Walk-in STI test near Paddington: private clinic 12 minutes away, no appointment needed

If you are near Paddington and need a private STI test today, Marylebone Diagnostic Centre at Baker Street is the closest private sexual health clinic. It is a 12-minute walk or a single tube stop away. No appointment is needed. Walk in, give a sample, and receive your results within 24 to 42 hours by secure email. Nothing is shared with your GP or NHS record.

MDC is located at 73 Baker Street, W1U 6RH. From Paddington, there are two straightforward options.

Take the Circle line or Hammersmith and City line from Paddington one stop to Baker Street. Exit Baker Street station via the Baker Street South exit. MDC is a 5-minute walk south on Baker Street. Number 73 is on the right.

The walk-in process is designed to be fast and low-friction. You do not need to register in advance or bring any documents.

1. Arrive at reception. Let the team know you are a walk-in and which tests you are interested in, or ask for a recommendation based on your situation.
2. Brief clinical check-in. A clinician will ask a few quick questions about your concerns, exposure, and any symptoms. This takes around 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Sample collection. A blood draw, urine sample, or swab depending on the tests selected. Most appointments including sample collection take under 20 minutes.
4. Results by secure email. Within 24 to 42 hours, your results are sent directly to your email address. Nothing is shared with your GP or NHS record unless you specifically request it.

If you prefer to book a specific time slot rather than wait, you can also book online in advance.

The nearest NHS sexual health clinic to Paddington is St Mary's Sexual Health Clinic on Praed Street, which is inside Paddington station's immediate area. NHS testing there is free, and the clinical quality is excellent. The practical differences with MDC are the following.

• Waiting times. NHS walk-in clinics near Paddington can have queues of one to three hours, particularly on weekday mornings. MDC operates on a shorter walk-in wait, typically under 30 minutes from arrival to leaving.
• Result speed. NHS results typically take 5 to 10 working days. MDC returns results in 24 to 42 hours.
• NHS record. NHS testing creates a record within the NHS system. Testing at MDC does not appear on your GP or Summary Care Record.
• Panel scope. Standard NHS walk-in screens cover chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV, and syphilis. MDC's Advanced Panel covers 12 infections including mycoplasma, ureaplasma, trichomonas, herpes, and hepatitis B and C.
• Cost. NHS testing is free. MDC testing starts from £79.

For most people, the choice comes down to cost versus speed and privacy. If cost is the primary concern, the NHS clinic on Praed Street is a good option. If you need results quickly, want to avoid an NHS record, or want a broader panel than the standard NHS screen, MDC is the closest private alternative.

MDC opens at 8:00am Monday to Saturday. Walk-ins are accepted throughout opening hours until 4:00pm. If you are planning to attend on a Saturday, arriving before 2:00pm is recommended to allow enough time for your appointment and sample collection before the clinic closes.

No documents are required. If you are a Westminster resident and want the 20% discount, bring proof of address such as a utility bill or council tax letter. If you have previous test results you want the clinician to review, bring those along as well. Otherwise, just arrive and the team will guide you through the process.

Yes. You do not need to use your legal name at MDC. We need a name to label your sample correctly, but it does not have to be yours. Results go to the email address you provide and nowhere else. See our confidential STI testing page for more detail on how privacy works at MDC.

Pay-and-display bays are available on Baker Street and on nearby side streets. There is no dedicated clinic parking. The tube from Paddington is the most convenient option for most patients arriving from the station area.

MDC's fastest turnaround is 24 to 42 hours for the Advanced Sexual Health Panel. Same-hour results are not currently available. If you need a result within hours, call us on +44 7495 970109 before attending to confirm the latest available options. For urgent HIV concerns following a high-risk exposure, contact an NHS A&E or sexual health clinic about PEP rather than waiting for a test result.