Residential Rehab in the UK
The short answer
Residential rehab means living at the clinic for the whole programme — typically 28 days, sometimes 12 weeks — with detox, a full therapy timetable and 24-hour staffing. Privately it costs about £4,000–£20,000 for 28 days; NHS-funded residential placements exist but are rationed through a local-authority assessment.
Call 0800 000 0000 for a confirmed priceWhat it costs
| Option | Detox | 28 days |
|---|---|---|
| NHS / local-authority funded Rationed by assessment; commonly a three to six month process. | Free | Free |
| 28 days, mid-market private The standard self-funded programme, detox usually included. | £2,500–£4,000 | £4,000–£8,000 |
| 12 weeks, private Used for long-term dependence and repeat relapse. Outcomes improve with length of stay. | £2,500–£7,000 | £12,000–£45,000 |
These are market ranges gathered across CQC-registered UK providers, not quotes. Only the clinic can confirm a final price, and it depends on your assessment. Prices checked July 2026.
A typical 28-day programme
Days 1–3
Medical assessment, detox starts, observations several times a day. Therapy is light — the priority is getting through withdrawal safely.
Days 4–10
Detox medication tapers. You join the full group timetable, and the first one-to-one sessions map out what has been maintaining the use.
Days 11–21
The core therapeutic work: CBT, relapse-prevention planning, trauma-informed sessions where relevant, family or partner involvement.
Days 22–28
Discharge planning. A written relapse-prevention plan, aftercare group booked, GP and family briefed with your consent.
Months 1–12
Aftercare — usually a weekly group included in the fee. Attendance in the first 90 days is the strongest predictor of staying stopped.
What to take, and what is not allowed
Take a month of clothes, any prescribed medication in its original packaging, ID, and a list of contacts. Most clinics restrict phones and laptops for the first one to two weeks, search bags on arrival, and prohibit alcohol-containing products such as mouthwash and some deodorants. Visits usually start from week two.
When residential is the wrong choice
If you have stable housing, no medically risky withdrawal, work or caring commitments you cannot drop, and have never tried structured outpatient treatment, then residential is often not the first step. Intensive outpatient treatment costs a fraction as much and gets comparable results in that group. Residential earns its money when the environment itself is the problem, or when previous attempts have failed.
How the UK market is priced
Free at the point of use. Community treatment is widely available; funded residential placements are rationed through a local-authority assessment.
CQC-registered, full detox and therapy programme, shared or private rooms. Where most self-funded admissions happen.
Established national names, private en-suite rooms, higher staff ratios and consultant psychiatry on site.
Single-client or very small cohorts, bespoke programmes, hotel-standard accommodation.
Common questions
How long is residential rehab?
28 days is the standard programme and what most insurers fund. 12-week and six-month programmes exist for long-term dependence, criminal-justice referrals and repeat relapse, and outcomes improve with length of stay.
How much does residential rehab cost in the UK?
Roughly £4,000–£8,000 for 28 days at a mid-market CQC-registered clinic, £8,000–£20,000 at premium national providers, and £20,000 upwards for luxury or single-client programmes. Detox is included in most, but confirm it in writing.
Can I get residential rehab on the NHS?
Yes, but placements are limited and funded by your local authority rather than the NHS directly. You usually need to have engaged with the community service first, and the assessment and funding process commonly takes three to six months.
What does a day in residential rehab look like?
A typical timetable is a morning check-in group, two to three hours of group therapy, a one-to-one session most weeks, psycho-education in the afternoon, a fellowship or reflection meeting in the evening, plus chores and exercise. Phones are usually restricted for the first week or two.
Can I leave whenever I want?
Yes — admission is voluntary and you can discharge yourself at any time. Refund terms vary sharply between clinics, so check the position on early discharge before you pay.
Is residential better than outpatient treatment?
It is better when the home environment is part of the problem, when withdrawal is medically risky, or when outpatient treatment has already been tried. Where home is stable and dependence is moderate, intensive outpatient treatment achieves comparable results at a fraction of the cost.