LHR to BOS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Boston (BOS) is a 5,240 km (3,256 mi), roughly 6h 40m 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 BOS 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
The right side wins for both the views and the shade.
Sit on the right for this one. The right side gets the better views, and it is also the shade side, so you do not have to choose between glare and scenery.
Takeoff
On departure from LHR, the right side gives you the first look at London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the City of Westminster, depending on the runway in use. A minute later, Portsmouth drops away on the left.
En route
- 10m inRight →Birmingham
About 10 minutes in, Birmingham sits on the right. It is a clear city shape through climb, not a long look.
- 33m inRight →Dublin
About 33 minutes in, Dublin is on the right. You stay on the better side as the route crosses toward Ireland.
- 41m inRight →Ireland
About 41 minutes in, Ireland stays on the right. It is a broad landmass view, so the shape matters more than detail.
- 4h 57m in← LeftNewfoundland
Near 5 hours in, Newfoundland appears on the left. It is a quick cross-check that you are well into the approach to North America.
- 6h 11m inRight →Gulf of Maine
About 6 hours 10 minutes in, the Gulf of Maine is on the right. It gives the final water view before descent.
Landing
On arrival into BOS, the right side keeps the city view, with Worcester first and Boston nearly under you, depending on the runway in use. Massachusetts Bay sits to the left just before landing, so the last approach gives you a quick split between city and water.
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 BOS?
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 BOS 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 BOS?
The great-circle distance is 5,240 km (3,256 mi), which works out to roughly 6h 40m 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 BOS?
Sit on the right. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on this flight?
You get London at departure, then city and island views over Britain and Ireland, a long ocean crossing, and Boston near landing.