Gut Health · London · 2026

The UK's First Gut Microbiome Clinic

As personalised healthcare takes centre stage in 2026, understanding your gut microbiome is one of the smartest ways to take control of your health.

By: Vicki-Marie Cossar

6

Gut health tests available

£200

Single tests from

£900

Full assessment

1 in 5

People in UK with IBS-type symptoms

Introduction

From reactive medicine to preventive care

As health trends shift away from reactive medicine and towards preventive care, and we move beyond generic advice, it is no surprise that people want to get ahead of their wellbeing with more tailored, data-informed approaches.

People have always said to ‘trust your gut,’ but it is only in recent years that science has begun to explain why. With the discovery of the gut microbiome and its role in how we feel, function and age, we are now in a far better position to understand how the gut influences our overall health.

Unsurprisingly, gut health is now seen as the number one wellness priority for women aged 30–55 (Wellness Index, 2025) and that’s why I find myself at the UK’s first Microbiome Clinic in London. The brainchild of Professor Anthony Hobson, founder of The Functional Gut Clinic, it offers six gut health tests, which give an in-depth look into what’s happening inside the digestive system.

Single tests start at £200, with a full assessment costing £900. Testing is split between your home and the clinic, with patients collecting a stool sample (analysed for microbial diversity, balance, inflammation and infection) and a simple breath test at home. In clinic there’s more breath and urine tests to assess issues such as bacterial overgrowth, food intolerances, gut lining integrity and stomach acid levels.

Frequently diagnosed on the basis of symptoms alone

The Science

What is the gut microbiome?

Our gut microbiome is a complex system of trillions of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses, that mainly reside in the large intestine. While “gut health” has become a buzzword in recent years, it simply refers to the balance of these microbes. The microbiome isn’t just there to help us digest food; it plays a crucial role in both physical and mental health, with an “unhealthy” microbiome linked to poor nutrient absorption, low immunity, inflammation and IBS-type conditions.

‘We are the first clinic to go beyond simple testing,’ says Professor Hobson. ‘Every test we offer is underpinned by peer-reviewed evidence and, most importantly, the results are actionable, meaning they inform what the best treatments are for each individual. We’re not simply cataloguing microbes but decoding digestive functions for our patients. In the UK, around one in five people live with IBS-type symptoms, yet the vast majority will never truly understand the underlying mechanisms driving their discomfort.’

We know that probiotics (the live bacteria found in things like yoghurt and fermented foods including kimchi and sauerkraut) help support your gut health. Fibre is also important as while your body cannot naturally digest it, your gut microbes thrive on it. Generally, the more varied your diet, the more diverse your microbiome, which is why experts recommend aiming for around 30 different plant-based foods a week, including herbs, spices, tea and coffee. But even if you hit the suggested amounts, how do you know if you are at risk of conditions like leaky gut (where substances leak from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, causing inflammation)?

With trend forecasters predicting hyper-personalisation as a defining theme for the year, gut analysis seems like the logical next step when it comes down to taking care of our health.

Hyper-personalisation is set to define 2026 and understanding your gut offers a simple and practical way to get ahead of your health. By knowing what’s really happening inside your

digestive system, you can make informed decisions about your diet and lifestyle rather than relying on guesswork.

Curious about your own gut health?

Start with a simple at-home stool microbiome test.

Order an at-home test

A First-Hand Account

What the experience is actually like

Vicki-Marie Cossar visited the Microbiome Clinic and documented the full testing process — from preparation through to results.

A First-Hand Account

My experience

I was slightly apprehensive about the tests, but there was nothing to worry about. The home testing involves a stool sample and a series of breath tests, with everything clearly detailed and the process simple and straightforward. The first breath test is done fasted. You breathe into a test tube, drink a lactulose solution (a synthetic sugar), then complete nine further breath tests at 15-minute intervals. At the clinic, you spend two to three hours in a relaxation room, with all tests brought to you. The most challenging part was the preparation. Antibiotics must be avoided for four weeks before testing, weight-loss injections stopped 14 days prior, and probiotics, laxatives and Imodium avoided in the week before. The day before testing also involves following a “white food” diet, including plain white bread, rice or potatoes, lean meat or fish, and water or black tea or coffee.

Seen what the testing involves?

Order your at-home stool microbiome test today.

Order an at-home test

My Results

What the results revealed

The biggest eye-opener was the questionnaire, which made me realise how unhealthy my diet actually is. I don’t eat any oily fish, rarely eat fruit in winter, and my intake of legumes, nuts and fermented dairy is almost non-existent. Thankfully, the results aren’t too worrying, but my microbiome diversity is slightly low, with 138 species detected compared with the expected 160. ‘Diversity means the number of different microbes living in your gut, not just bacteria, but also fungi, archaea and even viruses,’ explains Jordan Haworth, Clinical Physiologist at the Microbiome Clinic. However, I did test positive for SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). ‘This means there’s an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, where large amounts don’t normally live,” says Haworth. ‘It explains bloating, abdominal pain, nausea and changes in bowel habits. Our research has also linked SIBO to skin disorders like eczema and rosacea.’ I’ve been advised some supplements and told to increase my intake of fermented foods and variety of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, spices and teas, which I plan to start this month.

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Vicki-Marie Cossar

Vicki-Marie Cossar is a freelance journalist, editor and copywriter with over 25 years experience specialising in health, fitness, beauty and wellbeing. After 16 years at Metro, she now writes for various national and online publications and is the founder of The Wellness Editor, a trusted online wellbeing platform.