They’re back! This week, after a massive pause in aurora sightings in the UK, the northern lights have lit up British skies with a particularly bright display on Monday (September 1). And the lights might not be done yet.
The UK has been witnessing tonnes of celestial spectacles over the past 12 months. A ‘once-in-a-decade’ solar maximum event has meant lights have been seen up and down the land, from Scotland to Cornwall, and even in London – which is usually too far south and has too much light pollution. The lights were seen strongly in July 2024, then in August, September, October (and again, even in London). Sightings have continued in 2025, with notable displays in January and April.
This week the UK is in another potential period of aurora activity. The lights have been visible since Monday – and that’s set to continue.
Aurora borealis is more commonly seen in far northern parts of the country like Scotland and Northern Ireland. Nationwide displays are a very rare occurrence indeed, as are sightings in northern England. So, want to get a glimpse of the fabled phenomenon? Below is everything you need to know about spotting aurora borealis here in the UK.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights generally appear in high latitude regions such as the Arctic or Scandinavia.
Their colourful glow is caused by a stream of charged particles that have escaped the sun (known as solar wind) interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. The particles hit our atmosphere at high speed and combine with oxygen and nitrogen to create a multicoloured burst. A green glow is associated with oxygen while nitrogen causes the appearance of purple, blue and pink.
How to see the northern lights in the UK
Your best bet is to keep an eye on the AuroraWatch X feed. See a ‘red’ alert? Quick, get somewhere dark and light pollution-free!
The northern lights are often visible to the naked eye throughout much of Scotland. The further north you go, the better your chances. Southern areas of Scotland, England and Wales are also sometimes able to catch sight of the aurora, though typically only in rural areas with little light pollution.
How to maximise your chance of seeing the Northern Lights
Want to see the phenomenon? Conditions in the sky need to be as clear and cloud-free as possible. Try to find a dark location with as little light pollution as possible (you can’t go wrong with one of these spots). For optimum viewing, face the northern horizon.
What’s the best time to see the aurora?
The lights are viewable after sundown (check your local sunset/sunrise times for exact timings). The best sightings are when the skies are darkest, which is normally around midnight.
When will the northern lights be visible again?
The UK is currently seeing an increased amount of borealis activity. That said, the chance to see this wonder of nature doesn’t come around too often and the lights are notoriously hard to predict.
Predictions change for different parts of the northern hemisphere, too. It’s worth knowing the late September to mid-March is typically thought of as the best period to see the lights and is what some like to call ‘aurora season’. In other words, we’re just getting into aurora season.
To keep an eye on the lights’ activity you can look at the AuroraWatch website. Don’t fancy waiting around? See Time Out’s list of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
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