Photo: Chris Lathom-Sharp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Éclipse solaire partielle · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in Bristol

Bristol sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 92.8% of the Sun covered at around 19:13 BST, with the Sun a comfortable ~12° above the horizon.

Éclipse partielle Get certified eclipse glasses

Maximum~19:13 BSTEngland · United Kingdom · 12 Aug 2026

Durée~1h 51m of partial eclipseThis is the full partial eclipse from first to last contact. There is no totality here — the Sun is never completely covered, so there is no corona and no moment when it is safe to look without protection.

Hauteur du Soleil~12° above the WNW horizonhigh enough that cloud, not terrain, is the risk

Couverture92.8% (partial)Bristol is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 92.8% of the Sun is covered at maximum — a deep partial eclipse, but not a total one. The corona never appears and the sky does not go dark.

Probabilité de ciel dégagé Mixed, best in the south-west · ≈52%South-west England and the Channel coast see more August sunshine than most of Britain, though Atlantic cloud arrives quickly.

Compte à rebours jusqu'au maximum

—jours —h —min —sec

Bristol sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 92.8% of the Sun covered at around 19:13 BST, with the Sun a comfortable ~12° above the horizon.

Below: Bristol's exact timings, the best open viewpoints, why your eclipse glasses never come off here, and where the real totality is.

Le déroulé

Quand l'éclipse a lieu

~18:16 BSTDébut de la phase partielle — première morsure dans le Soleil

~19:13 BSTPartielle — ~1h 51m of partial eclipse. Lunettes à retirer seulement en cas de totalité.

~20:38 BSTEclipse ends ~20:07 BST

The eclipse runs from about 18:16 to 20:07 BST, with maximum at around 19:13 and the Sun ~12° above the west-northwest horizon. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 20:38 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Où s'installer

Les meilleurs endroits pour observer

Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Downs

Elevated · iconic

Height over the gorge

The bridge and the Downs above the Avon gorge give Bristol's best open western view, with Brunel's masterpiece as foreground.

Brandon Hill and Cabot Tower

Elevated · central

Panorama over the city

The tower on Brandon Hill gives height above the rooftops and a clear westward outlook.

Ashton Court estate

Park · vast open

Space and low horizon

The great estate west of the city has open parkland with unobstructed sightlines.

Severn estuary shore

Coast · open water

Widest low horizon

The estuary west of Bristol gives a genuinely flat open horizon toward Wales.

West to Cornwall or Wales

Deeper coverage

Penzance ~95.7%

Coverage increases westward — Cornwall and west Wales see more of the Sun covered.

Local astronomy societies and science centres often organise safe public viewing with filtered telescopes — worth checking closer to the date.

Plan your trip

Where to stay near the eclipse

Accommodation around the viewing area for eclipse night (11–13 Aug 2026). Compare hotels and rentals live on the map below.

La météo

Le ciel sera-t-il dégagé ?

South-west England and the Channel coast see more August sunshine than most of Britain, though Atlantic cloud arrives quickly.

The deciding factor here is simply whether the sky is clear at the right moment. Check the forecast in the final 48 hours and, if you can, keep the option of moving to a gap in the cloud.

Planifier la journée

Votre checklist pour le jour de l'éclipse

Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE eclipse glasses — one pair per person
Glasses stay ON for the entire eclipse — there is no safe moment here
A reasonable view west — the Sun is ~12° up, so gaps in cloud are enough
Arrive before 18:16 to catch first contact

Check the cloud forecast in the final 48 hours
Never look through a camera, phone or binoculars without a proper solar filter
Pinhole projection is a safe way for groups to watch together
If you want totality, it is northern Spain — not here

Observer en toute sécurité

Quelle que soit votre façon d'observer, faites-le en sécurité

Tous les produits Absolute Eclipse sont certifiés de façon indépendante et fabriqués dans l'UE. Il n'y a aucun moment sûr pour regarder à l'œil nu — gardez des lunettes certifiées en permanence.

Certifié ISO 12312-2
CE · UE 2016/425 EPI
Fabriqué et expédié dans l'UE

FAQ sur l'éclipse en Bristol

Will Bristol see a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026?

No. Bristol is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 92.8% of the Sun covered at maximum. It is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but the corona does not appear and the sky does not go dark. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.

What time is the eclipse in Bristol?

The partial phase begins at about 18:16 BST and maximum — 92.8% coverage — comes at roughly 19:13 BST. The eclipse finishes before sunset at 20:38 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Do I need eclipse glasses in Bristol?

Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. Because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 92.8% coverage the remaining sliver is dangerously bright. Certified ISO 12312-2 / CE glasses stay on from start to finish.

Where should I watch from in Bristol?

With the Sun about 12° above the horizon at maximum, a break in the cloud matters more than a perfect horizon — though higher, open ground still gives the best view.

Will the weather be clear in Bristol on eclipse day?

South-west England and the Channel coast see more August sunshine than most of Britain, though Atlantic cloud arrives quickly.

Continuez d'explorer le couloir

Régions voisines depuis où observer

● Partielle

Sources : timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (météo) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Les heures sont locales (CEST).

L’éclipse du 12 août 2026 est passée