Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Firenze. The right side wins at takeoff for the London view, but the left side delivers the more dramatic and sustained scenery: the French Alps appear on the left as you cross southeastern France, and the Florence arrival on the left is genuinely spectacular with the Duomo and Arno visible at low altitude. The Alpine crossing alone makes left the better overall choice.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow typically departs eastbound on runways 09L/09R, so a right-side seat faces south over central London. You get a clear view of the Thames snaking through the city, with the London skyline and recognizable landmarks visible during the climb-out. Left side faces north over suburban Middlesex with little of interest. Notable sights include: River Thames and its distinctive bends through central London, Canary Wharf tower cluster to the east, Windsor Castle and Great Park to the west if departing westbound on 27L/27R, the M25 orbital motorway ring.

When landing at Peretola (FLR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Florence Peretola airport sits just northwest of the city, and aircraft typically approach from the northwest on runway 05, meaning the left side faces northeast toward the Apennine hills and the Arno valley. As you descend, the left side gives a direct view over the historic city center with the Duomo dome and the Arno river clearly visible at low altitude. Notable sights include: Florence city center and the Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Arno river cutting through the city, the Apennine foothills rising immediately north and east of the city, the Chianti hills to the south.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Peretola (FLR) takes Approximately 2 hours 10 minutes.

The flight tracks southeast across the English Channel, over northern France and the Paris basin, then across Burgundy and the Rhône valley. The most dramatic feature is the crossing of the French Alps — Mont Blanc massif and the surrounding peaks are visible from both sides but particularly well-framed on the left. The flight then descends over the Po Plain of northern Italy before the Apennine crossing into Tuscany.