Photo: Ilya Grigorik / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Partial solar eclipse · 12 August 2026

Where to watch the 2026 solar eclipse in London

London sees a deep partial eclipse on 12 August 2026 — about 91% of the Sun covered, with the Sun a comfortable 10° above the horizon. It is the best solar eclipse visible from the capital since 1999.

Partial eclipse Get certified eclipse glasses

Maximum~19:13 BSTEngland · 12 Aug 2026 · maximum eclipse

Duration~1h 49m 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.

Sun altitude~10° above the WNW horizonhigh enough that cloud, not terrain, is the risk

Coverage91.3% (partial)London is OUTSIDE the path of totality. About 91.3% 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.

Clear-sky odds Cloud is the main risk · ≈45%This is Britain in August: cloud is the default and clear evenings are a bonus. The saving grace is that the Sun is relatively high, so you only need a gap rather than a perfectly clear horizon.

Counting down to maximum

—days —hrs —min —sec

Below: London's exact timings, the open viewpoints across the city, why your glasses never come off, and what 91% actually looks like.

The timeline

When the eclipse happens

~18:17 BSTPartial begins — first "bite" out of the Sun

~19:13 BSTPartial — ~1h 49m of partial eclipse. Glasses off only if total.

~20:28 BSTPartial ends ~20:06 BST

The partial eclipse runs from about 18:17 to 20:06 BST, with maximum coverage of 91.3% at around 19:13. The whole eclipse finishes before sunset at 20:28 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Where to set up

The best places to watch

Primrose Hill

Elevated · classic

Panorama over central London

The classic free viewpoint over the London skyline, with an open western outlook and room for a crowd. The obvious choice.

Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory

Elevated · historic

Height and astronomical history

The hill by the Observatory looks north-west over the Thames and Canary Wharf — and there is something fitting about watching an eclipse from the home of Greenwich Mean Time.

Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath

Elevated · open

Wide open sky

One of the highest open spaces in London with an unobstructed southern and western panorama.

Richmond Park / Thames riverside

Open space · west London

Space and low horizon

The park's open ground and the river give clear low sightlines away from the tall buildings of the centre.

Northern Spain for totality

The real thing

~2h flight

London gets no totality. Northern Spain is a short flight away and the difference is absolute — 91% and 100% are different phenomena, not different amounts of the same one.

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.

The weather call

Will the sky be clear?

London gets the Sun a useful 10° up at maximum — high enough that buildings and trees are an inconvenience rather than a dealbreaker.

This is Britain in August: cloud is the main risk by far.

The compensation is that at this Sun altitude you only need a gap, not a clear horizon.

Plan the day

Your eclipse-day checklist

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 ~10° up, so gaps in cloud are enough
Arrive before 18:17 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

Watch it safely

However you’re watching, watch it safely

Every Absolute Eclipse product is independently certified and made in the EU. There’s no safe moment to look unaided here — keep certified eyewear on the entire time.

ISO 12312-2 certified
CE · EU 2016/425 PPE
Made & shipped in the EU

London eclipse FAQ

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

No. London is outside the path of totality and sees a partial eclipse, with about 91.3% of the Sun covered at maximum. That is a striking sight through eclipse glasses, but it is not totality — the corona does not appear, the sky does not go dark, and there is no moment when it is safe to look without protection. The path of totality crosses northern Spain.

What time is the eclipse in London?

The partial phase begins at about 18:17 BST and maximum — 91.3% coverage — comes at roughly 19:13 BST. The whole eclipse finishes before sunset at 20:28 BST, so you are not racing the horizon here.

Do I need eclipse glasses in London?

Yes, for the entire eclipse without exception. This is the most important difference from a total eclipse: because the Sun is never fully covered, there is never a safe moment to look with the naked eye. Even at 91.3% 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 London?

With the Sun about 10° above the horizon at maximum, you have some flexibility — a break in the cloud matters more than a perfect horizon. Higher, open ground still gives the best view.

How much of the Sun will be covered in London, and will it go dark?

About 91% at maximum. The light will dim noticeably and take on a strange, flat quality, and the temperature may drop slightly — but it will not go dark, and you will need eclipse glasses to see the crescent Sun at all. Genuine darkness only happens inside the path of totality in northern Spain.

Will the weather be clear in London on eclipse day?

This is Britain in August: cloud is the default and clear evenings are a bonus. The saving grace is that the Sun is relatively high, so you only need a gap rather than a perfectly clear horizon.

Keep exploring the path

Nearby regions to watch from

● Partial

Källor: timeanddate.com · nationaleclipse.com · eclipsophile.com (väder) · Gobierno de Aragón · BBC Sky at Night. Tiderna är lokala (CEST).