LHR to ZRH: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Zurich (ZRH) is a 788 km (490 mi), roughly 1h 26m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to ZRH departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Both | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left for this one. The route gives you the better views and the shade side at the same time, so it is the easy pick.
Takeoff
On departure from LHR, the left side has the early show, depending on the runway in use. You may see London and its bridges about 2 minutes after takeoff, then the coast-side landmarks slide by as you climb.
En route
- 14m in← LeftWhite Cliffs of Dover
Look left for the White Cliffs of Dover about 14 minutes in. They show up as a pale chalk edge, bright against the sea below.
- 15m in← LeftStrait of Dover
A minute later, the Strait of Dover stays on the left. It is a narrow water crossing, so the view is brief but clear.
- 28m in← LeftLille
About half an hour in, Lille sits off the left side. You get a compact city shape rather than a single standout feature.
- 35m in← LeftBrussels-Capital Region
The Brussels-Capital Region also comes up on the left around 35 minutes in. It reads more as a broad urban patch than a single landmark.
- 53m in← LeftEifel
Near 53 minutes in, the Eifel stays left too. From cruise altitude it looks like a low, wooded ridge, not a sharp mountain wall.
Landing
On descent into ZRH, the left side still does the better job, depending on the runway in use. From that side you pick up Freiburg im Breisgau first, then Rhine Falls near the end on the left, while Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug sit to the right.
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 ZRH?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on LHR to ZRH flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LHR to ZRH?
The great-circle distance is 788 km (490 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 26m in the air on this eastbound 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 London Heathrow to Zurich?
Sit on the left. It is the view side and the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the London Heathrow to Zurich flight?
You get London and its bridges after departure, then the White Cliffs of Dover, the Strait of Dover, and later left-side city and ridge views over France, Belgium, and western Germany.