Opticians in County Durham
The NHS Organisation Data Service listed 61 optical sites in County Durham when this snapshot was taken on 4 September 2026, run by 37 separate contractors and spread across 13 towns and postal towns. Every practice below can carry out an NHS-funded sight test for people who qualify. Independent practices and smaller groups make up 67% of them, so published chain prices are only part of the picture here.
NHS-funded testing in County Durham is commissioned through NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. The longest-standing listing dates from April 2008, the most recent from May 2026. The register has gained 5 sites here in the last two years.
Optical sites
61
Contractors
37
Single-site practices
19
Towns covered
13
Who runs the practices in County Durham
Independent and smaller groups
41 sites
Typically £30 to £60 privately
Every listed optical practice in County Durham
Sorted alphabetically. The ODS code is the identifier NHS England uses for that site.
| Practice | Address | Operated by | On the register since | ODS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A M Haigh | 31 Church Street, Seaham SR7 7HQ | Independent single-site contractor | April 2008 | TP4M3 |
| Aks Optical Ltd | The Beeches, Sniperley Hall, Durham DH1 5RA | North Eastern Optical Service | April 2008 | TP7JL |
| Arnison Specsavers Limited | Unit S, Arnison Retail Centre, Pity ME, Durham DH1 5GB | Specsavers | October 2019 | TP9GV |
| Asda Opticians - Bishop Auckland | Asda Stores Ltd, Southchurch Road, Bishop Auckland DL14 7LB | Asda Opticians | April 2008 | TP1CR |
| Asda Opticians - Peterlee | Asda Stores Ltd, Surtees Road, Peterlee SR8 5HA | Asda Opticians | April 2008 | TP4T3 |
| B.oliver (Opticians) | 27 Darlington Road, Ferryhill DL17 8JP | J E Dickinson (Opticians) Ltd | April 2008 | TP7XE |
| Barnard Castle Specsavers Limited | 21 Horsemarket, Barnard Castle DL12 8LX | Specsavers | April 2019 | TP9E2 |
| Bayfields Z Ltd Optician | 12 Market Place, Barnard Castle DL12 8ND | Bayfields Z Ltd | April 2008 | TP1WL |
| Bishop Auckland | Maude Terrace, St. Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland DL14 9BG | Vision Express | October 2017 | TP8KR |
| Boots Opticians (Durham) | 9 High Street, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham DH1 3UJ | Boots Opticians | April 2016 | TP4HV |
| Boots Opticians (Silver St, Durham) | 24 Silver Street, Durham DH1 3RD | Boots Opticians | April 2008 | TP5T7 |
| Concept Eye Clinic | 8 Saddler Street, Durham DH1 3NP | Durham Cec Limited | May 2025 | S0H3L |
| Consett Eyecare | 25 Middle Street, Consett DH8 5QP | Independent single-site contractor | June 2023 | Z6B0M |
| Consett Genesis Extra | Genesis Way, Consett DH8 5XP | Vision Express | April 2016 | TP6VT |
| Cooper & Leatherbarrow Opticians (Horden) | Blandford Buildings, Dene Terrace, Horden, Peterlee SR8 4JF | Cooper & Leatherbarrow Opticians | October 2018 | TP91J |
| Cooper and Barr Ltd (Sedgefield) | 4 Front Street, Sedgefield, Stockton-On-Tees TS21 3AT | Cooper and Barr Ltd | April 2017 | TP8E7 |
| Costspex | 41 Dragonville Industrial Park, Dragon Lane, Durham DH1 2XU | Independent single-site contractor | April 2016 | TP6QP |
| Durham Extra | Dragon Lane, Durham DH1 2XQ | Vision Express | October 2017 | TP8KJ |
| Eyesite | 73 Front Street, Stanley DH9 0TB | Independent contractor (2 listed sites) | April 2008 | TP1VQ |
| Eyesite@finlays | 25 Middle Street, Consett DH8 5QP | Independent contractor (2 listed sites) | April 2008 | TP1PK |
| Fics Optical Ltd trading as Youngs Opticians | 3 Clifford Road, Stanley DH9 0AB | Fics Optical Ltd | April 2008 | TP1R8 |
| Foster Opticians (Willington) | 92 High Street, Willington, Crook DL15 0PE | Maisie L Allinson and Liam Allinson | April 2008 | TP1DL |
| George Naylor Opticians | 170 Front Street, Chester Le Street DH3 3AZ | George Naylor Opticians | April 2008 | TP1HQ |
| Grundy and Naisbitt Ltd | 1 Sanderson Street, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4DF | Grundy and Naisbitt Ltd | October 2017 | TP8FR |
| Hindhaugh Optician Ltd | 21 Festival Walk, Spennymoor DL16 6AB | Hindhaugh Optician Ltd | April 2008 | TP1EF |
| K C Haikings Opticians | 13 The Upper Chare, Peterlee SR8 1BW | K C Haikings Opticians | April 2008 | TP2Y1 |
| K McGuinness Opticians (Newton Aycliffe) | Unit B1, Greenwell Road, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4DH | K McGuinness Opticians Ltd | December 2024 | S6M7X |
| L.j. Robley Opticians | 22 Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, Durham DH1 5EJ | C+h Optics Ltd | April 2016 | TP6TY |
| R J Naisbitt Optometry | Co-Op Buildings, Hedley Terrace, South Hetton, Durham DH6 2UE | R J Naisbitt Optometry | April 2008 | TP1M3 |
| Riverside Opticians Ltd - Chester le Street | 52 Front Street, Chester Le Street DH3 3BD | Riverside Opticians Ltd | October 2020 | T6G7W |
| Scrivens Opticians (Bishop Auckland) | 52 Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland DL14 6AH | Scrivens | October 2010 | TP34D |
| Seaham Optical Ltd | 12 Blandford Place, Seaham SR7 7EL | Seaham Optical Ltd | April 2008 | TP4MX |
| Shewan Opticians | 94 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland DL14 7EQ | Mba Enterprises Ltd | April 2008 | TP1A4 |
| Sight Ltd | 11 Dunelm Court, South Street, Durham DH1 4QX | Sight Ltd | April 2008 | TP1EE |
| Sight Ltd | 34 The Chare, Peterlee SR8 1AE | Sight Ltd | April 2008 | TP4QE |
| Simon Berry Optometrist | 41A Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate, Durham DH1 2HX | Simon Berry Optometrist | April 2008 | TP1A3 |
| Simon Berry Optometrist Ltd (Ssecs) | The Jam Pot, 41 Marshall Terrace, Durham DH1 2HX | Simon Berry Optometrist | October 2021 | B6C4N |
| Specsavers (Bishop Auckland) | 45 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland DL14 7EW | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6KP |
| Specsavers (Chester le Street) | 66 Front Street, Chester Le Street DH3 3BD | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6KM |
| Specsavers (Consett) | 45 Middle Street, Consett DH8 5QP | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6KN |
| Specsavers (Durham) | Unit 2, 1-4 North Road, Durham DH1 4SH | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6KJ |
| Specsavers (Newton Aycliffe) | 55 Beveridge Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4DP | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6KR |
| Specsavers (Peterlee) | Unit 8, The Chare, Castledene Shopping Centre, Peterlee SR8 1AE | Specsavers | April 2008 | TP6YK |
| Specsavers (Seaham) | Unit 10B, The Byron Place Shopping Centr, Seaham SR7 7DR | Specsavers | October 2009 | TP7XV |
| Specsure | 12 The Derwent Centre, Consett DH8 5SD | Independent single-site contractor | April 2016 | TP5A1 |
| Spectacles Optical Retailers | 1 Festival Walk, Spennymoor DL16 6AB | Spectacles Optical Retailers Ltd | October 2018 | TP960 |
| Stanley Optical Centre Ltd | 87 Front Street, Stanley DH9 0TB | Stanley Optical Centre Ltd | April 2008 | TP1TX |
| Stanley Specsavers Limited | Cromarty House, Front Street, Stanley DH9 0SX | Specsavers | October 2019 | TP9GP |
| Tesco Opticians (Durham) | Dragons Lane, Dragonville Industrial Estate, Durham DH1 2RS | Tesco Opticians | April 2008 | TP1AX |
| The Village Optician - (Coxhoe) | 2 Church Street, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4DD | The Village Opticians | April 2008 | TP7VH |
| The Village Optician - (Newton Aycliffe) | 4 Cobblers Hall Centre, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SE | The Village Opticians | April 2008 | TP1L9 |
| The Village Optician - Coxhoe | 2 Church Street, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4DD | The Village Optician (North East) Ltd | May 2026 | B8B6I |
| The Village Optician - Durham | Unit 2, Finchale Road, Durham DH1 5RW | The Village Optician (North East) Ltd | February 2026 | Y3X7W |
| The Village Optician - Newton Aycliffe | 4 Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SE | The Village Optician (North East) Ltd | May 2026 | J6P7Y |
| The Village Opticians (Durham) | Unit 2, Finchale Road, Pity ME, Durham DH1 5RW | The Village Opticians | April 2016 | TP5P5 |
| Vision Express (Bishop Auckland) | Unit 2 Tindale Crescent Retail Park, Bishop Auckland DL14 9TE | Vision Express | April 2016 | TP5G7 |
| Vision Express (Chester le Street) | 41 Front Street, Chester Le Street DH3 3BH | Vision Express | April 2008 | TP1JK |
| Vision Express (Durham) | Unit 8 High Street, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham DH1 3UJ | Vision Express | April 2008 | TP753 |
| Walkers Opticians | 10 Market Place, Durham DH1 3NB | Walkers Eyecare Ltd | October 2021 | S8F2B |
| Walkers Opticians | 21 Hope Street, Crook DL15 9HS | Walkers Eyecare Ltd | October 2021 | V9I1A |
| Walkers Opticians (Spennymoor) | 48 High Street, Spennymoor DL16 6DD | Walkers Opticians | October 2018 | TP941 |
Where they are
What an eye test costs in County Durham
The register does not hold prices, so these are the published national rates for the chains listed here plus the usual independent range. With 41 sites in County Durham outside the big four, expect a spread rather than a single local price.
Free on the NHS for under-16s, students aged 16 to 18, over-60s, people with diabetes or glaucoma, and people on qualifying benefits. Check whether you qualify before you book, and take an optical voucher worth £42.40 to £233.56 into account if you need glasses.
Nearby districts
Where this data comes from
Practice records are taken from the NHS Organisation Data Service reference data for Optical Headquarters and Sites, snapshot taken 4 September 2026. A listing records that an optical site was on the register on that date. It is not an NHS endorsement, a licence, a quality rating, or a guarantee that the practice is taking new patients. Opening hours, telephone numbers and prices are not held in this dataset, so confirm them with the practice before travelling.
Contains information from NHS England, licenced under the current version of the Open Government Licence. Released under the Open Government Licence v3.0. District, ward and coordinates from postcodes.io. Contains OS data (c) Crown copyright and database right 2026; contains Royal Mail data (c) Royal Mail copyright and database right 2026; contains National Statistics data (c) Crown copyright and database right 2026.
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