LHR to ATL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Atlanta (ATL) is a 6,761 km (4,201 mi), roughly 8h 27m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to ATL 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 | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left is the side for views, and it is also the sunny side. If you want the better window, sit left. If you want less glare, sit right.
Left has the better views, but it also takes the sun. So you pick your side: scenery on the left, less glare on the right. This is a long daytime flight, with the best landfalls and city passes coming later.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LHR, the first London landmarks sit off the right side, including London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the City of Westminster, depending on the runway in use. Portsmouth then appears off the left about a minute in.
En route
- 41m inRight →Ireland
About 40 minutes in, Ireland sits off the right side as a broad island shape below.
- 4h 52m in← LeftNewfoundland
About 5 hours in, Newfoundland comes in on the left.
- 5h 54m in← LeftBay of Fundy
Around 5 hours 50 minutes in, the Bay of Fundy is off the left, a quick coastal glimpse rather than a long look.
- 6h 33m in← LeftBoston
About 6 and a half hours in, Boston passes on the left.
- 6h 56m in← LeftBrooklyn Bridge
Around 7 hours in, New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge are both off the left, and the bridge is a brief, low pass in the distance.
- 8h 04m inRight →Blue Ridge Mountains
On descent, the Blue Ridge Mountains come up on the right near the end.
Landing
On descent into ATL, Atlanta is nearly under the aircraft on the right, so it moves fast in the window. Depending on the runway in use, keep the right side for the last look.
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 LHR to ATL?
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 LHR to ATL flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from LHR to ATL?
The great-circle distance is 6,761 km (4,201 mi), which works out to roughly 8h 27m 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 LHR to ATL?
Sit on the left. It has the better views on this route, though it is also the sunny side.
What can I see on the LHR to ATL flight?
You get early London landmarks on the right after takeoff, then Ireland, Newfoundland, the Bay of Fundy, Boston, New York City, and the Brooklyn Bridge on the left later on.