Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Helsinki. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the cruise over the North Sea and southern Scandinavia, the left side also gives slightly better angles toward the Danish coast and the Swedish mainland as the route tracks northeast, making it the consistent choice throughout.

During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Gatwick's single runway typically sees departures heading northeast (runway 26L/08R). On a northeast departure, the left side gives you a clear view back over central London as you climb out — the Thames snaking through the city, Canary Wharf towers, and the City of London skyline are all visible on the left. The right side faces south toward the Surrey Hills and open countryside, which is pleasant but far less dramatic. Notable sights include: Central London skyline and Thames bends, Canary Wharf cluster, The Shard and City of London towers, M25 orbital motorway arc.

When landing at Helsinki Vantaa (HEL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Helsinki Vantaa's main landing directions are runway 22L/22R (from the northeast) or runway 04 (from the southwest). On the most common approach from the southwest on runway 22, the aircraft tracks over the Finnish archipelago and the Gulf of Finland. The left side gives views over the Helsinki city peninsula, the harbor, and Senate Square area as you descend, while the right looks toward open forest and lake terrain east of the city. Notable sights include: Helsinki city peninsula and harbor, Gulf of Finland islands and archipelago, Senate Square and cathedral dome, Suomenlinna sea fortress island.

The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The route crosses the Thames Estuary and North Sea, passing over or near the Dutch and Danish coasts. Over southern Sweden the terrain is flat with extensive lake systems visible. The Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden may be visible, including the Øresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen and Malmö. As the flight approaches Finland, the Gulf of Finland and the fragmented Finnish coastal archipelago become prominent features below.