General Eyewear

General Eyewear claim to offer a bespoke service. Unfortunately, my experience demonstrated they clearly do not. Back in 2016 I purchased a pair of their Ostrander tortoiseshell frames complete with essilor varifocal lenses.
In April 2022 having been pleased with my original pair, I decided I wanted to purchase a second pair, this time with the Ostrander frame in a high gloss black finish. I travelled from Leicestershire to General Eyewear’s store in Camden. They explained that they didn’t have the frame in stock as it was now discontinued, but could get it bespoke made for me. They had the specification from the original pair I had purchased (exactly the same frame) but said they would like to take measurements of my existing frame while I was in store. I waited patiently while they took my glasses out back to take the important measurements. I paid £825 up front and left looking forward to returning to collect them.
On 28th May I once again travelled from Leicestershire to Camden to collect my new frames. Unfortunately, the frames didn’t fit, not even close. They were far too wide across the bridge, the width of the frame was too wide and the arms were the wrong width for my head. Hence the frames would not stay in place and just slipped down and forward on my face.
The store manager assured me this was not a problem and took them from me and proceeded to heat and bend the frames in an attempt to get them to fit.
This was not successful and certainly not acceptable on what was supposed to be a bespoke order and service paid for in full in advance.
Whilst I understood there may be a need to make some minor adjustments when I arrived to collect them, I was staggered just how far away they were from fitting.
On closer inspection it was clear that whilst at first glance they appeared to be the same frame they were far from it. They had different hinges and the quality was inferior.
Whilst the manager offered to get another frame, the fact that :
1 .. they got the specification/fit so wrong the first time.
2 .. it involved another trip from Leicestershire to London (a third trip) at my expense.
3 .. at no point did they apologise for the obvious poor fitting of the frame or take responsibility for it.
4 .. they were not prepared to compensate me for my incurred costs and inconvenience.
5 .. they asked me to leave my existing glasses with them to assist them in replicating the specification on redoing the frames. I couldn’t do this as I need them daily, including for driving, but that aside, why would they need this when they already supposedly had the specification of my original pair, and had again taken measurements of them on my previous visit to the store?
I decided to ask for a full refund as I had no confidence that they were going to supply the bespoke service and quality product they had said they would and that I had paid for. The Manager reluctantly processed a full refund and I left the store to travel back to Leicestershire very disappointed.
General Eyewear is a cool store, with a great selection of vintage eyewear, and also offers some great new designs in frames. If you want standard fit frames they are great, but if you want the bespoke fitting frame that they claim to offer you will be bitterly disappointed.
I would of loved to leave a positive review but they made it impossible for me to do so.

I was looking at sunglasses and am very glad I came here. The selection is very varied, especially if you want something a little special / bespoke - with both new and vintage items meaning there is something for all tastes and looks.

The prices are decent with lenses included in the frame price, including prescription lenses.

Well worth going to.

Just bought my first pair of glasses from General Eyewear and it was such a pleasure. The staff were friendly, tremendously knowledgable and very quickly picked out great frames that suited my face for me to try on. Within minutes I had found a couple of frames that I really liked. I never felt rushed or pressured to buy, as I have found to be the case in some other shops. General Eyewear have a fantastic selection of frames so you are spoilt for choice and they are priced competitively. I emailed my prescription to them and they were ready to collect in just a couple of days. Great store!

I used to think that Camden market only offered gaudy cyber-punk apparel and overpriced street food. That is until I discovered it's also home to General Eyewear, the best opticians I've ever been to and one of London's great hidden gems.

The company is known for its beautiful custom frames, many of which have graced the silver screen, but for me the real appeal of the place is its unrivalled collection of vintage frames.

These are housed in beautiful art-deco display cabinets that you can browse at your leisure. The incredibly knowledgeable staff will help you at length if you want a

A diverse collection of vintage designer frames – likely to cater to any tastes, specially if you're prepared to go digging. Staff are helpful, knowledgeable and patient when picking out options from the thousands (!) available.
Despite the large selection, the space is well merchandised and not overwhelming; key styles are displayed in cabinets with drawers full of frames to search through. I'm sometimes wary of buying vintage frames for potential condition & fit issues, but here everything is in good shape and they're all set to adjust frames to the wearer, plus complete repairs if need

My brother and I stumbled across this place when visiting the Camden markets and both had no intention of buying frames. However we were blown away by the selection. The sales assistant was very knowledgeable and picked frames that were perfectly suited to us (I have never found frames that suit me before!). We emailed our presecriptions and the glasses were ready two days later - too easy. I would highly recommend this place for your next pair of glasses!

Fantastic service! It was so pleasing to have somebody so passionate about eyewear help you choose the perfect pair. I had a lot of fun at General Eyewear, this is more than just a shop it's like a museum and you get to spend as long as you like trying on various pairs in front of the mirror.I am a customer for life now and have highly recommended the place to friends. I am chuffed with my own very unique purchase too, I never would have found a pair like it on the high street.

Believing that a pair of spectacles is not just an accessory, but a fundamental extension of yourself, all of the staff are more than happy to help you choose the frame that best suits you. From a pair of tortoise shell horn-rims straight out of the extensive vintage archive to one of their bespoke in-house designs, which fly out of the shop as soon as they make their season debut, you will quickly begin to question how you ever lived without.

Unlike other glasses shops, General Eyewear provides customers with glasses which are not only practical, but are also wonderfully individual. An incredible variety of glasses makes the store stand out from others, and the shopping experience is boosted even more by the excellent service. The staff are passionate and extremely helpful in finding the right style to suit your face. They also encourage you to explore and don't hesitate to let you try on as many glasses as you like. I have bought two pairs of unique glasses from here now and will definitely be back in the future to buy more!

I spent a very happy and productive hour yesterday trying on and eventually choosing to buy two new pairs of retro designer glasses from the hundreds of pairs on offer . This was without doubt the best shopping experience I have had in my life ( and I am an OAP who has shopped for well over 60 years – so I know what I am talking about). The service is outstanding. The staff are passionate and very knowledgeable about glasses and encourage you to explore, without pressurising you to buy. These were the 7th and 8th pair I have bought from here , and I often have complete strangers coming u

General eyewear offers a delightful shopping experience, with an extremely vast array of vintage glasses, and staff that are passionate about finding you the perfect pair of glasses, and more than willing to spend time suggesting different frames and offering their opinions. Make sure you do ask for staff assistance, they really do know what they’re talking about! You’re bound to leave a happy customer with a unique pair of glasses for a reasonable price. I’ve been recommending general eyewear ever since I went and wouldn’t think twice about where to go when I want to buy glasses again.

I liked the sound of General Eyewear from a Time Out write-up and went to visit. Beware! Trying to find the shop in The Stables Market is like trying to find your way through a Moroccan soukh. But it's worth the effort. The shop has a gigantic selection of vintage frames and it's highly likely you'll find something for you. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the shop will put your prescription lenses in the frames all for a very reasonable price. Good service too and always some quirky movie soundtrack playing in the background. Recommended.

very large selection and patient staff. had a look through a huge variety of different options before then customising lens. would go back.

This shop is impressive, both in terms of the selection of vintage eyewear and the way it is displayed. The service is excellent too. I walked in on a Saturday afternoon for a browse and found a pair that I fell in love with. Sent them my prescription on the Monday and I was wearing the glasses (new lenses and all) on the Wednesday! I also like that there is no fussing about with the choice of lenses as in other opticians. Here they only offer one type, with all the anti-glare coating and you know the emphasis is on quality. Would definitely go back should I need another pair.

This is truly one of my favourite spots in London. I get endless compliments from strangers on my General Eyewear frames - one offs from a vintage French designer. Fabulous, comfortable and well made - I only wish I hadn't spent years prior going to chain optometrists.
The staff here are genuine and knowledgeable and will ensure you walk away with the best glasses to suit you - and you won't look like everyone else!

This is no ordinary shop - It is an Aladdin’s cave of unusual and spectacular frames of various styles and periods from all around the world. Many of these frames have an extraordinary history, and the manager was extremely obliging in taking me around the showroom to reveal the stories behind individual frames. From start to finish the service was fantastic, with staff spending lots of time in making sure that I found frames to suit me, in the style that I was looking for. I would recommend this shop to anyone in need of frames of any kind.

Love this place, thousands of frames to try on and the manger Fabio knows them all well... I had been looking for a new pair of glasses for 4 years and finally found them here :)

Couldn't be happier!

I'm absolutely looking forward to visit General Eyewear again next time I'll go to London. Not just a wonderful shopping experience, with kind helpful service and lots of fantastic vintage frames to search trough. Their own brand General Eyewear are something extra. The prices that are very affordable for such good design also includes single vision lenses.
My glasses were shipped to me in Stockholm just a few days after my return.

Great shop - fantastic selection of interesting glasses and sunglasses. Lots of brilliant vintage pieces and very helpful staff, who helped find something to suit me and my friend. Good prices too - as prescription lenses are included in the price tag for the frames. Would highly recommed it.

The staff at General Eyewear were extremely helpful. I got exactly what I wanted and at an affordable price. Thank you, Rachael J.

Located in London's famous Camden Town, General Eyewear offers an approach to optics rarely seen on a UK high street - in fact, you won't find an approach to optics on a UK high street quite like General Eyewear.
As a discerning professional, who requires extreme optical clarity to uphold a medical for my job, I was extremely impressed with the range of lenses and options offered to me by General Eyewear.
So don't visit your high street optician next time you're due a pair of glasses or sunglasses, give General Eyewear a visit

Highly recommended. Anything but general!

General eyewear is a great store in Camden stables, a bit hard to find but if you persist you will be rewarded!
I really enjoyed my shopping experience there from the excellent customer service from Fabio to the huge selection of vintage frames. The lighting and classical music are great too.
There is something for everyone and the best part is the uniqueness, you are very unlikely to see another person wearing a similar pair!

I would recommend General Eyewear if you're looking for a unusual or vintage pair of frames for a good price. The staff helped me find the frames that I was looking for and gave me a handy potted history of the pair that I eventually chose. As the price of the frames included the lenses, they were really very good value. They even helped arrange for the frames to be shipped out to me in Singapore. Great service.

Brilliant! Was taken down to Camden Town for a new pair of spectacles and found myself pleasantly surprised by the diverse selection of frames. There is just so much to look at, and I'm certain that they have something to suit just about everybody.

Customer service was friendly; unlike the pretentious vibe you get in other eyewear shops, General Eyewear felt welcoming and pressure-free. The staff appear to have excellent taste and will gladly recommend a suitable pair if you ask.

The frames + lenses pricing is extremely sensible. I'm tempted to return for another pair soon!

Best shopping experience ever! Fantastic selection of glasses and outstanding customer service! Me and my friend spent 2 hours in the store cherished and .... by super pro seller and glasses expert Fabio, who could tell you what glasses will suit you by a single look at your face. I would describe us as kind of annoying customers but Fabio was very patient and extremely helpful. I left the stall with rare vintage Giorgio Armani glasses from the eighties and even though I paid more than I intended to spend, I have4 no regrets. The experience and the product totally worth it. And this is a revie

I stumbled across General Eyewear in The Stables Market quite by accident however I was instantly impressed by their range and the concept glasses on display. I decided to get a pair on the spot and the staff were extremely helpful and competent in facilitating this. When I said what I didn't like about a pair another pair was produced which I liked more and I only had to try on about 5 pairs before I found the perfect ones.
Great value also as I didn't even realise at first that the lenses come included in the price!

Their selection is a cornucopia of everything I want. Their frames range from modest to outright eccentric, catering to a wide array of different people.
One of the biggest shockers was the affordable price. I was accustomed to paying through my nose for a decent pair of glasses and was baffled how reasonably priced everything was. Also always a bonus, the lenses.
Apart from their wide selection and reasonable prices, the customer service with brilliant. I was encouraged to look through the drawers and cabinets freely and try anything I wanted on, really providing a pressure free enviromen

This is an amazing shop, beautiful vintage frames, excellent customer service. I went in to buy my first pair of glasses and they staff were so friendly and helpful and a swift prescription. I strongly recommend!

Archiv is an awe inspiring aladdin's cave of beautiful and unusual glasses. I stumbled upon the store about four years ago and have always found the staff to be incredibly helpful. If you're looking for something slightly different I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Apart from having the most astonishing range of frames from every period conceivable, they were incredibly accommodating on both occasions I've had the pleasure of using their services, providing me with new lenses and reshaping my frames for free to fit my face absolutely perfectly... I high;y highly recommend visiting this place of you are a fan of glasses, and great service.

I stumbled across this place whilst wondering around the market and I'm really glad I did. They have a huge selection of vintage glasses as well as a lot of the modern styles. Well presented and accompanied with incredibly helpful staff. Fabio has an obvious passion for what he does and proved himself very knowledgable in finding the correct frames for me. I'd highly recommend a visit even if it is just to try a find some frames that you may have not even thought of or considered before.