EWR to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) is a 5,562 km (3,456 mi), roughly 7h 3m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime EWR 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 basically even here, so they do not decide the seat. Go with the left side for shade.
This route does not have a clear views winner. The better seat is the left side for shade, while the right side gets most of the sun. You still get strong city and coastline views in both directions.
Takeoff
On departure from EWR, depending on the runway in use, the right side can pick up a quick run of New York landmarks in the climb: Brooklyn Bridge and New York City almost under you, then the East River, Ellis Island, and Long Island a few minutes later.
En route
- 1h 34m inRight →Cape Breton Island
About an hour and a half in, the right side can spot Cape Breton Island as a broad island shape off to that side.
- 2h 07m inRight →Newfoundland
Around two hours in, Newfoundland sits on the right, closer and clearer than the earlier islands.
- 6h 13m in← LeftAran Islands
About six and a half hours in, the left side gets the Aran Islands, a small cluster in the water near Ireland.
- 6h 30m in← LeftDublin
A little after that, Dublin comes up on the left as the biggest city on this part of the crossing.
- 6h 43m in← LeftSnowdonia
Also on descent, Snowdonia appears on the left as a broad mountain area rather than a single peak.
- 6h 45m inRight →Swansea
On descent, the right side gets Swansea, followed soon by other Welsh and English cities.
Landing
On approach to LHR, depending on the runway in use, the left side has the cleaner arrival: London, the City of Westminster, Tower Bridge, and London Bridge all stack up there near touchdown. Portsmouth stays off to the right earlier in the descent.
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 EWR 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 EWR 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 EWR to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 5,562 km (3,456 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 3m 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 of the plane is better on EWR to LHR?
The left side is the shade side, so it is the better all-around pick. Views are close enough to even that shade should decide it.
What can I see after takeoff from Newark to London?
On the right side, you can catch Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, the East River, Ellis Island, and Long Island during the climb.