Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Keflavik. The left side wins overall because the Keflavik arrival view is genuinely spectacular — the Blue Lagoon and Reykjanes lava fields are among the most visually distinctive landscapes you will see from any approach anywhere. The takeoff views from either side at Gatwick are pleasant but not exceptional, so the landing experience tips the balance to the left.

During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gatwick's runway 26L/26R departure heads northwest, putting the right side facing south over the Surrey Hills and the Weald. You get a clear view of the North Downs escarpment and the patchwork of fields and towns across West Sussex and Surrey before the aircraft turns north. Notable sights include: Surrey Hills AONB, the Weald farmland, Crawley town grid, Horsham to the southwest.

When landing at Keflavik Nas (KEF), sit on the Left side for the best views. Keflavik typically uses runway 28 for arrivals from the east, meaning the approach comes in from the southeast over the Reykjanes Peninsula. The left side faces south and southeast, giving views of the volcanic lava fields of Reykjanes, the geothermal Blue Lagoon, and the Atlantic coastline as you descend. Notable sights include: Blue Lagoon geothermal pool, Reykjanes lava fields, Faxaflói Bay, Mount Keilir volcanic cone.

The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Keflavik Nas (KEF) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The route tracks northwest over the Scottish Highlands, where Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms may be visible in clear conditions. It then crosses the North Atlantic, passing over or near the Faroe Islands roughly two-thirds of the way through the flight. The final portion crosses the open ocean before the volcanic terrain of the Reykjanes Peninsula comes into view on descent.