The left side wins narrowly because the Alpine glimpse during the Zurich departure is genuinely dramatic terrain, while the right side's best moment—Canary Wharf on landing—is a strong but purely urban view; over the flat French and Belgian cruise segment neither side offers much, so the mountain start on the left tips the balance.
Flown ZRH to LCY? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Zurich to London is 472 miles (760 km), a flight of about 1 hour 50 minutes.
The cruise phase passes over the flat farmland of eastern France and Belgium, with the wooded Ardennes hills and the Meuse River valley occasionally visible below before the route descends toward the Thames Estuary and southeast England.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from ZRH
LEFTDeparting Zurich on runway 28 and turning north toward the Basel corridor, the left side keeps the Swiss Alpine foothills and Lake Zurich basin in view as the aircraft climbs, giving a brief but genuine mountain panorama. The right side mostly shows the flatter Rhine valley approach toward Germany, which is far less dramatic.
Landing at LCY
RIGHTOn the runway 27 approach into London City Airport, the aircraft tracks west along the Thames, and the right side directly faces the dense Canary Wharf skyline and Isle of Dogs as the plane descends over the Royal Docks. The left side sees Greenwich and the O2 Arena, but the Docklands skyscraper cluster on the right is the more striking, unmistakable landmark.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Zurich (ZRH) to City (LCY)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to London. The left side wins narrowly because the Alpine glimpse during the Zurich departure is genuinely dramatic terrain, while the right side's best moment—Canary Wharf on landing—is a strong but purely urban view; over the flat French and Belgian cruise segment neither side offers much, so the mountain start on the left tips the balance.
What can I see during takeoff from Zurich in Zurich?
During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Zurich on runway 28 and turning north toward the Basel corridor, the left side keeps the Swiss Alpine foothills and Lake Zurich basin in view as the aircraft climbs, giving a brief but genuine mountain panorama. The right side mostly shows the flatter Rhine valley approach toward Germany, which is far less dramatic. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Uetliberg ridge, distant Glarus Alps peaks, Zurich's southern foothills.
What can I see when landing at City in London?
When landing at City (LCY), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the runway 27 approach into London City Airport, the aircraft tracks west along the Thames, and the right side directly faces the dense Canary Wharf skyline and Isle of Dogs as the plane descends over the Royal Docks. The left side sees Greenwich and the O2 Arena, but the Docklands skyscraper cluster on the right is the more striking, unmistakable landmark. Notable sights include: Canary Wharf skyscrapers, Isle of Dogs river loop, Royal Docks/ExCeL London, Thames Barrier in the distance.
How long is the flight from Zurich to London?
The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to City (LCY) takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 472 miles (760 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Zurich to London flight path pass over?
The cruise phase passes over the flat farmland of eastern France and Belgium, with the wooded Ardennes hills and the Meuse River valley occasionally visible below before the route descends toward the Thames Estuary and southeast England.