Jimmy Fairly

Jimmy Fairly brought its French-designed eyewear to Neal Street, on the edge of Seven Dials, where the brand describes its Covent Garden store as a destination for after a matinee or a weekend shopping trip. Founded in 2010, Jimmy Fairly imagines, designs, assembles and checks its own collections and develops its own lenses, with the stated aim of offering top-quality frames at a lower price than traditional opticians.

The shop sells prescription glasses and sunglasses for women, men and children, including dedicated collections for smaller and larger faces so frames fit properly, a blue-light filter range, the Ultra² lens offer and a Mini collection for kids. Accessories run to cases, cleaning kits, chains, tote bags and gift cards. The full range is available to try on, which keeps the styling consistent and the choice focused rather than spread across many outside labels.

Jimmy Fairly Covent Garden: complimentary eye tests

Eye tests are complimentary for customers and take around 30 minutes, with the opticians checking both vision and eye health using the brand's own equipment. The testing rooms are in the basement and reached only by stairs, so access may be limited for wheelchair users and anyone with reduced mobility. Orders can be delivered to home or collected in store, usually within one to three working days.

What to expect on a visit

Expect a relaxed, lifestyle-led shop where you can browse the frames, book a test and pick up a pair in one visit, open seven days a week with a later Sunday start. Neal Street and its surroundings hold a close cluster of opticians in Covent Garden; David Clulow at the Long Acre end of the street is the place for designer-label frames if that is what you are after.