Seeing London from a plane
About 9 million people along the Thames. Look for the river's loops past Parliament and the Tower, the towers of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, and the green rectangle of Hyde Park.
2 of our routes pass it. UK · rated 8 of 10
The easy pick
New York to London: sit on the right, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| New York to London | Right | on the way down |
| Washington to London | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see London from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (2 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see London from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see London at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Millennium Bridge London City Airport New York (JFK) London (LHR) Washington (IAD) All routes