Key facts: London
- Active companies, SIC 47782 (retail sale by opticians), London registered office
- 370
- Counted
- 18 October 2026
- Rank among the 11 London professions on this site
- 10th
Count from the Companies House register, 18 October 2026.
Optician practices registered in London
On 18 October 2026, 370 active companies with a London registered office gave SIC 47782, retail sale by opticians, as their business activity. That puts optician practices 10th of 11 London professions here, behind veterinary practices (499) and ahead of funeral directors (287).
SIC 47782 covers opticians as retailers. Practices registered under a health code instead are not counted, and chains appear as a single company however many branches they run. A registered office is also not always where a firm trades.
Regulation and what lenders check
Optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical businesses register with the General Optical Council. Practices giving NHS sight tests in England hold a General Ophthalmic Services contract.
Lenders look at the split between NHS sight tests and private eye care, dispensing margins, the optometrists in place and the lease on the shop.
What London optician practices usually fund
Independents usually borrow to buy a practice, for diagnostic equipment such as OCT, or to refit the shop and testing rooms.
Diagnostic equipment is the recurring investment: OCT scanners and fields analysers suit equipment finance over their working life.
Premises and security in London
In England, a freehold for a optician practice bought outright attracts Stamp Duty Land Tax on the non-residential scale, and the lender's security is a legal charge at HM Land Registry. Where the premises are leased, the remaining term and any break clause limit how long a loan can run.
Lenders for London optician practices
Which lender suits a London case depends on the optician practice and the deal, not the postcode. We search the whole market each time. Fees depend on the lender, and nothing is due upfront.
Common questions
How many optician practices are there in London?
Companies House lists 370 active companies with SIC 47782 and a London registered office (18 October 2026). Partnerships and sole traders are not included.
Can an optician finance an OCT scanner?
Usually, yes, through hire purchase or leasing, subject to the practice's figures and lender criteria.
Can you arrange finance for a London optician practice?
Yes. We are a whole-of-market broker, not a lender, and search the market for lenders whose criteria suit the optician practice. Fees depend on the lender; nothing upfront.
