Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Barcelona. While the right side has decent views on departure, the left side wins overall. During cruise the left side tracks the French coastline and later the Pyrenees from a distance, and on arrival into Barcelona the left side delivers the most dramatic payoff: the full Mediterranean coastline, the city grid, and Montjuïc all at once on final approach.

During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gatwick's main runway 08R/26L runs roughly east-west. Departures heading south toward France typically use runway 26L (westward then turning south), and the right side gives you views over the Surrey Hills and the South Downs as you climb out and bank southeast. You'll also catch the urban sprawl of Crawley and the Weald below before the aircraft tracks toward the English Channel. Notable sights include: Surrey Hills AONB, South Downs ridge, Crawley town grid, English Channel coastline near Beachy Head or Dungeness depending on routing.

When landing at Barcelona (BCN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Barcelona El Prat typically uses runway 25L/07R or 02/20. Approaches from the north commonly use runway 25L (landing heading west), which puts the left side facing south over the Mediterranean and the city waterfront. You get a clear view of the Barcelona coastline, the port, and the city grid including the Eixample district as you descend over the sea. Notable sights include: Barcelona city grid and Eixample district, Port of Barcelona and waterfront, Montjuïc hill, Llobregat delta wetlands.

The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Barcelona (BCN) takes Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.

The flight crosses the English Channel near Dieppe or Le Touquet, then tracks southeast over northern France passing near Paris's southern suburbs. It crosses the Loire Valley, then the Massif Central plateau visible as elevated terrain. The Pyrenees mountain range appears as a significant east-west barrier before crossing into Catalonia, with peaks reaching over 3,000m visible on clear days. The Costa Brava coastline and the Ebro delta may be visible on the descent into Barcelona.