BOS to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Boston (BOS) to London (LHR) is a 5,240 km (3,256 mi), roughly 6h 40m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime BOS to LHR departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Both | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are split, so they do not decide this route. The left side is the shade side, and that is the better pick.
This route is a split decision. The window view is balanced, so shade wins the call: sit left for the quieter side of the day.
Takeoff
On departure from BOS, depending on the runway in use, you may see Worcester and Boston off the left, with Massachusetts Bay briefly on the right as you climb out.
En route
- 29m in← LeftGulf of Maine
About half an hour in, the Gulf of Maine sits left. It reads as a broad dark-water edge, not a close-up feature.
- 1h 10m inRight →Cape Breton Island
Around an hour in, Cape Breton Island is on the right. It comes and goes from a cruising height, with only a passing look.
- 1h 43m inRight →Newfoundland
A little later, Newfoundland is also on the right. It stays a distant island shape rather than a full-frame view.
- 6h 07m in← LeftDublin
Near the last hour, Dublin is on the left. It is one of the clearer city picks on this leg, but still seen from high above.
- 6h 11m inRight →St George's Channel
A few minutes after that, St George's Channel is on the right. You get a narrow water corridor rather than a dramatic feature.
Landing
On approach to LHR, depending on the runway in use, the left side lines up with Snowdonia, Birmingham, Coventry, London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the City of Westminster. Portsmouth sits to the right just before landing.
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 BOS to LHR?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on BOS to LHR flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from BOS to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 5,240 km (3,256 mi), which works out to roughly 6h 40m in the air on this eastbound 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 BOS to LHR?
Sit left. Views are balanced, but the left side is the shade side on this route.
What do I see on the BOS to LHR flight?
You get a mix of water, islands, and a few city passes. The clearest late views are on the left near Dublin and on approach to London.