Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santorini to London. Left side wins both ends of the flight. The caldera view on departure from Santorini is one of the most dramatic in European aviation, and the Thames and London approach on arrival are genuinely rewarding. During the cruise over the Balkans and Alps, the left side also tends to offer slightly better views of the Alpine arc depending on exact routing.

During takeoff from Santorini (JTR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Santorini's runway 34 departure heads roughly northwest, putting the caldera and the iconic cliffs of Oia and Fira on the left side. You get a direct view down into the submerged volcanic caldera as the plane banks away from the island. Notable sights include: Santorini caldera, Oia village on the northern tip, Nea Kameni volcanic island in the caldera center, Thirasia island to the west.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow's most common westerly landing on runway 27L/27R puts the approach over central London from the east. The left side faces south, giving views over the Thames, central London landmarks, and the city grid as you descend through 3,000-5,000 feet on final approach. Notable sights include: River Thames snaking through central London, Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park to the southwest, the M25 motorway ring, Wembley Stadium arch visible to the north.

The flight from Santorini (JTR) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

The flight tracks northwest over the Aegean Sea, then crosses mainland Greece and the southern Balkans including northern Greece and North Macedonia. It then passes over Serbia and Hungary before crossing Austria and the eastern Alps, where the main Alpine chain including the Hohe Tauern range may be visible. The route continues over southern Germany and into France before crossing the English Channel near Calais and descending into London.