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5 Best Pediatric Optometrists in London (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Elara Kestrel
By Elara Kestrel, Health and Medical Expert · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Finding the best pediatric optometrists in London means looking past a general optician scene that runs from small, decades-old independents to national chains with same-day service, since a good adult eye test isn't the same as one built for children. Safarian & Simon and Drury Porter Eyecare both list children's eyecare directly on their sites, and between the practices on this page, over 5,500 Google reviews back up who actually delivers.

Short answer: Safarian & Simon Opticians in St John's Wood leads London's optical practices with a perfect 5.0 rating across 977 reviews, offering advanced eye tests and children's services. Visioncare Opticians and Drury Porter Eyecare both hold 4.9, with Drury Porter running dedicated children's eyecare focused on vision development and myopia risk assessment. National chains Vision Express and Specsavers both offer children's eye tests but rate lower, around 4.1.
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London's Opticians for Children's Eye Care, Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Safarian & Simon Opticians 5.0 977 Advanced eye tests, luxury eyewear View ›
2 Vision Express Opticians - London - Oxford Street East 4.1 2,424 National chain, children's eye tests View ›
3 Visioncare Opticians 4.9 463 Repairs & luxury frame service View ›
4 Drury Porter Eyecare 4.9 440 Dedicated children's eye care View ›
5 Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - Tottenham Court Road 4.1 1,186 National chain, hearing & vision combined View ›
5 Best Pediatric Optometrists in London (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

Safarian & Simon Opticians logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Safarian & Simon Opticians

5.0977 Google reviews

Safarian & Simon Opticians is an independent, healthcare-focused optometry practice in St John's Wood offering advanced diagnostic eye tests alongside designer eyewear and dry eye treatment. It's a multi-award-winning practice built around thorough, unhurried examinations rather than a quick prescription check.

What people praise

  • Perfect 5.0 rating across 977 reviews, the deepest track record on this page
  • Reviewers consistently describe thorough, multi-test eye examinations
  • Named opticians credited for patient, detailed explanations throughout
  • Same-day repairs offered even for glasses not purchased there
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating5 / 5
Review volume977 · 86th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown99% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest all-around pick here, with the deepest review base and a perfect rating built on genuinely thorough examinations rather than just fast service.

72 St John's Wood High St, London NW8 7SH

Vision Express Opticians - London - Oxford Street East logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Vision Express Opticians - London - Oxford Street East

4.12,424 Google reviews

Vision Express Opticians on Oxford Street East is a large flagship branch of the national Vision Express chain, offering children's eye tests, NHS-funded exams, and same-day glasses service. It's the biggest physical store in the chain in this area, with a wider frame selection than most local branches.

What people praise

  • Deepest review base among the chains here at 2,424 reviews
  • Named staff consistently praised for patient, unhurried frame selection help
  • Same-day glasses service available
  • Eyecare plan option bundles insurance with regular checkups

Worth knowing

  • Lowest rating on this page at 4.1, reflecting a wider range of experiences at this scale
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.1 / 5
Review volume2,424 · 97th
Confidencehigh
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown70% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A convenient, well-stocked flagship store with NHS-funded children's testing, though the rating suggests more variability in experience than the smaller independents.

181-183 Oxford St, London W1D 2JT

Visioncare Opticians logo
#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Visioncare Opticians

4.9463 Google reviews

Visioncare Opticians is an independent Baker Street practice established in the early 1980s, offering eye tests, myopia management, and a luxury eyewear range including Cartier, Chopard, and Lindberg. It's owned and operated by qualified optometrists with over 15 years of experience each, and reviewers repeatedly praise the same named optician for frame repairs.

What people praise

  • 4.9 rating across 463 reviews
  • Reviewers describe difficult frame repairs successfully completed same-day, including on frames not purchased there
  • Myopia management services listed specifically
  • Decades of operating history since the early 1980s
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume463 · 81st
Confidencehigh
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Particularly strong for repair work and myopia management, with a consistent pattern of one named optician going above and beyond for both new and non-customers alike.

80A Baker St, London W1U 6TF

Drury Porter Eyecare logo
#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Drury Porter Eyecare

4.9440 Google reviews

Drury Porter Eyecare is an independent Russell Square practice with over 50 years of history, offering advanced diagnostics alongside a dedicated children's eye care service focused on vision development, early detection, and myopia risk assessment. Its site explicitly frames children's exams as gentle and development-focused rather than a standard adult test scaled down.

What people praise

  • 4.9 rating across 440 reviews
  • Dedicated children's eyecare service with a specific focus on vision development
  • Reviewers describe an unhurried, thorough approach that includes explaining every step
  • Over 50 years of operating history in the same neighborhood
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume440 · 75th
Confidencehigh
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown98% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clearest specialist here for children's eye care specifically, with a service explicitly built around pediatric vision development rather than a generic exam.

70, The Brunswick Centre, Russell Sq, London WC1N 1AE

Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - Tottenham Court Road logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists - Tottenham Court Road

4.11,186 Google reviews

Specsavers Opticians and Audiologists on Tottenham Court Road is a large branch of the national Specsavers chain, combining optical and audiology services under one roof. It's a long-established location that reviewers describe visiting for decades, with a 100-day guarantee on new glasses.

What people praise

  • 1,186 reviews with reviewers praising punctual, professional service
  • Combined optical and hearing services in one location
  • 100-day guarantee on new glasses noted by a reviewer
  • Named staff credited for matching frame choices to stated budgets

Worth knowing

  • Rating of 4.1 ties for the lowest on this page, reflecting wider variability at chain scale
Reputation scorecardrank in London
Rating4.1 / 5
Review volume1,186 · 92nd
Confidencehigh
Recency7 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown68% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A convenient one-stop option if you also need audiology services, though expect more variability in individual experience than the smaller independent practices.

245-246 Tottenham Ct Rd, London W1T 7QP

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Health information disclaimer: This directory is informational only and not medical advice. Rankings reflect publicly available Google ratings and review volume, not clinical outcomes. Verify any practitioner’s credentials and registration with the relevant medical board before booking.

How we score

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume measures how many patients actually rated the practice relative to others on this page. Confidence blends rating with volume, so a handful of reviews counts less than thousands. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No business can pay to change these numbers. This is general information, not medical advice; always consult a qualified optometrist for your child’s specific eye care needs.

How much does an eye test cost in London? (2026)

Eye test pricing in London varies by practice and whether NHS funding applies, children’s tests are often NHS-funded regardless of practice. None of the practices on this page publish a single trustworthy standard adult eye test price for general comparison, so confirm current pricing directly.

Serving all of London

These practices span St John’s Wood, Oxford Street, Baker Street, Russell Square, and Tottenham Court Road, all within central London and well served by the Underground. If you’re searching for a children’s optician near me in London, most of these central locations are easily reached from multiple neighborhoods.

What to ask before you book

  • Does the practice offer a dedicated children’s eye test, not just a standard adult exam?
  • Is the test NHS-funded, and does that apply to your child’s age?
  • What does the children’s exam specifically screen for, myopia, lazy eye, or general vision?
  • How long does the appointment typically take for a child?
  • Is same-day glasses service available if a prescription changes?
  • What’s the practice’s approach if a child is anxious or unfamiliar with eye exams?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these opticians?

We pulled real Google ratings and review counts for optometry practices across London that offer children’s eye care and ranked them by a mix of rating, review volume, and how recently patients are still reviewing.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in August 2026 and is refreshed periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Which practice specializes most specifically in children’s eye care?

Drury Porter Eyecare lists a dedicated children’s eye care service explicitly focused on vision development, early detection, and myopia risk assessment.

Are children’s eye tests free on the NHS in London?

NHS-funded eye tests are generally available for children, and Vision Express explicitly lists NHS-funded eye tests among its services. Confirm eligibility and funding directly with the practice.

The bottom line

Safarian & Simon Opticians is the safe default given its perfect rating and the deepest review history on this page. If children’s vision development specifically is the priority, Drury Porter Eyecare’s dedicated pediatric service is worth a direct call to discuss.

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