If you’re just starting your journey into stargazing, choosing the right beginner telescope can be overwhelming. With so many models promising the stars (literally), it’s hard to know where to begin—especially on a budget.

We’ve reviewed dozens of entry-level telescopes and hand-picked 3 of the best telescopes under £300 for beginners in the UK. These picks balance affordability, ease of use, and clear optics—so you can start observing right out of the box.

Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P

• Aperture: 130 mm
• Mount: Tabletop Dobsonian
• Weight: ~6 kg
• Best For: Deep-sky viewing

Bresser Messier 90/900

• Aperture: 90 mm

• Mount: Alt-Az Nano
• Weight: ~5 kg
• Best For: Beginners, moon & planets

Celestron Astromaster 130EQ

• Aperture: 130 mm
• Mount: Equatorial
• Weight: ~8 kg
• Best For: Planet tracking, learning EQ mounts

1. 🌌 Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P FlexTube Dobsonian

Approx Price: £215 | Type: Tabletop Dobsonian

Cheapest👍

• 130mm aperture gathers a ton of light—great for viewing nebulae, galaxies, and the Moon. 

• Compact FlexTube design folds down small for travel or storage.

• Very beginner-friendly: No alignment hassles.

Pros:

✅ Excellent light-gathering for the price

✅ Collapsible + portable

✅ Easy to set up and use

Cons::

❌ Needs a table or raised surface

❌ Manual tracking—no motorized features

👉 Check price on Amazon UK

👉 Check price on Astroshop

🔭 Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P

“At this price point, the Heritage 130P is unbeatable. You get Dobsonian simplicity and real deep-sky performance — ideal for beginners.”

— from an experienced stargazer on Reddit

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This instrument is a very nice, extremely well made beginner's telescope. The high quality of the optical elements employed offers an unusually sharp, high-contrast image for this class of telescope. The permanently mounted red dot finder allows you to quickly and easily find object you wish to observe. The 1.25" rack and pinion focuser lets you smoothly adjust the focus. The telescope is ideal for the natural watching and terrestrial observing as well as for astronomical applications such as lunar and planetary observing. The OTA fixes onto the mount using the usual dovetail rail. The instrument can be completely assembled within a few minutes, without any specialist knowledge and without needing any tools.

• Equatorial mount helps you track objects across the sky—ideal for those wanting to learn the skies. 

• Great for planetary and lunar observation with clear sharp views. 

• Comes with two eyepieces and a red dot finder.
  

Pros:

✅ Decent 130mm aperture

✅ Equatorial mount for object tracking

✅ Great planetary detail

Cons:

❌ EQ mounts have a learning curve

❌ Slightly bulky for small spaces

👉 Check price on Amazon UK

👉 Check price on Astroshop

🔭 Celestron Astromaster 130EQ

“The EQ mount has a learning curve, but once you get it, tracking planets feels like a real achievement. The 130mm aperture shows amazing Saturn rings!”

— beginner’s post on Stargazers Lounge

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The traditional company Bresser offers telescopes for ambitious beginners at an excellent price-performance ratiounder the name Messier. The Messier telescope systems are expandable and retrofittable, so they can be used far beyond the initial entry point.

Good starter for Astrophotography.

• Refractor = zero collimation needed. Just grab and go! 

• Wide-field views perfect for star clusters and lunar landscapes. 

• Includes sturdy tripod, diagonal, and red dot finder.
  

Pros:

✅ No collimation or alignment

✅ Wide views — ideal for casual stargazing

✅ Easy Alt-Az mount — intuitive for beginners

Cons:

❌ Not ideal for deep-sky faint objects

❌ Some chromatic aberration on bright targets

👉 Check price on Amazon UK

👉 Check price on Astroshop

🔭 Bresser Messier AR-90/900 Nano AZ

“The Bresser 90/900 is perfect for lunar and planetary viewing. Super crisp views of the Moon and Jupiter, and the mount is incredibly easy to use.”

— customer review on AstroShop

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🔭 Final Verdict

Best Overall: Sky-Watcher 130P🌟

Best for Planets: Celestron 130EQ

Best Portable: Bresser AR-90/500

For most beginners, the Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P offers the best mix of value, power, and portability. 

If you’re more interested in planetary detail or learning how to track objects, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a fantastic choice. 

Prefer something light and no-fuss? The Bresser Messier AR-90/500 is ideal for grab-and-go stargazing.

🛒 Where to Buy

Looking to buy one of these telescopes? Here are our top picks:

Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P – Amazon UK

Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ –Astroshop UK

Bresser Messier AR-90/500 – Amazon UK

💡 Beginner’s Tip

“Don’t worry about fancy features. The best telescope is the one you’ll actually use.”

If you’re just getting started, focus on a simple, sturdy scope and learn the skies slowly. You don’t need to spend a fortune to fall in love with the night sky.

1. What can I see with a telescope under £300?

Even under £300, a good telescope like the Sky-Watcher 130P can reveal craters on the Moon, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, star clusters, and bright nebulae like Orion.

2. Is a Dobsonian or an Equatorial mount better for beginners?

Dobsonians are easier to use and set up — just point and view. Equatorial mounts take longer to learn but are better for tracking planets and objects across the sky.

3. Can I take photos with these telescopes?

These telescopes can support basic astrophotography, like Moon shots using a smartphone adapter. For deep-sky astrophotography, you’d need more advanced gear.

4. Do I need any accessories?

Most beginner telescopes come with basic eyepieces. A moon filter, barlow lens, or red dot finder can improve your viewing experience.