People across the UK have been rushing to get their hands on eclipse glasses ahead of tonight's highly anticipated solar eclipse, with reports of long queues and supplies selling out in parts of London. The rare celestial event is taking place on Wednesday, August 12, with the Moon passing in front of the Sun and covering a large proportion of its visible surface.

In parts of the UK, up to 96 per cent of the Sun will be obscured, making it one of the most significant solar eclipses visible from Britain in decades. The eclipse is expected to begin during the evening, with the Moon gradually moving across the Sun from around 6.15pm in London.

The event has sparked huge excitement, with people taking to social media to share their plans for watching the eclipse and their attempts to find specialist glasses.

Reports from London have shown people queuing to get their hands on eclipse glasses, while some shops have reportedly sold out. A London Reddit thread tracking availability saw users sharing updates about which shops still had glasses in stock, with several locations reported to have sold out during the day.

The eclipse is particularly significant because the UK has not experienced such a deep solar eclipse since 2015. Today's event will see some parts of Britain experience around 90 per cent or more of the Sun covered, while the South West is among the areas expected to get the best views.

WHY DO YOU NEED ECLIPSE GLASSES?

Despite the excitement, experts are warning people not to look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.

NASA says that during a partial solar eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialist eye protection. Ordinary sunglasses, no matter how dark they appear, do not provide enough protection.

Specialist eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers should meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. NASA also advises checking glasses before use and throwing them away if the lenses are scratched, torn or otherwise damaged.

People should also never look at the eclipsed Sun through a camera, telescope or binoculars unless the equipment has an appropriate solar filter fitted, as concentrated sunlight can cause serious eye injury.

So while the temptation to sneak a quick look might be strong, experts are urging eclipse watchers to protect their eyes throughout the partial phases.

TSB RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR SAY

As excitement over the eclipse grew, TSB residents were also quick to share their thoughts — including some questionable plans for protecting their eyesight.

One person joked: "just gonna look at it with my bare eyes so I can claim PIP." Another reminisced about previous eclipse giveaways, writing: "They used to sent it to your house for free back in the day" Someone else remembered getting their glasses through a newspaper: "Yes omg it was Free with the sun newspaper back in the day we used to be a country"

And one person appeared ready to risk it all, asking: "Who else is risking roasting their retinas today? We may need to form a support group"

While the comments have clearly been made in jest, the safety message is serious: don't look directly at the Sun without proper solar viewing protection.

The August 2026 eclipse is expected to be a memorable sight across the UK, with the Moon gradually covering the Sun and creating a dramatic change in daylight for observers.