Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Melbourne to London. While Melbourne's departure offers pleasant coastal and suburban views, London's landing approach over the Thames estuary and central London's iconic landmarks (Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, the City) provides significantly more dramatic and recognizable urban scenery. The Thames's winding path and London's dense historic core create visual variety and landmark density that outweigh Melbourne's takeoff advantage. The right side captures one of Europe's most visually distinctive approaches.

During takeoff from Melbourne Moorabbin (MBW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Melbourne's departure over Port Phillip Bay and the Dandenong Ranges provides immediate coastal and low-mountain scenery. The bay's distinctive shape and suburban sprawl create visual interest during climb-out. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne CBD skyline, Yarra River delta.

When landing at City (LCY), sit on the Right side for the best views. London City Airport's approach over the Thames estuary and central London offers superior urban scenery. The river's winding path, Canary Wharf's distinctive towers, and the historic City of London create a dramatic final descent with recognizable landmarks. Notable sights include: River Thames and estuary, Canary Wharf financial district, Tower Bridge, City of London skyline.

The flight from Melbourne Moorabbin (MBW) to City (LCY) takes 17h 15m.

This ultra-long-haul route crosses the Indian Ocean (6+ hours of open water with minimal scenery), the Arabian Peninsula's deserts and coastlines (Oman, UAE), the Persian Gulf, Iraq's Tigris-Euphrates valley, Turkey's Anatolian plateau, the Black Sea, Eastern Europe's plains, and finally the North European Plain into the UK. The Indian Ocean dominates the flight's middle section with virtually no visible landmarks. The Arabian Peninsula offers desert and coastal features but brief visibility. The most scenic midpoint segment is the approach to Europe: the Alps' southern foothills, the Danube valley, and Central European geography provide terrain variety after hours of ocean and flat plains.