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This month, the UK is being treated to the most impressive solar eclipse since 1999. It’s not a sight you’ll want to miss – for many of us it will be the best solar eclipse in our lifetime.
The question is: will we be able to see it from London? Well, if the skies are clear and you find a good spot, yes! Like everywhere else in the UK, the city’s skies will temporarily darken next week as the moon moves to cover nearly all of the sun’s light.
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the eclipse, keep in mind that there are strict rules you’ll need to follow to protect your eyesight. So from those rules to the best places in London to watch, here’s all the essential information you need ahead of the solar eclipse.
When is the August 2026 solar eclipse?
The eclipse will happen on Wednesday August 12.
What will be the best time to see the solar eclipse?
In London, the eclipse will start at 6.17pm and the maximum (the moment when the maximum amount of the sun is covered) will be at 7.12pm. From the maximum the moon will slowly move out of the sun’s light and the eclipse will be over by 8.06pm.
Will London see a total solar eclipse?
Unfortunately neither London nor anywhere else in the UK will witness a full solar eclipse (you’ll have to go to northern Spain or Greenland for that). We’ll see a deep partial eclipse in which around 90 to 96 percent of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. That’s the most coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 solar eclipse.
Find a guide to where in Europe to see the full eclipse here.
Where to watch the eclipse in London
The best places to go in the capital will be high vantage points with clear views of the western horizon.
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill will probably be one of the most popular spots for the eclipse, so make sure you get there with enough time to secure a good spot.
Parliament Hill
Look out for the likes of the Shard, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin while you watch the sun and moon meet from this northwest London vantage point.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Head to the home of London’s astronomers for a viewing session hosted by the Flamsteed Astronomy Society. Normal admission costs for the observatory apply. Alternatively, you can find a spot in Greenwich Park.
Eclipse viewing parties
Several venues with a prime view of the sky will also be hosting viewing parties for the occasion. Horizon 22 sits on floor 58 of 22 Bishopsgate and is throwing an eclipse viewing party for £25 for adults and £15 for kids (a glass of bubbly or soft drink included). Kioku by Endo on the OWO, which has a terrace looking directly over the Thames, will provide certified eclipse viewing glasses for all guests dining with them on August 12.
You could also head to ZipWorld at the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Stratford where you choose between two eclipse experiences. One includes a planetarium show, expert talk and ride down the tube slide, the other involves an expert talk and access to the structure’s viewing platform. Or, you can be on the Thames with City Cruises London, which is offering an evening of drinks, canapés and live entertainment on board its vessel to go with the celestial spectacle.
How to safely watch the eclipse
Looking directly at the eclipse could really damage your eyes. And sunglasses won’t be enough to give you protection.
To see the event without risking your sight, you can either make yourself a pinhole projector which will allow you to watch the eclipse by projecting the Sun’s light, and the chunk of it being blocked, onto another surface, or you can buy a special pair of solar eclipse glasses.
Eclipse glasses have a special silver filter that blocks out 99.99 percent of the sun’s visible light and reduces the ultraviolet and infrared radiation down to a safe level. The important thing is to make sure that the glasses you buy are ISO 12312-2 certified – many that you see online won’t be.
Where to buy ISO 12312-2 Eclipse glasses in London
You’ll be able to find a pair at a reputable camera or astronomy shop, though try and buy them sooner rather than later – they’re likely to sell out. Try the shop at Royal Observatory Greenwich or camera shops like Jessops.
How to photograph the solar eclipse on your smartphone
Pics or it didn’t happen, right? If you want to get a photo of the eclipse on your phone, you’ve first got to protect the camera with a special solar filter – Solar Snap is ISO 12312-2 certified. Or you can just put a pair of eclipse glasses over the lens.
When is the next solar eclipse in London after 2026?
It’s going to be a long 64-year wait. The British Isles won’t witness a full solar eclipse until September 23 2090.
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