Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sao Paulo to London. The right side wins overall because the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar at departure are genuinely spectacular and unique to this route. The London approach on the left is excellent, but it is a shorter window of interest. The right side also catches the West African coastline — particularly the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta — during the mid-flight crossing, adding another notable visual. The left side has the better London arrival but loses on the full-flight balance.

During takeoff from Guarulhos (GRU), sit on the Right side for the best views. GRU typically departs on runway 09R/27L or 10/28, and northbound/eastbound departures swing left over the city. The right side gives you the Serra da Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar mountain ranges rising sharply to the south and southeast of the airport, while the left side looks over the dense urban sprawl of greater São Paulo. The mountains are far more dramatic. Notable sights include: Serra da Mantiqueira ridgeline to the southeast, Serra do Mar coastal escarpment, Paraíba do Sul river valley threading between the ranges, patchwork of Atlantic Forest remnants on the slopes.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow predominantly lands on westerly headings (runway 27L/27R), meaning the approach comes in from the east over London. The left side of the aircraft tracks directly over central London — the Thames, the City, and the West End are clearly visible on the left during the descent. The right side looks north over suburban Middlesex with far less to see. Notable sights include: River Thames snaking through central London, City of London cluster with the Gherkin and Shard visible, Hyde Park as a large green rectangle, Wembley Stadium arch to the north.

The flight from Guarulhos (GRU) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route crosses the South Atlantic, making landfall near the Gulf of Guinea coast of West Africa — the Niger Delta's vast brown sediment plume into the ocean is visible on clear days. The flight then crosses the Sahara Desert with its ergs and sand seas, followed by the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria, the Iberian Peninsula, the Bay of Biscay, and the English Channel before descending into London.