Visit the College's historic headquarters and museum during Open House Festival

Visitors can drop-in for self-guided tours of the College’s British Optical Association Museum, Library and meeting rooms, home to the world’s oldest collection of spectacles and vision aids, as well as historic art works, sight-testing equipment, and curios relating to the history of eye health.  

See eye to eye with a collection of artificial eyes (healthy and diseased), try on some of our historic and vintage eyewear (either physically or virtually), and explore the extensive collection of vision aids and equipment, including early spectacles and contact lenses, the glasses of Dr Johnson, Gandhi and Marilyn Monroe, as well as iconic eyewear from blockbuster movies, including Harry Potter’s spectacles and the sunglasses from The Matrix. 

The College of Optometrists occupies two Grade II listed Georgian buildings in Craven Street in the West End of London. Volunteers, some in historic costume, will be on hand to answer questions and share their knowledge.