ZRH to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Zurich (ZRH) to London (LHR) is a 788 km (490 mi), roughly 1h 26m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ZRH to LHR 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for both views and shade.
Sit on the right for this one. The window side gets the stronger views, and it also keeps the shade.
Takeoff
After takeoff from Zürich, keep right for the first landmarks, depending on the runway in use. Rhine Falls comes up quickly on that side, then Freiburg im Breisgau a few minutes later. Left-side features like Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne, and Lake Zug stay on the far side.
En route
- 13m inRight →Strasbourg
About 13 minutes in, Strasbourg sits off the right side as a large city shape.
- 25m inRight →Hunsrück
About 25 minutes in, the Hunsrück appears on the right as a low ridge line.
- 40m inRight →Aachen
Around 40 minutes in, Aachen is on the right, another city patch below.
- 48m inRight →Charleroi
Near 48 minutes in, Charleroi is on the right.
- 1h 11m inRight →Strait of Dover
About 71 minutes in, the Strait of Dover runs off the right before descent.
- 1h 12m inRight →White Cliffs of Dover
A minute later, the White Cliffs of Dover stay on the right, a bright chalk edge along the coast.
Landing
On descent into London, keep right, depending on the runway in use. London, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, and Millennium Bridge all line up on that side near touchdown. The left side gets Beachy Head and then Portsmouth closer to landing.
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 ZRH to LHR?
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 ZRH 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 ZRH to LHR?
The great-circle distance is 788 km (490 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 26m 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 from ZRH to LHR?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on the ZRH to LHR flight?
You get Rhine Falls and Freiburg after takeoff, then Strasbourg, the Hunsrück, Aachen, Charleroi, and the Strait of Dover on the right. Landing brings London and its bridges on that same side.