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Ranking 270+ Telescopes in the UK

Rank & ratings last updated on

Most of the telescopes from our collection placed together.
Refractors (far left), Tabletop dobsonians (front middle), freestanding dobsonians (back middle), reflectors (back right), cassegrains (front right). Image: TelescopicWatch

For Pure Visual Observation: I consider telescopes under £150 to be poor choices. In that case, I'd advise looking for a used telescope or a pair of binoculars instead. If you're on a tight budget and absolutely need a new telescope, the best start would be a 150 mm (6") tabletop Dobsonian, available for just over £250. For most serious beginners, we highly recommend an 8” or 10” Dobsonian telescope, typically priced between £450 and £900. A larger budget—over £1000—could enable you to go for a 12” Dobsonian or a more portable 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.

Planetary Imaging: This requires the largest telescope with tracking you can get your hands on, preferably 8” or larger in aperture. I recommend you head to our Computerised Telescopes Ranking Page for such scopes.

Deep Sky Astrophotography: This requires a budget well in excess of £1500 and typically involves purchasing a separate optical tube assembly and computerised equatorial mount, rather than the mostly-visual-focused telescopes listed below.

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Category: ~£100 or Less Telescopes

Telescopes priced under £100 must make significant quality and utility sacrifices, reducing them to little more than fun toys for casual glances at the Moon, planets, and other bright targets. However, if it’s all you can afford, the scopes below still beat having nothing. We'd highly recommend a good pair of astronomy binoculars for the price, or increase your budget to at least £150, which is our next price category.
Celestron Cometron FirstScope 76mm Tabletop Dobsonian
Celestron FirstScope 76 Cometron or Moon Version
£59 at FLO
While not particularly useful overall, the FirstScope offers a super-cheap introduction to the world of telescopes in a diminutive package. It’s not a serious observation tool by any means. The views through this instrument at even low powers are mushy, and the eyepieces feel like looking through a drinking straw.
Skywatcher Heritage 76 Mini Dobsonian Telescope
Rank 2
3.6/5
Identical to the Celestron FirstScope Cometron edition, the Sky-Watcher Heritage 76 features a low-quality finderscope and shoddy optics but is easy to use and provides acceptable low-power views of the Moon and other easy targets with its provided eyepieces.
Rank 3Royal Observatory Greenwich Firstscope 76 Tabletop Dobsonian3.4
Rank 4Bresser Messier AR-70 Refractor3.2
Rank 5National Geographic 76 AZ Reflector3
Rank 6Skywatcher Infinity 76P Mini Dobsonian2.9
Rank 7Skywatcher Mercury 607 Refractor2.9
Rank 8Omegon 60mm AZ1 Refractor2.8
Rank 9National Geographic 76 Reflector with Sun filter and smartphone adapter2.5
Rank 10Bresser Solarix 76/350 Telescope + Solar Filter2.5
Rank 11Celestron Travel Scope 80mm Refractor2.5
Rank 12National Geographic 60 Refractor2.5
Rank 13National Geographic Smart AR Children's Refractor2.4
Rank 14Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ Refractor2.2
Rank 15Celestron PS70/700 Refractor2
Rank 16Celestron TravelScope 70 Refractor1.9
Rank 17Celestron PowerSeeker 60AZ Refractor1.9
Rank 18Celestron PowerSeeker 50AZ1.4
Rank 19Celestron Travel Scope 501.3

Category: £150 Telescopes

Even the best telescopes in the £150 range are limited by their small aperture. Additionally, upgrading to nicer accessories with any of these scopes places you in a higher price bracket where there are better options. As such, it’s worth still considering binoculars and saving your money for a bigger scope if this is all you have to spend right now.
Skywatcher Heritage 100P Tabletop Dobsonian
£128 at FLO
Sky-Watcher's Heritage 100P is one of few Newtonian reflectors—or telescopes at all—sold with quality optics, a sturdy mount, and acceptable accessories sold at such a low price range. You get an ample 100 mm aperture, a set of nice eyepieces, a red dot finder, and a very easy-to-use and lightweight tabletop Dobsonian mount.
Ursa Major 102mm Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope
Rank 2
3.7/5
The Ursa Major 102mm Tabletop Dobsonian uses a spherical primary mirror, which at this size and spec does not deliver terrible images but is far from the sharpness of a true parabolic primary mirror. As such, it is not so good compared to a 100 mm unit with true parabolic optics like the Heritage 100P, but it is otherwise decent and will suffice if you must compromise.
National Geographic 114mm Tabletop Dobsonian
Rank 3
3.6/5
The National Geographic 114mm Tabletop Dobsonian offers decent optics but comes with toy-like Huygens eyepieces, which will cost quite a bit to replace with acceptable quality ones, and any telescope requires good eyepieces to deliver a pleasing view.
Bresser Classic 60 EQ Refractor
Rank 4
3.6/5
The Bresser Classic 60EQ is well-made and includes a nice mount and accessories, but its tiny 60mm aperture limits what you can see to little more than the Moon, planets, and double stars.
Rank 5Ursa Major 80mm Tabletop Dobsonian Telescope3.4
Rank 6Bresser Solarix AZ Telescope 114/5003.3
Rank 7Skywatcher Mercury 707 Refractor3.1
Rank 8National Geographic 76 Tabletop Dobsonian3
Rank 9Celestron Inspire 70AZ Refractor Telescope3
Rank 10Bresser Sirius 70MM AZ Refractor Telescope3
Rank 11Vixen Space Eye 70/700M Telescope3
Rank 12Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Refractor3
Rank 13Skywatcher Mercury 705 Refractor3
Rank 14Celestron PowerSeeker 80EQ Refractor3
Rank 15Bresser Classic 70 Refractor3
Rank 16Celestron AstroMaster 70EQ Telescope2.9
Rank 17Skywatcher Astrolux 76MM Telescope2.9
Rank 18Celestron PowerSeeker 80AZS Telescope2.6
Rank 19Skywatcher Capricorn 70 EQ1 Telescope2.5
Rank 20Bresser Night Explorer 802.5
Rank 21Celestron LT 70AZ Starsense Explorer Telescope2.5
Rank 22Celestron PowerSeeker 114EQ Reflector2.3
Rank 23Celestron AstroMaster LT 76AZ2
Rank 24Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope2
Rank 25Celestron AstroMaster LT 70AZ Telescope2
Rank 26Celestron PowerSeeker 76AZ Newtonian Telescope2
Rank 27Celestron Travel Scope 70 DX Portable Telescope1.9
Rank 28Celestron AstroMaster LT 60 AZ Refractor1.7

Category: £200 Telescopes

A £200-£250 budget will get you a 5" (130 mm) or 4.5" (114 mm) tabletop Dobsonian, which offers better views at the eyepiece than a 100 mm (4") due to adjustable collimation, better quality control, and, of course, the larger aperture. A few acceptable, if sub-par, tripod-mounted options are also available at this price.
SkyWatcher Heritage 130P
Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P FlexTube Tabletop Dobsonian
£194 at FLO
The Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P's collapsible tube minimises its size when stowed, and it features high-quality optics with a parabolic primary mirror and 130 mm of aperture, enough to see plenty of faint deep-sky objects from a suitably dark location and resolve fantastic detail on the Moon and planets.
Bresser Messier 5" Dobsonian Telescope
Rank 2
4.3/5
The Bresser Messier 5" Dobsonian features a high-quality parabolic primary mirror, an acceptable set of accessories, and a simple tabletop Dobsonian mount with rotating rings to adjust the angle of the eyepiece. However, it is not as lightweight or compact as the Heritage 130P, nor are its accessories quite as up to par.
SarBlue Mak70
Rank 3
4/5
It won’t win any prizes for stunning deep-sky vistas, but the Mak70 paired with a standard photo tripod makes for a portable scope with sharp views of the Moon, planets, and double stars. While it has a reasonably useful set of included accessories, I find aiming and tracking at high magnifications with the provided tripod a bit challenging.
Skywatcher Skyhawk 1145PS AZ Pronto Telescope
Rank 4
4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyhawk 114P/AZ Pronto configuration is decent, but the design of the AZ Pronto mount means that this telescope can be difficult to accurately aim high in the sky without it slipping. As with the EQ1 mounted configuration, you get high-quality 114 mm f/4.5 optics and decent, if basic, eyepieces.
Skywatcher Skymax 90 EQ1
Rank 5
3.8/5
The tiny Sky-Watcher Skymax 90 Maksutov delivers sharp, pleasing images of the Moon, planets, and double stars atop its sturdy EQ1 equatorial mount. However, you might be happier with a telescope with a shorter focal length and more light-gathering power for viewing deep-sky objects like nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies.
Rank 6Skywatcher Evostar 90 f/660 AZ Pronto Telescope3.6
Rank 7Bresser Messier MC-90/1250 EQ33.6
Rank 8Skywatcher Explorer 130 EQ2 /130M3.6
Rank 9Bresser Messier AR-90 AZ NANO3.6
Rank 10Bresser Messier AR-803.5
Rank 11Skywatcher Startravel 80 EQ13.5
Rank 12Skywatcher Startravel 80 AZ33.5
Rank 13SarBlue Mak60 Tripod3.5
Rank 14Celestron Astro Fi 90mm Refractor3.4
Rank 15Celestron Inspire 80AZ Refractor Telescope3.4
Rank 16Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor3.4
Rank 17National Geographic 76 EQ Reflector3.4
Rank 18Skywatcher Explorer 130 Telescope3.4
Rank 19Celestron Inspire 90AZS Refractor Telescope3.4
Rank 20Celestron AstroMaster 80EQ-MD with Phone Adapter and Motor Drive3.4
Rank 21SarBlue Mak60 Tabletop Tripod3.4
Rank 22Celestron AstroMaster 76EQ Reflector Telescope3.3
Rank 23Skywatcher Evostar 90 EQ2 Telescope3.2
Rank 24National Geographic 90 EQ3 Refractor3
Rank 25Skywatcher Evostar 90 AZ3 Telescope3
Rank 26National Geographic 130 Newtonian3
Rank 27Skywatcher StarQuest 130P3
Rank 28Bresser Spica 130 EQ3
Rank 29Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Refractor2.9
Rank 30National Geographic 114 AZ2.8
Rank 31Skywatcher Newton 114 EQ12.8
Rank 32National Geographic 70 AZ Refractor2.8
Rank 33Celestron Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ2.7
Rank 34Celestron AstroMaster 80AZ Short Refractor Telescope2.6
Rank 35Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ2.5
Rank 36Celestron AstroMaster 90AZ Refractor2.5
Rank 37Celestron PowerSeeker 127AZ2
Rank 38Celestron LT 114AZ Starsense Explorer2
Rank 39Skywatcher SkyHawk 114 Catadioptric Newtonian2
Rank 40Celestron Ambassador Executive 50mm Tabletop Telescope1
Rank 41Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ1

Category: £250 - £325 Telescopes

6” tabletop Dobsonians and 4” refractors/Maksutovs, often considered to be the minimum “serious” telescopes to start out with by many amateurs, including myself, are available for £250 and up, offering much better views and capabilities you’re less likely to immediately get tired of compared to a smaller instrument.
SkyWatcher Heritage 150P FlexTube Dobsonian Telescope
Skywatcher Heritage 150P Tabletop Dobsonian
£249 at FLO
The SkyWatcher Heritage 150P has a whopping 150 mm (6") of aperture, includes a pair of great eyepieces, and also allows its optical tube to be collapsed, allowing it to fit into smaller spaces. This collapsible tube feature does create the disadvantage of stray light being able to easily enter the tube, which can be (mostly) remedied by creating or buying a foam shroud. However, we firmly believe that the compactness, superb optics, good accessories, cheaper price, and light weight are more than worth this minor inconvenience.
Ursa Major 6" f/8 Planetary Dobsonian
£269 at FLO
The Ursa Major 6" f/8 Planetary Dobsonian features a 150 mm aperture and high-quality optics, and unlike a tabletop Dobsonian, it stands on the ground without the need for a table. Its f/8 focal ratio makes collimation easy, and features like a true metal Crayford focuser and spring-tensioned bearings allow you room to grow into heavier and more expensive eyepieces. The only consideration to worry about is that this telescope is, of course, quite a bit bigger and heavier than a tabletop telescope of the same aperture, which might make it harder to store or transport despite offering the same views.
Sky-Watcher Skyliner 150P Classic Dobsonian
Rank 3
4.4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 150P Classic offers the same basic design and capabilities as the Ursa Major 6" f/8.
Skywatcher Explorer 130PS AZ5
Rank 4
4.2/5
The Sky-Watcher Explorer 130PS uses the same 130mm f/5 optics as many other high-quality telescopes from Sky-Watcher, and the AZ5 mount is a sturdy and convenient choice for a mount for such an instrument. It includes a decent set of accessories, too.
Skywatcher Skyhawk 1145P AZ-GO2 WiFi
Rank 5
4.1/5
The SkyHawk 114P uses the same telescope optical tube as many other 114 mm f/4.4 Newtonian reflectors, including those from Sky-Watcher. The WiFi-controlled AZ-GTe mount is nice but lacks the more expensive Virtuoso GTi mount’s FreedomFind encoders and is simply overkill for this rather small wide-field instrument, as well as extremely expensive compared to a manual Dobsonian.
Skywatcher Skymax 102S AZ Pronto
Rank 6
4.1/5
The Sky-Watcher SkyMax 102 is an excellent Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, and the Pronto AZ mount provides a sturdy and easy-to-aim platform for it, while you also get a nice set of accessories provided with the scope. However, the limited aperture and field of view of a 102mm Maksutov mean this is primarily a lunar, planetary, and double-star scope.
Skywatcher Heritage 114P Virtuoso
Rank 7
4.1/5
The Sky-Watcher Heritage 114P once again provides the ubiquitous 114 mm f/4.4 Newtonian reflector optical tube, this time atop the Virtuoso auto-tracking mount (not to be confused with the Virtuoso GTi). This mount will automatically track the sky for you after a very simple alignment process (just point it north at the horizon and turn it on) and has push-button fine-pointing adjustments.
Skywatcher Heritage 90P Virtuoso Mak
Rank 8
4/5
The Sky-Watcher Heritage 90P shares the Virtuoso auto-tracking mount of its 114mm Newtonian counterpart but features a 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope atop the mount instead – a bit more optimised for planetary and double star work but not as capable for deep-sky viewing due to its narrower field of view and lesser light-gathering power.
Rank 8Skywatcher SkyMax 102 Avant AZ EQ3.7
Rank 9Skywatcher Explorer 130P Telescope3.6
Rank 10Bresser Pluto 114 EQ3.6
Rank 11Skywatcher StarQuest 102MC3.6
Rank 12Bresser Polaris 102/460 EQ33.5
Rank 13Celestron AstroMaster 90EQ Maksutov3.5
Rank 14Skywatcher StarQuest 102R3.5
Rank 15Bresser Space Explorer 90/900 EQ3 Refractor3.2
Rank 16Skywatcher Startravel 102 EQ13.2
Rank 17Bresser Spica 130/1000 EQ3 Reflector3.2
Rank 18Bresser Taurus 90NG Telescope3
Rank 19Bresse Quasar 80/900 EQ3
Rank 20Bresser Spica 130/650 EQ33
Rank 21Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ Refractor2.8
Rank 22Bresser Automatik 80/400 GoTo2.8
Rank 23Skywatcher Startravel 102 AZ32.5
Rank 24Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 127AZ2.5
Rank 25National Geographic 70 Refractor GoTo2.5
Rank 26Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ2.4
Rank 27Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ MD Telescope2.4
Rank 28Celestron ExploraScope 114AZ Reflector2

Category: £325 - £425 Telescopes

A budget of £400 allows you to get into the full-sized 6” Dobsonian reflectors. These are the entry-level “grown-up” telescopes. Various options for 5–6” reflectors on a variety of different mounts, as well as decent 4” refractors and catadioptrics, are available at this price. Computerised pointing capabilities (Go-To) are also starting to become a serious option in this price range, with a tabletop computerised Dobsonian being the most highly rated item in this price range.
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150 Tabletop Go-To Dobsonian
Skywatcher Heritage 150P Virtuoso GTi
£399 at FLO
The Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150P is a great option for anyone looking for an economical Go-To telescope. Featuring quality optics and well-made included eyepieces, it is capable of being used manually even while the mount’s electronics are powered on and aligned with the sky, thanks to Sky-Watcher's FreedomFind encoders. The base telescope and accessories are otherwise identical to the Heritage 150P model. All this at a price comparable to most manual telescopes of its size makes this instrument one of the best bargains available in astronomy today.
Ursa Major 8" f/6 Dobsonian
£369 at FLO
A low-cost 200 mm Dobsonian package, the Ursa Major 8" f/6 gives you a lot of aperture for the price but is relatively lacking in features or more than an extremely basic set of accessories.
Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Classic
Rank 3
4.4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P Classic is a fairly basic 8" Dobsonian, with good views at the eyepiece, accessories that do the job, and a mount which is acceptable but doesn't have the most well-designed tensioning system or smooth motions compared to some other offerings, though it's still much better than a wobbly tripod.
Bresser Messier 6" f/8 Dobsonian
Rank 4
4.4/5
The Bressier Messier 6” f/8 Planetary Dobsonian features a well-designed freestanding Dobsonian mount with huge bearings for smooth motions and easy balance – aided by a rotating tube cradle – but the included finder and eyepiece are rather sub-par, and the maximum field of view is nowhere near as wide as an f/5 instrument even in spite of the scope’s 2” rack-and-pinion focuser. However, it is still one of the best 6” f/8 Dobsonians, though we recommend sticking with a tabletop 6" f/5 or stepping up to an 8-10” unit in most cases.
Bresser Messier 6" Tabletop Dobsonian
Rank 5
4.4/5
The Bresser Messier 6" Tabletop Dobsonian is an excellent choice for those who must have a closed-tube 150mm tabletop scope and delivers a huge achievable field of view with its 2” focuser and short 750mm focal length if used in conjunction with the right wide-angle eyepieces.
Celestron Astro Fi 130mm Reflector Telescope
Rank 6
4.1/5
The Celestron Astro Fi 130 features a sturdy tripod, unlike its SLT cousins, and its mount is easily controlled via your smartphone or tablet. The 130mm f/5 optics provide decent views of brighter targets, and the 2" focuser unlocks a huge expanse of sky with the right wide-angle eyepieces.
Celestron Astro Fi 127 Maksutov
Rank 7
4/5
The Celestron Astro Fi 127 is significantly more capable than a smaller 102mm or 90mm Maksutov and is still rock-solid on the Astro Fi mount, though the 130mm f/5 Newtonian is just as good on the Moon and planets and is a lot more capable for deep-sky viewing. The 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain optical tube supplied with this scope is identical to many others sold by Celestron and Sky-Watcher.
Celestron Starsense Explorer DX 130AZ Telescope
Rank 8
4/5
The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ features the same 130mm f/5 optics as many other quality beginner telescopes atop a manual alt-azimuth mount. What separates this scope from the rest is the inclusion of the StarSense Explorer technology, which will aid you in finding your way around the night sky simply by attaching your smartphone and utilising the StarSense Explorer app.
Rank 9Skywatcher Explorer 130PS AZ GTi3.9
Rank 10Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Refractor3.8
Rank 11Skywatcher Skymax 102 EQ23.7
Rank 12Bresser Messier MC-100/1400 EQ33.6
Rank 13Skywatcher SkyMax 102 SynScan AZ3.6
Rank 14Skywatcher Explorer 130P AZ-GO2 Reflector3.6
Rank 15Sky-Watcher StarTravel 102 AZ-Go2 Refractor3.5
Rank 16Skywatcher Evostar 90 EQ3-2 Telescope3.5
Rank 17Skywatcher Star Discovery 90i3.5
Rank 18Sky-Watcher SkyHawk 1145P AZ-Go23.4
Rank 19Skywatcher Explorer 130P SynScan AZ GoTo3.4
Rank 20BRESSER Pollux 150/750 EQ33.3
Rank 21Skywatcher Startravel 102 AZ53.3
Rank 22Explore Scientific FL-AR1021000EQ3 Refractor with Exos Nano3.1
Rank 23Vixen Mobile PORTA-L70Lf Telescope3
Rank 24National Geographic 90mm GoTo Automatic3
Rank 25Skywatcher Startravel 120 AZ33
Rank 26Bresser First Light AR-102 EQ33
Rank 27Bresser AR-102/600 EQ-33
Rank 28Celestron AstroMaster 127EQ Maksutov2.2
Rank 29Celestron 114 LCM Newtonian GoTo2
Rank 30BRESSER Pollux 150/1400 EQ31

Category: £425 - £550 Telescopes

On this budget, you can get an 8″ Dobsonian, which is the best balance of aperture, portability, affordability, and simplicity for a beginner. Below 8″, you start to lose enough light-gathering ability to resolve many interesting deep-sky objects, Pluto, or the moons of the ice giant planets (though 6″ with good optics and a good mount isn’t a horrible start, if that’s all you can do; the 8″ is definitely a better way to go). Most of the scopes we recommend in this category are well made enough to last you a lifetime, such as the 8” Dobsonians and various 5” and 6” tripod-mounted reflectors.
StellaLyra 8" f/6 Dobsonian
£449 at FLO
The StellaLyra 8" f/6 Dobsonian offers great performance, as with any Dobsonian telescope of this aperture, and comes well-equipped with a variety of features and accessories which would easily double the cost of the telescope if sold separately, such as a 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser, a right-angle 9x50 finder and a pair of decent starter eyepieces. StellaLyra 8" is the least expensive of the GSO 8" dobsonian options in the UK, and FirstLightOptic's support team makes it superior in every way. This is also the most sold telescope referred to by our website.
Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian
£599 at FLO
The Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Dobsonian is lighter and easier to carry than many other options of this size, though it isn't very well-equipped with any accessories or other features besides the hallmark Celestron StarSense Explorer technology, which makes it extremely easy to navigate around the night sky with your smartphone attached to the telescope.
Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian
Rank 3
4.5/5
The Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian features a very well-designed base with huge bearings for smooth motions and minimal balance differences when you swap out accessories, along with adjustable tube rings and a quality focuser. However, the provided accessories are fairly poor quality and need to be swapped out.
Sky-Watcher Skymax 127 Virtuoso GTi
Rank 4
4.1/5
The Virtuoso GTi mount and SkyMax 127 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope optical tube from Sky-Watcher are both excellent, and this scope is ideal for viewing the Moon, planets, and double stars. However, the eyepiece can often be in an uncomfortable position if this scope is used on a tabletop, and you may wish to use the stud at the bottom to attach it to a tripod for additional height.
Rank 5Skywatcher Skymax 127 AZ-GTi3.9
Rank 6Skywatcher Star Discovery 150i3.9
Rank 7Celestron StarSense DX 5" SCT3.9
Rank 8Celestron Astro Fi 5 Inch SCT3.9
Rank 9Sky-Watcher Explorer 150P EQ3-23.8
Rank 10Skywatcher Skymax 127 AZ-GO23.8
Rank 11Celestron Astro Fi 102mm Maksutov3.7
Rank 12Skywatcher Skymax 127 SynScan AZ3.7
Rank 13Skywatcher Skymax 102 AZ-GTi3.7
Rank 14Skywatcher SkyMax 127 AZ53.7
Rank 15Skywatcher Explorer 150P-DS EQ3-23.7
Rank 16Celestron Nexstar 102 SLT3.7
Rank 17Bresser Messier NT-150S/750 EXOS-13.7
Rank 18Skywatcher Skymax 127 EQ3-23.7
Rank 19Bresser Messier AR-102 EXOS-13.5
Rank 20Vixen A80MF Porta II3.5
Rank 21Celestron NexStar 4SE3.4
Rank 22Bresser Messier MC-100/1400 EXOS-13.4
Rank 23Skywatcher Evostar 102 EQ3-23.4
Rank 24Bresser Messier AR-102S EXOS-13.4
Rank 25Skywatcher Startravel 120 EQ3-23.4
Rank 26Celestron NexStar 130SLT3.3
Rank 27Skywatcher Evostar 120 EQ3-23.3
Rank 28Skywatcher Explorer 150PL EQ3-23.2
Rank 29Bresser Messier AR-102L EXOS-13.2
Rank 30Celestron NexStar 90SLT3.2
Rank 31Bresser Messier NT-150S/1200 EXOS-13
Rank 32Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 EXOS-13
Rank 33Celestron NexStar 102SLT2.7
Rank 34Celestron Ambassador Executive 50mm1

Category: £550 - £800 Telescopes

Most of the 10” Dobsonians available in this price range are marginally heavier than an 8” (and often belong to the same product lines with identical features/accessories) and have the same length tubes, which means that portability-wise, a 10” is still plenty easy to manage. 8” is still the gold standard for many, but there’s little disadvantage to starting with a 10” telescope besides cost. You can also consider a truss tube option in lieu of a solid-tubed 10” Dobsonian or a smaller computerised scope.
StellaLyra 10" f/5 Dobsonian
£619 at FLO
The StellaLyra 10" f/5 Dobsonian is an upscaled version of the 8" StellaLyra model, with just a bit more aperture and weight but the same physical dimensions, accessories, and focal length. With 56% brighter views and slightly better resolution, the 10" is well worth the upgrade if you can afford it.
Bresser Messier 10" Dobsonian
£799 at FLO
The Bresser Messier 10" Dobsonian's sturdy, buttery-smooth mount features rotating rings to adjust for balance and huge bearings to minimise jerky motions at high magnifications. The optics are, of course, excellent as well – but you don't get much in the way of useful accessories apart from a low-quality finderscope and eyepiece.
Celestron Starsense Explorer 10 Inch Dobsonian
Rank 3
4.6/5
The Celestron StarSense Explorer 10" Dobsonian features the same lightweight base, Celestron StarSense Explorer technology and simple accessory package as the 8" model. The StarSense Explorer technology really pays off at this aperture, allowing you to easily locate plenty of "faint fuzzy" deep-sky objects.
Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P Classic Dobsonian
Rank 4
4.4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P Classic is relatively simple and functional, as with its 200mm counterpart. The 250 mm of aperture provides better views than 200 mm without any appreciable gain in weight or physical dimensions. The scope's mount isn't the most well-designed but is still fairly easy to aim and very sturdy; the accessories provided are decent, and the single-speed focuser does the job.
Explore Scientific Ultra Light 254 mm Dobsonian Telescope Gen II
Rank 5
4.3/5
The Explore Scientific 10” Truss Dob is an expensive telescope, but it has many features that make it worth the cost. It is entirely metal in construction and can be very easily disassembled for transportation. Additionally, the scope comes with built-in cooling fans to help regulate its temperature. Unfortunately, no eyepieces are included, and the user will need to purchase a shroud in order to keep light pollution, the Moon and other sources of glare from interfering with performance. Assembly is also a little more complex than a standard tube Dobsonian.
Skywatcher Skyliner 250P FlexTube
Rank 6
4.2/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P FlexTube isn't much more compact or lightweight than a solid-tubed scope of this aperture and features the same basic design (and mechanical faults) as the regular Skyliner 250P. Unless you have some compelling reason to need to lose that little bit of tube length when stored, the regular 250P or a better 250 mm (10") Dobsonian might be a wiser choice.
Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 6″
Rank 7
3.9/5
The Celestron C6 XLT optical tube is an excellent telescope, and the StarSense Explorer DX mount provides a sturdy and easy-to-use lightweight mounting for it, though you may prefer a different telescope with motorised tracking or greater aperture. The StarSense Explorer technology, of course, makes finding targets a breeze with this scope.
Rank 9Bresser Messier NT-150S/750 Hexafoc EXOS-23.9
Rank 10Bresser Refractor Messier AR-102xs/4603.9
Rank 11Skywatcher Explorer 150P EQ3 Pro3.9
Rank 12Skywatcher Explorer 130P-DS EQ3 Pro GOTO3.9
Rank 13Skywatcher Explorer 200PDS EQ53.9
Rank 14Skywatcher Explorer 150P-DS EQ3 Pro3.9
Rank 15Skywatcher Explorer 200P EQ53.8
Rank 16Bresser Messier NT-203 EXOS-23.8
Rank 17Takahashi Starbase 803.8
Rank 18Celestron NexStar 6 SLT3.7
Rank 19Celestron Nexstar 127 SLT3.7
Rank 20Celestron Nexstar 5 SLT3.6
Rank 21Skywatcher Explorer 150PL EQ3 Pro GOTO3.5
Rank 22Bresser Messier NT-150L/1200 Hexafoc EXOS-23.5
Rank 23Bresser Messier MC-127/1900 EXOS-13.5
Rank 24Bresser Messier NT-150L/1200 EXOS-13.5
Rank 25Bresser Messier MC-127/1900 EXOS-23.5
Rank 26Bresser Messier AR-127L EXOS-23.5
Rank 27Bresser Messier MC-100/1400 EXOS-23.5
Rank 28Skywatcher Skymax 127 EQ3 Pro GOTO3.7
Rank 29Skywatcher Evostar 120 EQ53.5
Rank 30Bresser Messier AR-127S EXOS-13.5
Rank 31Bresser Messier MCX-102 GoTo3.2
Rank 32Celestron Ambassador 80AZ1

Category: £800 - £1200 Telescopes

Above the £1000 mark, telescopes start to get increasingly diverse, and performance stops scaling as much with price. You could get a 12” Dobsonian, with even more capability than a 10” and equally easy to operate. But remember, the best telescope is one that gets used, and a 12” solid-tubed scope is the size of a water heater and won’t fit across the back of many cars. A truss tube 12” is available for more money, or you can stick with a smaller and more well-equipped 10”. A few decent 6-8” computerised scopes are also available at this price range.
StellaLyra 12" f/5 Dobsonian
£879 at FLO
The StellaLyra 12" f/5 Dobsonian offers a huge aperture at a very reasonable price along with a plethora of high-quality accessories and features like a 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser. However, this telescope is fairly heavy and bulky, so you may want to consider a truss or collapsible tube Dobsonian if storage space or transport are concerns.
Sky-Watcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube Dobsonian
Skywatcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube
£1089 at FLO
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube is a fairly portable 12" Dobsonian telescope with lots of light-gathering and resolving power. It's easy to extend the tube and be observing in just a few minutes, and the capabilities of a telescope of this size are truly impressive.
Explore Scientific Ultra Light 305 mm Dobsonian Telescope Gen II
Rank 3
4.3/5
The Explore Scientific Ultra Light 300 mm Dobsonian is a little more complex to assemble than a solid or collapsible tubed telescope, but its extremely compact form factor when dismantled makes it a lot less of a commitment to own or transport. You also get a high-quality metal base, built-in fans, and a dual-speed Crayford focuser, though you will need to supply a shroud, finder and your own eyepieces.
Skywatcher Skyliner 200P FlexTube Go-To
Rank 4
4.1/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyline 200P FlexTube Go-To isn't much more compact than a standard 200 mm (8") Dobsonian, but its Go-To system provides smooth motorised tracking and the ability to locate any object in the night sky, and you can still aim the telescope manually thanks to Sky-Watcher's FreedomFind encoder system.
Celestron Nexstar 6SE
Rank 5
4/5
The Celestron NexStar 6SE is extremely compact thanks to its Schmidt-Cassegrain optical configuration and features fully motorised Go-To and tracking, while the C6 XLT optical tube provides sharp views of the Moon, planets, double stars, and brighter deep-sky objects.
Skywatcher Explorer 150PDS EQ5 Pro GOTO
Rank 6
4/5
A decent setup for beginner astrophotographers, the Sky-Watcher Explorer 150PDS is an imaging-optimised fast Newtonian reflector, and the EQ5 Pro mount is an acceptable mount for either visual or astrophotography use with it – though a heavier-duty HEQ5 or EQ6-class mount will produce better results for more demanding applications.
Skywatcher Skymax 150 Pro EQ5
Rank 7
4/5
With superb optics typical of any Maksutov-Cassegrain, the Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 Pro is great for viewing the Moon, planets, and double stars, while the EQ5 mount is a sturdy if basic mounting choice for this scope.
Rank 8Bresser Messier MC-152 Hexafoc EXOS-23.9
Rank 9Skywatcher Explorer 200PDS EQ5 PRO3.9
Rank 10Bresser Messier NT-150/750 Hexafoc EXOS-2 GoTo3.8
Rank 11Skywatcher Explorer 200P EQ5 Pro GOTO3.8
Rank 12Bresser Messier NT-203 EXOS-2 GoTo3.8
Rank 13Celestron NexStar 5 SE3.7
Rank 14Bresser Messier NT-150/1200 Hexafoc EXOS-2 GoTo3.6
Rank 15Skywatcher Evostar 150 EQ53.6
Rank 16Skywatcher Startravel 150 EQ53.6
Rank 17Bresser Messier AR-127S EXOS-23.5
Rank 18Bresser Messier AR-152L EXOS-23.4
Rank 19Skywatcher Evostar 120 EQ5 Pro GOTO3.4
Rank 20Bresser Messier MC-127/1900 EXOS-2 GoTo3.4
Rank 21Bresser Messier MCX-127 GoTo3.4
Rank 22Bresser Messier AR-152S EXOS-23.4
Rank 23Bresser Messier AR-102S EXOS-2 GoTo3.3
Rank 24Bresser Messier MC-100/1400 EXOS-2 GoTo3.3
Rank 25Skywatcher Evostar 120 EQ3 Pro GOTO3.3
Rank 26Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 EXOS-2 GoTo3.2
Rank 27Bresser Messier AR-127L EXOS-2 GoTo3.2
Rank 28Bresser Messier AR-90 EXOS-2 GoTo3

Category: £1200 – £2000 Telescopes

Spending over £1500 opens up the possibility of either a more compactible 12” truss/collapsible Dobsonian or a Go-To scope of fairly large aperture and high quality. A 12” truss or 10” Go-To is a little more complicated to start out with but offers excellent performance for those willing to spend, and a 6” Schmidt-Cassegrain on a Go-To mount can be a great choice too for some.
StellaLyra 16″ f/4.5 Dobsonian
£1899 at FLO
The StellaLyra 16″ f/4.5 Dobsonian, made by GSO, is considerably more compact and affordable than most other telescopes of this size. It features the same bearings, accessories, focuser, and base design as the smaller StellaLyra Dobsonians, but its tube is an easy-to-assemble 6-pole truss. This telescope is a monster, but it’s still easier to move around than the Sky-Watcher FlexTube scopes and at a price that can’t be beat.
Skywatcher Skyliner 350P FlexTube
£1689 at FLO
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 350P FlexTube is significantly more compact than a solid-tubed instrument of this size without the complexity of a full truss tube – though it’s still quite heavy and bulky. The 14″ (350mm) primary mirror gathers plenty of light for fantastic views of deep-sky objects.
Skywatcher Skyliner 300P FlexTube Go-To
Rank 3
4.3/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyline 300P FlexTube Go-To adds motorised tracking and pointing to the already-excellent 300P FlexTube, though it’s a bit heavier and bulkier thanks to the electronics.
Skywatcher Skyliner 250P FlexTube Go-To
Rank 4
4.2/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P FlexTube Go-To’s main selling point is not the FlexTube configuration but rather its motorised Go-To and tracking, which provides added convenience while not interfering with manual aiming at all thanks to the Sky-Watcher FreedomFind slip clutch and encoder system.
Skywatcher Explorer 200PDS NEQ6 Pro
Rank 5
4.2/.5
The Sky-Watcher Explorer 200PDS and NEQ6 Pro combination make for a decent astrophotography-ready setup with the addition of autoguiding, a coma corrector, and a suitable camera. You can also get splendid views through the eyepiece of this scope, too, though it’s a bit more awkward than a Dobsonian.
Celestron Nexstar Evolution 6
Rank 6
4.1/5
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 6 is compact and features 150mm (6″) of aperture, motorised Go-To and tracking, as well as features like a built-in WiFi adapter and lithium battery. However, there are cheaper 6″ Go-To telescopes available, and many can be upgraded to a WiFi-capable setup fairly easily too, while the 8″ model isn’t much more expensive but has significantly better performance.
Skywatcher Skymax 180 Pro EQ5 Pro
Rank 7
4.1/5
The Sky-Watcher Skymax 180 offers superb planetary views and imaging capabilities when conditions allow and the telescope is properly cooled down to ambient temperature, and the EQ5 Pro is a decent mounting option for this telescope.
Skywatcher Explorer 200PDS HEQ5 Pro GOTO
Rank 8
4/5
Another Sky-Watcher telescope/mount combination intended for imaging, the Explorer 200PDS works acceptably on the HEQ5 Pro provided you use autoguiding and don’t push your exposures too long. For visual use, it’s rather uncomfortable, but it will do the job with comparable views to an 8″ Dobsonian.
Skywatcher Skymax 150 Pro HEQ5 Pro
Rank 9
4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 is, of course, an excellent lunar, planetary, and double-star scope, and while Go-To may be a little unnecessary for such a specialised instrument, the motorised tracking is nice to have, and you can, of course, use the superb HEQ5 Pro mount for astrophotography with a different telescope.
Skywatcher Explorer 250PDS NEQ6 Pro GOTO
Rank 10
4/5
The Sky-Watcher Explorer 250PDS is certainly an intimidating scope and a nightmare to use on an equatorial mount for visual use but works well for imaging purposes – though the NEQ6 Pro is pushing its limits with such a large and heavy optical tube.
Celestron C6 SCT VX GOTO (Celestron Advanced VX 6″)
Rank 11
4/5
The Celestron C6 XLT telescope is an excellent instrument for viewing Solar System and bright-deep-sky targets, with some planetary and deep-sky imaging capabilities too. However, there are better mount options than the Advanced VX for either task, and deep-sky astrophotographers may want to consider a more optimised telescope for the job.
Rank 12Skywatcher Evostar 150 HEQ5 Pro GOTO3.9
Rank 13Skywatcher Skymax 150 Pro EQ5 Pro3.9
Rank 14Celestron Nexstar Evolution 5″ SCT3.8
Rank 15Skywatcher Explorer 200P HEQ5 Pro GOTO3.8
Rank 16Celestron Advanced VX 6″ Refractor GOTO3.7
Rank 17Celestron NexStar 8SE3.7
Rank 18Bresser Messier AR-152S EXOS-2 GoTo3.5
Rank 19Celestron C8-N Newtonian VX GOTO3.5
Rank 20Skywatcher Evostar 120 HEQ5 Pro GOTO Telescope3.5
Rank 21Skywatcher Evostar 150 EQ5 Pro GOTO Telescope3.5
Rank 22Bresser Messier AR-152L EXOS-2 GoTo3.5
Rank 23Bresser Messier AR-127S EXOS-2 GoTo3.5

Category: £2000+ Telescopes

Various Go-To 8” Schmidt-Cassegrains and other telescopes offering astrophotography capabilities and usually computers in some form take the lead at this price range. However, remember that a 12” can be a lot to handle even in a truss tube, while astrophotography typically is better with a separately purchased mount/OTA and a much higher budget.
Skywatcher Skyliner 350P FlexTube Go-To
£2441 at FLO
The Go-To version of the Sky-Watcher Skyliner 350P FlexTube can still be aimed manually thanks to its FreedomFind encoder system, while the addition of Go-To and motorised tracking saves you plenty of time in locating and maintaining your aim at targets. However, it is quite a bit heavier than the manual version of this telescope.
Skywatcher Skyliner 400P FlexTube Go-To
£3449 at FLO
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 400P FlexTube is already a nightmare to move around, and the added weight of Go-To electronics doesn’t help things. However, if you can find a way to conveniently store and set up this beast, the views at the eyepiece are extremely rewarding, and you of course get all the perks of tracking and Go-To and still have manual aiming as an option thanks to the FreedomFind encoders.
Skywatcher Skyliner 400P FlexTube
Rank 3
4.4/5
The Sky-Watcher Skyliner 400P FlexTube is still quite heavy and bulky even when collapsed and probably requires 2 people to move around. You may also need a ladder to reach the eyepiece when the scope is aimed high in the sky. Despite this, the views at the eyepiece through a big scope such as this are well worth the effort when the 400P is used under fairly dark skies.
Celestron NexStar Evolution 8
Rank 4
4.2/5
The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8″ features the excellent Celestron C8 XLT optical tube, providing plenty of light-gathering and resolving power, coupled to the NexStar Evolution mount, which is fairly lightweight and compact but features fully motorised GoTo and tracking, a built-in WiFi adapter for control via your smartphone or tablet, and a built-in lithium battery.
Celestron Advanced VX 8″ SCT
Rank 5
4/.5
The Celestron C8 XLT is a versatile telescope with plenty of light-gathering power for visual use, and it can be used for some astrophotography with a focal reducer or HyperStar. However, the Advanced VX is overkill for visual use and not really up to the task of supporting the C8 for long-exposure astrophotography, even with autoguiding.
Rank 6Skywatcher Evostar 150 NEQ6 Pro GOTO3.9
Rank 7Skywatcher Evostar 150ED DS-PRO EQ6-R Pro3.8
Rank 8Skywatcher Explorer 300PDS NEQ6 Pro GOTO3.6
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