Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Firenze. The left side wins overall because the landing view into Florence is the highlight of the flight — the Arno valley, the city, and the Chianti hills on approach are genuinely spectacular. The left side also picks up the Alps crossing and the Po Valley descent. The takeoff right-side advantage is real but less dramatic than what the left delivers over Italy.

During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gatwick's main runway 08L/26R runs roughly east-west. Departures heading southeast toward France typically bank left, but the right side gets the better view of the North Downs and the Surrey/Sussex countryside spreading out below. On a southeasterly departure track, the right side also picks up the English Channel coastline near Eastbourne as you climb through 10,000 feet. Notable sights include: North Downs ridge, Ashdown Forest, English Channel coastline near Beachy Head, Brighton seafront to the south.

When landing at Peretola (FLR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Florence's runway 05/23 means most arrivals come in from the northwest over the Apennines. On approach from the northwest on runway 23, the left side faces south and gets a clear view of Florence city center, the Arno valley, and the Chianti hills rolling away to the south. The right side faces the Apennine ridgeline but the city itself is on the left. Notable sights include: Florence city center with the Duomo visible, Arno River valley, Chianti hills to the south, Fiesole hill northeast of the city.

The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Peretola (FLR) takes Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.

The route crosses the French coast near Dieppe, tracks over northeastern France and Burgundy, crosses the Alps roughly over or near Mont Blanc or the Gran Paradiso massif depending on routing, then descends across the Po Valley plain before crossing the Apennines into Tuscany. The Alps crossing at cruise altitude offers the most dramatic scenery of the flight, with snow-covered peaks and glaciers visible on clear days.