Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to London. Left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Pacific and Canadian Arctic the views are largely ocean and ice regardless of side, so the decisive moments are at each end — and left delivers San Francisco Bay on departure and the Thames approach into London on arrival.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs northwest on runways 28L/28R, then turns north over the Bay. Left side gives you San Francisco city, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge as you climb out over the water. Right side faces south toward the peninsula with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, Marin Headlands.

When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow predominantly lands on easterly headings (runways 27L/27R approach from the west). On a left seat approaching from the west, you get central London — the Thames, Tower Bridge, and the City — laid out clearly to the south as you descend over the suburbs. Right side faces north toward less distinctive terrain. Notable sights include: River Thames, Windsor Castle, Central London skyline, Wembley Stadium.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The great circle route from SFO to LHR tracks north over the Pacific, crossing the Canadian Rockies and Hudson Bay region, then arcing over southern Greenland and Iceland before descending over Scotland and England. Visible features include the snow-capped Canadian Rockies, the fractured sea ice of Hudson Bay, Greenland's ice sheet and fjord coastline, and on clear days the volcanic terrain of Iceland on the northern horizon.