AMS to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Amsterdam (AMS) to London (LHR) is a 370 km (230 mi), roughly 0h 56m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime AMS to LHR departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Night | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the better views, but it is also the brighter side for most of the flight. If you want the clearest look outside, sit left. If you want less sun, choose right.
AMS to LHR is a left-side route for views, but the right side is the shade pick. You get the best scenery on the left, with some glare on a daytime departure.
Takeoff
After takeoff from AMS, depending on the runway in use, keep your eyes left. Rotterdam comes into view about 4 minutes in, then The Hague about a minute later. Almere and Marken sit to the right, so they are not the focus from this side.
En route
- 8m in← LeftAntwerp
About 8 minutes in, Antwerp appears on the left as a large city shape below you.
- 15m in← LeftWalcheren
Around 15 minutes in, Walcheren is off the left side as a slim peninsula edge against the water.
- 15m in← LeftGhent
Also around 15 minutes in, Ghent sits left of track, another city pass while you climb away from the Netherlands.
- 24m in← LeftLille
Near the 24-minute mark, Lille stays on the left in cruise.
- 39m in← LeftStrait of Dover
About 39 minutes in, the Strait of Dover is left of the aircraft as you start down.
- 39m in← LeftWhite Cliffs of Dover
At the same point, the White Cliffs of Dover are also on the left, a chalk edge that passes well off to that side.
Landing
On approach to LHR, depending on the runway in use, stay on the left for the best look out. About 52 minutes in, London and London Bridge pass very close on the left, with London Bridge nearly under you. Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove are also left-side features near landing, while Milton Keynes is on the right.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from AMS to LHR?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on AMS to LHR flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from AMS to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 370 km (230 mi), which works out to roughly 0h 56m in the air on this westbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from Amsterdam to Heathrow?
Sit on the left for the views. The right side is the shade side.
What will I see on the AMS to LHR flight?
On the left you get Rotterdam, The Hague, Antwerp, Ghent, Lille, the Strait of Dover, the White Cliffs of Dover, and then London near landing.