London to Madrid flight path: STN to MAD

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Madrid. The right side offers a fuller scenic arc: a glimpse of London at takeoff, the French Atlantic coastline and Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain during cruise, and the Guadarrama range framing the descent into Madrid. The left side stays largely over featureless farmland and interior plains for most of the flight.

During takeoff from Stansted (STN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing on runway 22 the aircraft turns southwest, putting the Essex countryside and, briefly, the northern edge of Greater London off the right side as the climb continues toward the south coast. The left side mostly shows flat East Anglian farmland with no distinguishing features. Notable sights include: Stansted Mountfitchet and Essex farmland, distant London suburbs, the Thames Estuary glinting in the distance.

When landing at Barajas (MAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. In the standard north-configuration approach into Madrid, aircraft descend from the south, and the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains north of the city become visible ahead and to the right as the plane lines up for landing. The left side faces the flatter, less distinctive plains southeast of Madrid. Notable sights include: Sierra de Guadarrama foothills, the Manzanares river valley, Madrid's northern suburbs and Cuatro Torres skyline.

The flight from Stansted (STN) to Barajas (MAD) takes about 2 hours 35 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 808 miles (1,300 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

The route crosses the English Channel near Cherbourg, continues over western France past Bordeaux, and enters Spain along the Bay of Biscay coast before crossing the Cantabrian Mountains into the Castilian plateau toward Madrid.