LHR to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 8,616 km (5,354 mi), roughly 10h 38m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to SFO 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 on both views and shade.
Sit on the right for this one. The right side gets the better views, and it is also the shade side, so you win on both counts.
Takeoff
Shortly after takeoff, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the City of Westminster. On the other side, Portsmouth sits left and drops away quickly.
En route
- 22m in← LeftSnowdon
About 20 minutes in, Snowdon is off the left side. It is a brief mountain view, not a long one.
- 45m inRight →Islay
A little later, Islay stays out on the right. You see it as a small island shape rather than a close pass.
- 4h 21m inRight →Davis Strait
Around four and a half hours in, Davis Strait is on the right. It reads more like a wide strip of water than a detailed landmark.
- 9h 23m in← LeftRocky Mountains
About nine and a half hours in, the Rocky Mountains sit left. The range is broad and obvious if the sky is clear.
- 10h 20m in← LeftLake Tahoe
Near descent, Lake Tahoe appears on the left. It is a clear lake view before the final approach.
Landing
On arrival, depending on the runway in use, the right side picks up the Golden Gate Bridge, the Golden Gate, and Alcatraz Island. The left side gets San Jose and Fremont farther out.
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 SFO?
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 SFO 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 SFO?
The great-circle distance is 8,616 km (5,354 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 38m 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 LHR to SFO?
Sit on the right. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see after takeoff from LHR?
Depending on the runway in use, the right side gets London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and the City of Westminster during the climb.