SFO to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) 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 SFO 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 | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left. The views side and the shade side are the same here, so you get the better look and the softer sun from the same seat.
Takeoff
After takeoff from SFO, depending on the runway in use, the left side can pick up the best early sights fast. In the climb, Golden Gate Bridge and the Golden Gate come into view on the left, with Alcatraz Island also off that side. San Jose and Fremont sit to the right.
En route
- 18m inRight →Lake Tahoe
About 20 minutes in, Lake Tahoe sits to the right. It shows up as a clear blue lake against darker land.
- 1h 02m inRight →Boise
Roughly an hour in, Boise is off the right side. It is a city view, so expect a broad urban patch rather than a single landmark.
- 1h 15m inRight →Rocky Mountains
Around 75 minutes in, the Rocky Mountains are on the right. You get a long mountain mass rather than one peak.
- 6h 17m in← LeftDavis Strait
About six and a half hours in, Davis Strait is on the left. It is a narrow water gap, so the view reads as dark water and a thin shoreline edge.
- 9h 53m in← LeftIslay
Just under ten hours in, Islay is off the left side. It appears as an island shape in the water.
- 9h 59m in← LeftNorth Channel
Around the same time, the North Channel is also on the left. It is another narrow stretch of water, briefly visible as you cross the area.
Landing
On descent into LHR, depending on the runway in use, the left side keeps the better view. London, the City of Westminster, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge all sit to the left near landing. On the right, Portsmouth is the last clear reference.
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 SFO 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 SFO to LHR 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 SFO to LHR?
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 from SFO to LHR?
Sit on the left. It has the stronger views and the shade side too.
What do you see near landing into London Heathrow?
On the left, you can catch London, the City of Westminster, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge close to arrival.