Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Milano. The right side wins at takeoff for London views, but the left side delivers the more dramatic sustained scenery — the French Alps and then the spectacular Alpine descent into Malpensa with Lake Maggiore. On balance, the left seat provides the more memorable experience for the majority of the flight.

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 as the aircraft climbs and turns southeast. You get a sweeping view of the Thames snaking through the city, with recognizable landmarks laid out clearly below. Notable sights include: River Thames through central London, Windsor Castle and Great Park to the west during initial climb, the City of London skyline including the Shard, Canary Wharf tower cluster.

When landing at Malpensa (MXP), sit on the Left side for the best views. Malpensa typically lands on runways 35L/35R heading north, meaning the left side faces west toward the Alps and Lake Maggiore during the approach. You get a direct view of the southern Alpine wall and the lake as the aircraft descends over the Po Plain. Notable sights include: Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) to the northwest, southern face of the Alps stretching across the horizon, the Po Plain agricultural patchwork on final approach, Lake Varese closer in.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Malpensa (MXP) takes Approximately 2 hours.

The flight tracks southeast across France, crossing the Loire Valley and Burgundy wine regions, then the Jura mountains become visible as a distinct forested ridge. The French Alps appear prominently — Mont Blanc massif is often visible to the left side, with the Chamonix valley and surrounding glaciated peaks. The aircraft then descends across the Po Plain into Malpensa.