MAD to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Madrid (MAD) to London (LHR) is a 1,244 km (773 mi), roughly 1h 58m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MAD to LHR 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Both | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit left for this one. The same side gives you the better views and the shade, so you get the cleaner window and less glare.
Takeoff
After takeoff from MAD, keep left, depending on the runway in use. Madrid sits almost under you at first, then the climb brings the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia into view. The Iberian Peninsula stays on that side as you level out.
En route
- 26m in← LeftCantabrian Mountains
About half an hour in, the Cantabrian Mountains stay on the left. It is a long mountain line, not a close-up peak shot.
- 51m in← LeftBay of Biscay
A little after that, the Bay of Biscay is also on the left. You are looking out over open water and a broad, dark-blue sweep.
- 1h 34m in← LeftChannel Islands
About an hour and a half in, the Channel Islands come up on the left. They are a small island group, so the view is brief.
- 1h 36m in← LeftCotentin Peninsula
Soon after, the Cotentin Peninsula stays left too. It is a quick coastline glance on the descent.
- 1h 50m in← LeftPortsmouth
Near the end of cruise, Portsmouth and the New Forest both sit on the left. They give you a last look at southern England before the approach.
Landing
On approach to LHR, keep left, depending on the runway in use. The final stretch puts Portsmouth, the New Forest, and the Isle of Wight on that side, then London and Tower Bridge appear on the right as you come in.
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 MAD to LHR?
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 MAD to LHR flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from MAD to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 1,244 km (773 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 58m 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 MAD to LHR?
Sit on the left. It gets the better views and the shade side on this route.
What can I see on the descent into LHR?
On the left, you may catch Portsmouth, the New Forest, and the Isle of Wight. Right at the end, London and Tower Bridge appear on the right.