Eclipse frenzy grips Britain as thousands travel for miles in desperate search for glasses

Britain is in the grip of an eclipse mania not seen since the last century, as thousands of people journey for hours across the country in a frantic search for solar eclipse glasses. With the most impressive partial solar eclipse in 54 years due on Wednesday, August 12, major retailers, corner shops and even the Royal Greenwich Observatory have sold out of the specialist eyewear.

Ali Raza, who runs the AM2PM shop in Whitechapel, east London, told the Press Association that customers had travelled from Surrey, Southend-on-Sea, Southampton and even Birmingham to buy a pair. 'On Sunday we had people coming from Surrey, Southend-on-Sea, yesterday night a lady came from Southampton, and loads of people have come from Birmingham as well. We're too busy,' he said. 'Today I already sold 6,000 pairs. At 2.30am we had a delivery from Spain and by 9.30am we sold out everything.'

Why is this eclipse so special?

The eclipse, which will take place between 6.17pm and 8.06pm, will see more than 90 per cent of the sun obscured by the moon. It is the fullest partial eclipse visible from the UK since the total eclipse of 1999. Devon, Cornwall and the westernmost parts of Pembrokeshire in Wales will enjoy the best views, with between 94 and 96 per cent of the sun blocked out.

Exmoor National Park, an international dark sky reserve, has seen a surge in visitors. A spokesperson admitted they 'couldn't keep up with demand' for glasses, selling over 300 pairs but adding that they 'could've sold that twice over.' The park's guided walk from the Hunters Inn pub to Highveer Point is already sold out.

What about the weather?

The Met Office has declared conditions 'more or less perfect' for eclipse viewing across most of the nation. A spokesperson said: 'With clear skies forecast across much of the UK, conditions should be more or less perfect for many to experience the partial solar eclipse.' However, cloud cover may spoil the spectacle in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, while the rest of Scotland and northern England may see hazy skies. The best viewing is expected south of a line from Aberystwyth to Lincoln.

How can you watch safely?

Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, stressed that ordinary sunglasses are not enough. 'Solar eclipse glasses are very, very different from sunglasses – they block out so much light that you can't see anything through them except the sun,' she said. 'If all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander – point it towards the sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow you'll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.'

Only glasses bearing the ISO 12312-2 certification should be used. After the 1999 total eclipse, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists recorded about 70 cases of vision problems, with roughly 40 per cent of those affected having watched for less than a minute.

What else is happening?

In the South Downs National Park, at least five astronomy groups are holding events, with the eclipse followed by the annual Perseid meteor shower. The Royal Greenwich Observatory, which sold 15,000 pairs of glasses and all tickets to its observation event, will offer a free live stream on its website and YouTube channel.

As Britain prepares for this rare celestial event, the message from experts is clear: enjoy the spectacle, but do so safely. For those without glasses, a colander or a projection method is far better than risking permanent eye damage.