Best places to buy glasses online: spectacles with UK delivery

by Abha Shah Jan 08, 2024 16 minutes

In the same way that it was once unfathomable to shop for shoes or clothes in any other way than in person, the same revolution has been taking place when it comes to buying eyeglasses.

Once a lengthy process that involved squinting at an eye test chart and trying on a dozen frames under stark lighting, before collecting your new glasses up to a week later, today buying new specs is a wholly different beast.

Even celebrities are capitalising on the silver lining of poor vision by sporting statement frames. Think comic genius Alan Carr, acting heavyweights Bill Nighy and Gary Oldman, and royals such as the Prince of Wales. Even good old Golden Balls David Beckham has been papped in glasses. Some folk wear them even though they don’t need to, such is the style statement a great pair makes - with or without a prescription.

On the digital high street, you can find a new wave of e-opticians and eyewear brands showcasing fancy frames at competitive prices. Without the overheads of a bricks-and-mortar store, internet retailers can pass on the savings to customers without compromising on quality. Many are using AI to let you try the frames on virtually to make sure they’re perfect.

There’s no need to feel blindsided by the choice; we’ve scouted the nicest-looking specs below, as well as companies offering the finest customer service and best UK delivery options.