Curry & Paxton

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 4 October 2026

The top British sunglasses brands include luxury heritage names like Cutler and Gross and Linda Farrow, alongside contemporary independent labels like Curry & Paxton and Taylor Morris.

### Top British Sunglasses Brands

- Cutler and Gross: Founded in London in 1969, this iconic luxury brand is famous for bold, hand-crafted frames that have appeared in major films like Kingsman and Scarface. - Linda Farrow: Established in 1970, Linda Farrow was among the first to treat sunglasses as high fashion. The London-based brand is known for oversized retro silhouettes and high-profile celebrity wearers. - Curry & Paxton: Established originally in 1886, this classic British brand blends historical heritage with mid-century styling, utilizing high-quality Mazzucchelli acetate and signature rivet designs. - Taylor Morris: A contemporary London-based designer eyewear brand offering classic yet modern frames like the zero-brow bar and retro round shapes, with prices typically starting around £140 to £210. - FINLAY: An independent British eyewear brand founded in London in 2012, celebrated for handcrafted frames and boutiques located in fashionable London neighborhoods like Soho and Notting Hill. - Savile Row: Handcrafted in London since the 1930s, Algha Works (Savile Row) is famous for classic metallic wire-rim frames and vintage-style clip-on sunglasses.

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 4 October 2026

If you're looking for the best sunglasses brands available in the UK in 2026, these are the ones I'd shortlist:

| Brand | Best for | Typical UK price | My take | |---|---|---:|---| | Ray-Ban | ⭐ Best all-rounder | £100-£180 | Safest choice for everyday style | | Persol | Italian luxury | £200-£350+ | Excellent craftsmanship and timeless designs | | Oakley | Sport/performance | £100-£200 | Best if you want technical lenses and secure fit | | Maui Jim | Lens quality/polarisation | £160-£300+ | Fantastic for driving, travel and bright conditions | | Oliver Peoples | Quiet luxury | £300-£450+ | Understated, premium and sophisticated | | Cubitts | British style | ~£175 | Great UK option with distinctive designs | | Tom Ford | Designer/luxury | £200-£350+ | Strong choice if fashion matters | | Le Specs | Affordable fashion | £50-£80 | Excellent for trend-led styles on a budget | | SunGod | Active/outdoor | ~£80+ | Good British option for sport and outdoor use |

British GQ's current 2026 guide particularly highlights Ray-Ban, Persol, Oakley, Curry & Paxton, Tom Ford, Gentle Monster and Oliver Peoples, with Ray-Ban as its classic pick and Oakley as a technical/performance choice. www.gq-magazine.co.uk

### 🏆 My top 5

1. Ray-Ban - best overall

If you only want one pair, I'd start here. Wayfarer, Aviator and Clubmaster are difficult to go wrong with, and current UK prices can be around £100-£150 depending on the model.

### [Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses]() £140.00

2. Maui Jim - best lenses

I'd choose Maui Jim if optical clarity and polarisation matter more than having an iconic fashion logo.

### [Maui Jim Castles Sunglasses]() £272.00

3. Oakley - best for driving/sport

Oakley is the stronger choice for cycling, running, hiking and other active use. Its technical styling and lens technology are a different proposition from Ray-Ban's fashion-first approach. www.gq-magazine.co.uk

### [Oakley Holbrook Sunglasses]() £105.00

4. Cubitts - best British alternative

If you want something less ubiquitous than Ray-Ban, Cubitts is particularly interesting. Its sunglasses are around the £175 mark in current listings. www.gq-magazine.co.uk

### [Cubitts Wheeler Large]() £175.00

5. Oliver Peoples - best quiet luxury

For a more understated, expensive-looking pair without obvious branding, Oliver Peoples is one of my favourites. Current UK listings are roughly £400+ for some models. www.gq-magazine.co.uk

### [Oliver Peoples Sun Sunglasses]() £413.00

### 💷 Best by budget

- Under £80: Le Specs - £80-£150: Ray-Ban / Oakley / SunGod - £150-£250: Cubitts / Persol / premium Oakley - £250-£400: Persol / Tom Ford / Maui Jim - £400+: Oliver Peoples / high-end designer

If you tell me your budget (e.g. £50, £100, £150, £250) and whether they're for men or women, I can find the 5 best specific pairs currently available in the UK.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 27 September 2026

If you want the best British-made sunglasses, the strongest options in the results are Sunwise, Curry & Paxton, Opera Opera, Finlay, and Cutler and Gross. Among these, Sunwise stands out for explicitly stating it is the only eyewear brand in the world offering Made in Britain sunglasses, while Curry & Paxton is a long-established British eyewear house dating to 1886.

A practical short list would be:

- Sunwise - strongest claim to truly British-made sunglasses; good if you want performance or sports eyewear. - Curry & Paxton - heritage British luxury eyewear brand, useful if you want a premium classic option. - Opera Opera - described as a genuine made-in-England company producing bespoke eyewear from its London factory and showroom. - Finlay - a British sunglasses brand highlighted in recent coverage, with pairs around £160. - Cutler and Gross - repeatedly cited as a leading British eyewear label, though the result does not explicitly confirm all production is UK-based.

If you want the most defensible “made in Britain” choice, pick Sunwise; if you want the best mix of heritage and luxury appeal, Curry & Paxton is the strongest standout from the results.

If you want, I can turn this into a top 5 by style, price, or “most genuinely British-made”.