Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to London. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Over the Balkans and Central Europe the left side also faces south, giving better views of the Danube plains and Alpine foothills on clear days. It is the consistent choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST departures heading west on runway 06/24 or northwest on 17/35 put the left side facing south over the Sea of Marmara and the Istanbul city center. You get a clear view of the Bosphorus strait, the historic peninsula with its dense skyline, and the Prince's Islands scattered in the Marmara. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula (Sultanahmet area), Prince's Islands (Adalar).

When landing at Stansted (STN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Stansted typically uses runway 04/22. On approach from the southeast on runway 22, or from the northeast on runway 04, the left side faces west and southwest over central London and the Thames. Descending through 10,000 feet you can see the Thames snaking through London, Canary Wharf towers, and the City of London cluster on clear days. Notable sights include: River Thames through London, Canary Wharf tower cluster, City of London skyline, Lee Valley reservoirs.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Stansted (STN) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

The route tracks northwest over Bulgaria and Romania crossing the Danube, then over Hungary and the Austrian/Czech border region, across Germany toward the Rhine, then over the Netherlands and North Sea before descending into Essex. The Danube is the most visually distinctive feature in the mid-flight section, visible as a wide meandering river through flat plains. The Alps appear distantly to the south if visibility is good but are not directly overflown on this routing.