LHR to MIA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Miami (MIA) is a 7,109 km (4,417 mi), roughly 8h 52m 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 MIA 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 | Both | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade, so that is the seat to aim for.
Sit on the right for this one. The view side and the shade side match, so you get the better scenery and less glare. Early on, you look down over London. Later, the route leans into Wales and western Ireland before the Atlantic stretch takes over.
Takeoff
On departure from LHR, the right side gives you London below during climb, with London Bridge and Tower Bridge in view, depending on the runway in use. A few minutes later, you still have the city side while the Isle of Wight slips away on the other side.
En route
- 7m inRight →Coventry
About 7 minutes in, the right side keeps Coventry in view as a city shape in the Midlands.
- 9m inRight →Birmingham
A minute or two later, Birmingham sits on the right as another big urban patch below.
- 19m inRight →Snowdonia
Around 20 minutes in, Snowdonia comes up on the right as a broad mountainous area.
- 31m inRight →Dublin
Near half an hour in, Dublin appears on the right, followed by the Wicklow Mountains on the same side.
- 47m inRight →Cliffs of Moher
About 45 to 50 minutes in, the right side gets the western Ireland coastline run: the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, and then the Dingle Peninsula.
Landing
On approach to MIA, the left side takes over for Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, depending on the runway in use. Hialeah sits close on the right and passes nearly under you, so it is a quick, steep look rather than a long view.
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 MIA?
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 MIA 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 MIA?
The great-circle distance is 7,109 km (4,417 mi), which works out to roughly 8h 52m 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 for LHR to MIA?
Sit on the right. It is the views side, and it is also the shade side.
What do you see after leaving London on this route?
On the right, you first get London and its bridges, then Coventry and Birmingham, then Wales and western Ireland before the ocean stretch.