About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) to Heathrow (LHR)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Helsinki to London. Left side wins both ends of the flight. During the cruise over the Baltic Sea, southern Sweden, Denmark, and the North Sea, the left side also faces south, keeping the coastlines of Denmark and the Dutch/Belgian coast in view during descent. Right side offers open water and less defined terrain for most of the route.
What can I see during takeoff from Helsinki Vantaa in Helsinki?
During takeoff from Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Helsinki Vantaa typically departs westbound on runway 22L/22R, meaning a left-side seat faces south over the city of Helsinki and the Gulf of Finland archipelago. You get a clear view of the Helsinki peninsula, the harbour, and the scattered islands of the inner archipelago as the aircraft banks southwest. Notable sights include: Helsinki city centre and harbour, Gulf of Finland archipelago islands, Espoo coastline, Suomenlinna sea fortress island.
What can I see when landing at Heathrow in London?
When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow's most common westerly approach on runways 27L/27R brings aircraft in from the east over central London. A left-side seat faces south, giving views of the Thames, central London landmarks, and the Surrey suburbs on final approach. Right side faces north toward less distinctive outer suburbs. Notable sights include: River Thames and its distinctive meanders, central London skyline including the City and Canary Wharf towers, Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park, M25 motorway ring.
How long is the flight from Helsinki to London?
The flight from Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes.
What does the Helsinki to London flight path pass over?
The flight tracks southwest over the Baltic Sea, crossing the Swedish coast near Stockholm's archipelago, then over southern Sweden's flat agricultural plains, across the Øresund strait between Sweden and Denmark with Copenhagen visible to the south, then over the Danish islands and Jutland peninsula, across the North Sea, and finally over the Netherlands and Belgium before crossing the English Channel into southeast England. The North Sea crossing is largely featureless open water at cruise altitude.