomavirus that cause almost all cervical cancer. If the virus is not there, abnormal cells are very unlikely, which is why this is now the first test in the NHS programme and across most of the UK.
If HPV is found, the laboratory adds the cytology report automatically — from the same sample, at no extra charge, with no second appointment.
£150 HPV test (UK method) · £230 HPV and Pap (cytology) together
HPV and cytology together
Both tests are carried out and reported whatever the HPV result. This is closer to the screening many women are used to in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and elsewhere in Europe, where cytology has remained the primary test.
It is not a more accurate route than the one above, and we will say so plainly. It is offered because some patients would rather have both, and that preference is a reasonable one.
£230 HPV and Pap (cytology) together, sample only · £150 HPV test alone (UK method)
Booking either one: choose the screening appointment and say which you would prefer, or ask us and we will explain the difference before you decide. Screening appointments are for women without symptoms — if you have bleeding, pain or discharge, book a consultation instead so it can be assessed properly.
Common questions
Questions about HPV testing and cytology
Why did the UK stop doing the smear test first?
Because testing for high-risk HPV finds more women at risk than looking at the cells does. HPV causes almost all cervical cancer, so if the virus is absent the risk over the next few years is very low. Where HPV is found, the cells are then examined from the same sample. It is a change in the order of testing, not a reduction in it.
I am used to having a Pap test. Can I still have one?
Yes. You can have HPV and cytology reported together (co-testing) for £230. We will explain why the UK does it the other way round, but the choice is yours and nobody will argue with you about it.
Is having both tests better?
No, and it would be misleading to sell it that way. HPV-first with reflex cytology is at least as safe as cytology alone and is what the evidence supports. Having both simply means the cells are looked at even when the virus is absent, which rarely changes anything.
Related care and reading
Book your cervical screening
Consultant-led screening in Central London, with a written report and a clear explanation of your result.