The Cornish coast at sunset — the 12 August 2026 partial solar eclipse in the UK

Total solar eclipse · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in the UK

The UK sees a big partial eclipse on the evening of 12 August 2026 — about 91% in London and Edinburgh, ~93% in Cardiff and up to ~95% in Cornwall. The Sun stays well up; it isn't totality, which lies south over Spain.

Partial eclipse
Maximum~19:15 BSTMaximum · 12 Aug 2026 (varies by location)
Sun altitude~10–15°low in the west, near sunset
Coverageup to ~95%Cornwall/SW highest; ~91% London & Edinburgh; ~93% Cardiff
Clear-sky odds Risky · ≈45%It's an August evening in the UK — cloud is a real possibility anywhere. There's no fixing it; mobility and a hopeful eye on the forecast are your best tools.
Counting down to totality
—days —hrs —min —sec

The 2026 eclipse gives the UK its best partial in years — a dramatic evening event with over 90% of the Sun covered across much of the country, and up to about 95% in Cornwall. London and Edinburgh see around 91%, Cardiff about 93%. The Sun stays a useful height above the horizon, so this is a genuinely accessible eclipse from almost anywhere with a clear west-south-west view. It is not totality, though — for the Sun to vanish completely you would travel south to Spain.

Below: how deep the partial goes across the UK, the best places to watch, and how to do it safely.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~18:15 BSTPartial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun
~19:15 BSTPartial. Glasses off only if total.
~20:05Partial ends — the eclipse finishes with the Sun still well above the horizon.

The Sun is comfortably above the horizon throughout (roughly 10–15° up), so a very low horizon matters less than in Spain — clear sky in the west-south-west is what counts. Coverage deepens toward the south-west.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Cornwall & the south-west

~95%

Deepest in the UK · Atlantic horizon

Cornwall and Devon see the UK's deepest partial — around 95% — with a clean western sea horizon. The Lizard and Land's End are classic open-sky spots.

London & the south-east

~91%

The capital · 91% partial

London sees about 91% of the Sun covered in the evening sky. Any open western viewpoint — a park, a Thames bridge, Primrose Hill — gives a fine view; avoid tall buildings to the west-south-west.

Cardiff & Wales

~93%

Wales · deep partial

Cardiff and much of Wales see around 93% coverage, with the Brecon Beacons and the coast offering open western skies away from town lights and haze.

Edinburgh & Scotland

~91%

Scotland · ~91% partial

Edinburgh sees about 91%, and the deep partial is visible right across Scotland; west-coast and island spots get a clean Atlantic horizon to the west.

Manchester & the north

Deep partial

Northern England · 90%+

Manchester and the north of England see a 90%+ partial; the Pennines and the coast give open western sightlines above the urban skyline.

Coverage deepens to the south-west — Cornwall (~95%) leads, with Wales (~93%) and most of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland all above 90%.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

Let's be honest about a British August evening: cloud is always on the cards, and the single biggest variable is simply whether the sky is clear where you are.

The good news is the Sun is well up during the eclipse, so you're not also fighting a low-horizon haze — any clear patch of west-south-west sky will do.

Keep it simple: pick somewhere with an open view to the west-south-west and be ready to move if the forecast shifts.

The far south-west (Cornwall, Devon) sees the deepest eclipse, but a 90%+ partial is on offer almost everywhere. For genuine totality, the trip is south to Spain.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

  • Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — on the whole time (a partial is never safe unaided).
  • A clear view to the west-south-west — the Sun is mid-height, not on the horizon.
  • The far south-west sees the most; anywhere clear works for 90%+.
  • Have a backup location in case of cloud.
  • A solar filter on any camera or phone for the whole partial.
  • No glasses-off moment in the UK — keep them on throughout.
  • For totality, plan a trip south to Spain.
  • Watch the cloud forecast and be ready to drive to a clear patch.

⚠ Never look without certified glasses

There is no safe moment to look unaided here — keep certified glasses on for the entire eclipse. Ordinary sunglasses do nothing.

Shop ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses →

Quick answers

United Kingdom eclipse FAQ

Will the UK see a total solar eclipse in 2026?
No — the UK sees a deep partial on 12 August 2026, not totality. The path of totality runs far to the south, over northern Spain. But it's a big partial: over 90% of the Sun is covered across much of the UK, up to about 95% in Cornwall.
How much of the Sun will be covered in the UK?
Around 91% in London and Edinburgh, about 93% in Cardiff, and up to roughly 95% in Cornwall. The further south-west you are, the deeper the eclipse — but almost everywhere in the UK sees more than 90%.
What time is the eclipse in the UK?
It's an early-evening event: the partial begins around 18:15 local time (BST), reaches maximum about an hour later (≈19:15), and ends shortly after 20:00, with the Sun still comfortably above the horizon.
Where is the best place to watch in the UK?
Anywhere with a clear view to the west-south-west. Cornwall and the south-west see the deepest eclipse and a sea horizon, but a 90%+ partial is visible from most of the country — clear sky matters more than location.
Do I need eclipse glasses in the UK?
Yes — for the entire eclipse. A partial never fully covers the Sun, so there is no safe moment to look unaided. Use certified ISO 12312-2 glasses throughout, and never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a solar filter.
Where can I see totality from the UK?
Travel south to Spain. The UK is well north of the path; the nearest totality runs across northern Spain, reachable by a short flight. See our Spain guides to plan a totality trip.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Partial

Ireland

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Germany

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Italy

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Sources: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (weather) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Times are local (CEST).