Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Belfast. Right side wins overall. The London departure view is the highlight of this short flight — the Thames and city skyline are genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. During the cruise at around 20,000 feet the route crosses the Irish Sea, which is featureless on both sides. On descent, left side edges it for Belfast, but the London departure on the right is the more memorable view of the two.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow typically departs westbound on runways 27L/27R, then aircraft turn northwest toward Belfast. The right side gives you a clear view over central London as you climb out — the Thames snaking through the city, the City of London skyline, and Canary Wharf are all visible before you clear the urban sprawl. Left side faces south toward Surrey suburbs with little of note. Notable sights include: River Thames through central London, Canary Wharf tower cluster, Wembley Stadium arch, M25 orbital motorway.

When landing at City (BHD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Belfast City Airport sits on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, and aircraft typically approach from the southwest over the city. The left side gives you Belfast Lough opening up ahead, the Cave Hill escarpment above the city, and the compact Belfast city centre directly below on final approach. Right side faces south toward the Castlereagh Hills with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Belfast Lough, Cave Hill escarpment, Belfast city centre, Harland and Wolff yellow cranes (Samson and Goliath).

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to City (BHD) takes Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.

The route tracks northwest over the English Midlands, crossing Staffordshire and Cheshire before reaching the Lancashire coast near Blackpool. You then cross Morecambe Bay — a wide, shallow tidal estuary clearly visible from altitude — before crossing the southern Lake District fells briefly. The route then crosses the North Channel of the Irish Sea, roughly 20 miles wide at its narrowest near the Mull of Kintyre, before descending over County Down toward Belfast Lough.