Face a Face

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 4 October 2026

For stylish, flat-rate complete prescription glasses without a high-end price tag, the IOLLA St James Quarter showroom (and their IOLLA Bruntsfield location) is widely considered one of the best spots in Edinburgh.Here is a breakdown of the best places to get glasses in Edinburgh depending on what you need-whether that's budget value, independent boutique styling, or an all-in-one eye exam.

### Trendy & Flat-Price Showrooms (Bring Your Own Prescription)

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4.8 (174) Shop Closed Quarter, Saint James Square Call Directions Website

- Location: 3rd Floor, St James Quarter (EH1 3AD) / Bruntsfield - The Details: Known for a trendy atmosphere and a straightforward pricing model. All single-vision eyewear is a flat £85 including lenses, anti-scratch coatings, anti-glare, and lens thinning for stronger prescriptions. - Services: Free lifetime adjustments, walk-ins or appointments, and bespoke styling. Note that they do not perform eye tests on-site; you must bring a valid in-date prescription.

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Optometrist 1 York Pl Call Directions Website

- Location: 88-92 West Bow, Grassmarket (EH1 2HH) / York Place - The Details: Highly praised independent option with frames inspired by Scottish modernism. Complete prescription glasses typically start around £150 including standard lenses. - Services: Full eye exams, custom fittings, Made to Measure consultations, frame repairs, and same-day glazing.

### High Street Value & Comprehensive Exams

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4.7 (429) Optician Closed 76 Nicolson St Call Directions Website

- Location: 76 Nicolson Street, Newington (EH8 9DT) - The Details: The gold standard for high-street budget and reliability. Complete glasses with single vision lenses start as low as £20 to £30, with popular 2-for-1 bundle deals frequently available. - Services: Full NHS eye examinations (free in Scotland), comprehensive sight tests, contact lens fittings, and free adjustments.

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4.6 (688) Optician Closed 120 St James Cres Call Directions Website

- Location: St James Quarter (EH1 3AD) - The Details: Offers a more premium, relaxed in-store environment than budget competitors, with designer frames starting around £50. - Services: Ranging from essential NHS eye tests up to advanced 3D OCT eye scans and optomap retinal imaging.

### Independent & Specialist Craft Eyewear

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 Optician Closed 163a Bonnington Rd Call Directions Website

- The Details: A spacious, high-end showroom offering specialized Zeiss progressive/digital lenses and boutique independent European eyewear brands like Tom Ford, Lindberg, and Face a Face. By appointment only.

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 Shop Closed 173 Dalry Rd Call Directions Website

- Location: 173 Dalry Road (EH11 2BR) - The Details: A local favourite near Haymarket known for a friendly, intimate environment (and occasionally a resident dog). They offer competitive multi-pair packages (such as 2 pairs for around £150 complete with lenses) alongside a same-day glazing service for standard prescriptions.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

- Do you need an eye test or do you already have a valid prescription? - What is your approximate budget for frames and lenses?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 1 November 2026

If you're looking for somewhere to buy glasses in Edinburgh, I'd recommend looking at the independent opticians rather than automatically going to Specsavers or Boots. Edinburgh has some excellent independent eyewear shops.

Here are my top recommendations based on reviews, frame selection and service.

## Best places to buy glasses in Edinburgh

!Eyewear Boutique - Choosing Frames At Cameron Optometry

(Best overall for designer frames)

1\. Cameron Optometry

5 St Vincent Street, New Town.

Independent boutique with unusual designer frames, artisan collections and personalised help choosing glasses.

4.9/5 · 88 reviews

Website

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!Gibson & Syme Edinburgh's Eyecare Specialists

2\. Gibson & Syme

163A Bonnington Road, Leith.

Excellent independent optician with premium designer brands including Tom Ford, Lindberg and Face à Face. Great if you want something a little special.

4.9/5 · 496 reviews

Website

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!Cubitts Edinburgh Old Town | Optician and glasses store in Edinburgh

3\. Cubitts Edinburgh

88 West Bow, Old Town.

Stylish contemporary frames, distinctive designs and a lovely boutique shopping experience. Good for fashionable everyday glasses.

4.8/5 · 91 reviews

Website

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!Iolla St. James Quarter - splintr

4\. IOLLA

St James Quarter.

Particularly worth visiting for stylish, modern glasses at relatively accessible prices. Complete single-vision prescription glasses advertised from £85.

4.8/5 · 175 reviews

Website

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!How To Contact Birrell & Rainford Opticians In Edinburgh

5\. Optical Studio

20 Great Junction Street, Leith.

Highly rated independent opticians offering a varied selection of frames, eye examinations and personalised service.

4.9/5 · 292 reviews

Website

## Where they are

## My recommendation

I'd start with Cameron Optometry, Cubitts and IOLLA if you're after fashionable glasses. They're three quite different experiences, so you can compare styles and prices.

## A quick question so I can narrow it down

What sort of glasses are you looking for?

1\. What style are you after?

Designer / fashionable

Classic and timeless

Quirky / unusual frames

Affordable everyday glasses

Varifocals

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2\. What's your budget?

Under £100

£100-£200

£200-£350

£350+

Flexible

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3\. What's most important?

Best quality and service

Best value for money

Most stylish frames

Wide choice of frames

[Find my best options]

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 8 November 2026

The best boutique eyewear brands in the UK depend on your preferred style and budget:

- Cubitts - Best all-rounder for understated, modern British frames; offers eye tests, repairs, bespoke services and in-house glazing. - Tom Davies - Best for luxury and customisation, including made-to-measure frames produced in London. - FINLAY London - Best for fashion-forward designs and a personalised boutique experience; its frames use premium acetate and lightweight titanium. - Cutler and Gross - Best for bold, handcrafted luxury eyewear and distinctive British heritage. - Kirk & Kirk - Best for colourful statement frames, particularly Italian-acetate designs. - Lindberg - Best for exceptionally lightweight, minimalist frames, especially titanium styles designed for all-day comfort. - Bloobloom - Best for stylish, relatively accessible frames sold through a London boutique network. - Jimmy Fairly - Best for contemporary styling at a more approachable price, with a strong social-impact proposition. - William Morris London - Best for playful, colourful British designs at accessible prices. - Ace & Tate - Best for affordable contemporary frames and a convenient online-to-store experience; it is Dutch rather than British but has a strong UK presence.

Quick recommendations:

- Most British: Cubitts - Most luxurious: Tom Davies - Most fashion-led: FINLAY London - Best bold colour: Kirk & Kirk - Best minimalist option: Lindberg - Best value: Jimmy Fairly or Bloobloom

For the most distinctive independent-optician experience, look beyond the brand and visit a specialist stockist: boutiques often carry international labels such as Anne & Valentin, Sabine Be, Ahlem and Face à Face alongside British names.