Belfast to London flight pathBFSLGW

Sit on the left side of the plane

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Pick the window seat with the view. 13,500 routes answered — landmarks, coastlines and cities, wing by wing.

Flight time1h 05m
Distance349
Heading132° → 136°

Belfast to London is 349 miles (562 km), a flight of about 1 hour 5 minutes.

Best side
Left

Left side wins at both ends of this short flight. Over the Irish Sea crossing, neither side has a strong advantage, but the left side picks up the Isle of Man as a distant landmass on the horizon mid-flight, and the Cumbrian coast briefly before the aircraft tracks south over England.

Takeoff · BFSLEFTLough Neagh to the north, Belfast city and Belfast Lough to the east, the Antrim Hills plateau
Landing · LGWLEFTThe South Downs ridge to the south, the Surrey Hills and Weald farmland below, the M23 motorway corridor

Flight Path

Flight path overview

The flight crosses the North Channel briefly, then tracks over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man is visible to the left (east) roughly mid-crossing. The aircraft then crosses the Cumbrian or Lancashire coast near Morecambe Bay, tracks south over the Pennines or the English Midlands depending on routing, before descending over Surrey into Gatwick.

Great circle distance and headings ›

Phase by phase

Takeoff from BFS

LEFT

Belfast International typically departs runway 07 heading east, putting the left (north) side facing Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. As the aircraft climbs and turns south, the left side also picks up views across the Antrim Plateau and the city of Belfast itself.

Lough Neagh to the northBelfast city and Belfast Lough to the eastthe Antrim Hills plateauCave Hill above Belfast
Aerial window seat view during landing at London (left side) — The South Downs ridge to the south, the Surrey Hills and Weald farmland below, the M23 motorway corridor, Crawley town grid visible directly below on short final

Landing at LGW

LEFT

Gatwick predominantly uses runway 26L or 08R. On the common westward approach over Surrey, the left side faces south toward the Sussex Weald and the South Downs ridge, which is the more visually interesting side. On an eastward departure or approach from the west, the left side also picks up central London on the horizon to the north.

The South Downs ridge to the souththe Surrey Hills and Weald farmland belowthe M23 motorway corridorCrawley town grid visible directly below on short final

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About This Route

Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Aldergrove (BFS) to Gatwick (LGW)?

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Belfast to London. Left side wins at both ends of this short flight. Over the Irish Sea crossing, neither side has a strong advantage, but the left side picks up the Isle of Man as a distant landmass on the horizon mid-flight, and the Cumbrian coast briefly before the aircraft tracks south over England.

What can I see during takeoff from Aldergrove in Belfast?

During takeoff from Aldergrove (BFS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Belfast International typically departs runway 07 heading east, putting the left (north) side facing Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles. As the aircraft climbs and turns south, the left side also picks up views across the Antrim Plateau and the city of Belfast itself. Notable sights include: Lough Neagh to the north, Belfast city and Belfast Lough to the east, the Antrim Hills plateau, Cave Hill above Belfast.

What can I see when landing at Gatwick in London?

When landing at Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Gatwick predominantly uses runway 26L or 08R. On the common westward approach over Surrey, the left side faces south toward the Sussex Weald and the South Downs ridge, which is the more visually interesting side. On an eastward departure or approach from the west, the left side also picks up central London on the horizon to the north. Notable sights include: The South Downs ridge to the south, the Surrey Hills and Weald farmland below, the M23 motorway corridor, Crawley town grid visible directly below on short final.

How long is the flight from Belfast to London?

The flight from Aldergrove (BFS) to Gatwick (LGW) takes about 1 hour 5 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 349 miles (562 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

What does the Belfast to London flight path pass over?

The flight crosses the North Channel briefly, then tracks over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man is visible to the left (east) roughly mid-crossing. The aircraft then crosses the Cumbrian or Lancashire coast near Morecambe Bay, tracks south over the Pennines or the English Midlands depending on routing, before descending over Surrey into Gatwick.