HKG to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Hong Kong (HKG) to London (LHR) is a 9,630 km (5,984 mi), roughly 11h 50m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HKG 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 | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views don’t decide this route, so take the shade side and ignore the rest.
This route does not pick a clear views side. Your seat choice comes down to shade, not scenery, so follow the sun advice. You still get a strong start over southern China, then a long mix of lakes, cities, islands, and coasts across Europe.
Takeoff
On departure from HKG, depending on the runway in use, the right side starts with Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island. The left side can pick up Macau almost right away, with Shenzhen also close by. By about 6 minutes in, Dongguan is still on the right.
En route
- 2h 36m in← LeftQinghai Lake
About 2.5 hours in, Qinghai Lake sits on the left. It is a wide blue shape in the landscape, not a quick flash.
- 9h 45m in← LeftRiga
Around 9.5 hours in, Riga is on the left. It reads as a compact city block in the distance.
- 9h 46m inRight →Gulf of Riga
Just after that, the Gulf of Riga is on the right. You get a broad water opening beside the route.
- 10h 08m inRight →Gotland
About 10 hours in, Gotland is on the right. It is an island shape off to one side, with no close pass.
- 10h 29m in← LeftBornholm
A little after that, Bornholm appears on the left. It is another island view, separated from the aircraft rather than passing under it.
- 10h 38m inRight →Copenhagen
Just over 10.5 hours in, Copenhagen is on the right. The city sits off to that side before the route turns toward England.
Landing
On descent into LHR, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets London very close to the end, with London Bridge nearly underneath and a brief, steep look. Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove sit farther out on the left. Milton Keynes is on the right just before arrival.
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 HKG 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 HKG 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 HKG to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 9,630 km (5,984 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 50m in the air on this northbound 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 for HKG to LHR views?
Views are too mixed to choose a side. Pick the shade side instead.
What do you see near landing into LHR?
Near landing, the left side gets London very close, with London Bridge nearly overhead. Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove are also on the left, while Milton Keynes is on the right.