Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Svalbard. The right side delivers the defining views of the flight: over the North Sea, the Norwegian coast and fjords come into view on the right as you track northeast, and the arctic approach into Longyearbyen with glaciers and fjords on the right side is the visual highlight of the entire route. The London departure on the left is good but brief; the Norwegian and Svalbard scenery on the right lasts much longer.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow departures on the dominant eastbound runways (09L/09R) swing left (north) after takeoff, putting the left side over central London. You get a clear view of the Thames snaking through the city, the City of London skyline, and the dense urban grid of West and Central London during climb-out. Notable sights include: River Thames bends through central London, Wembley Stadium arch, Hyde Park green rectangle, Canary Wharf cluster on the Isle of Dogs.

When landing at Svalbard Longyear (LYR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Longyearbyen Airport runway 10/28 means most arrivals come in from the west heading east (runway 10), with the aircraft tracking up Adventfjorden. The right side faces south toward the dramatic Larsbreen glacier and the steep snow-covered peaks of Nordenskiold Land, while the fjord itself is visible on both sides but the mountain terrain is more concentrated on the right. Notable sights include: Adventfjorden fjord below, Larsbreen glacier on Nordenskiold Land peaks, Longyearbyen settlement visible ahead, snow-covered Platafjellet ridge.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Svalbard Longyear (LYR) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes.

The route tracks northeast from London across the North Sea, passing east of the Shetland Islands visible as low dark outlines in the grey sea. The Norwegian coast appears with its deeply indented fjord system around Trondheim and further north toward Bodø and the Lofoten archipelago — jagged peaks rising from the sea. Crossing the Arctic Circle, the landscape becomes increasingly barren tundra and ice. The Barents Sea opening leads to the southern tip of Svalbard's Spitsbergen island, where the coastline is a mix of glaciated headlands, dark nunataks, and frozen fjords depending on season.