Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Lyon. While the right side offers a good London departure view, the left side wins overall. It captures the English Channel crossing, the French countryside tracking southeast, and most importantly delivers the spectacular Alpine panorama on descent into Lyon — Mont Blanc and the Belledonne range visible simultaneously is hard to beat.

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 during the climb and turn. You get a clear view of the Thames snaking through the city, with recognizable landmarks laid out below before the aircraft tracks southeast toward France. Notable sights include: River Thames through central London, Windsor Castle (westbound departures), the City of London skyline, Richmond Park.

When landing at Saint Exupery (LYS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Lyon's Saint-Exupéry airport sits east of the city, and aircraft typically approach from the west or northwest on runway 36R/18L orientations. A left-side seat on approach gives you the best view of the Alps rising to the east, with Mont Blanc visible on clear days as a dominant white massif on the horizon, and the Rhône valley laid out below. Notable sights include: Mont Blanc massif to the east, the Rhône and Saône river confluence at Lyon, the Chartreuse and Belledonne mountain ranges, the Ain plain.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Saint Exupery (LYS) takes Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.

English Channel crossing near Calais/Boulogne, the flat plains of northern France (Île-de-France), Burgundy wine country and the Côte d'Or hills around Dijon, the Saône valley leading south toward Lyon, and the first Alpine foothills becoming visible in the final 30 minutes of flight