About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Nairobi Wilson (WIL) to Heathrow (LHR)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Nairobi to London. The right side wins overall because the Nairobi departure offers genuinely dramatic scenery including the Ngong Hills and Nairobi National Park, and during the flight the right side also faces west over the Nile Valley and Sudan's landscape. The London approach advantage on the left is real but brief, and the Thames view is available to both sides to some degree.
What can I see during takeoff from Nairobi Wilson in Nairobi?
During takeoff from Nairobi Wilson (WIL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Wilson Airport's main runway 07/25 means departures heading roughly northeast give the right side a clear view of the Nairobi city skyline and the Ngong Hills to the southwest receding behind. Departing on runway 07, the right side faces north toward the Aberdare Range as the aircraft climbs out over the northern suburbs. Notable sights include: Ngong Hills to the southwest, Nairobi CBD skyline, Nairobi National Park plains, Aberdare Range on the northern horizon.
What can I see when landing at Heathrow in London?
When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. Heathrow's main approach on runways 27L/27R comes from the east, meaning aircraft track westward over central London. The left side faces south and gets the clearest view of the Thames snaking through the city, with central London landmarks visible before touchdown. Notable sights include: River Thames through central London, Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park, Wembley Stadium arch, M25 motorway ring.
How long is the flight from Nairobi to London?
The flight from Nairobi Wilson (WIL) to Heathrow (LHR) takes Approximately 8 to 9 hours.
What does the Nairobi to London flight path pass over?
The route tracks north-northwest from Nairobi over Ethiopia's highlands and the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes, then crosses Sudan's flat semi-arid plains and the Nile River near Khartoum, continues over Egypt's Eastern Desert and the Nile Delta, crosses the Mediterranean Sea near the Libyan or Egyptian coast, overflies central Mediterranean, then tracks over Italy or France depending on routing, before descending into southern England over the English Channel