Solar Eclipse UK 2026: What Time Is It and How Can You See It?
If you needed an excuse to look up from your phone this evening, this is it.
A spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK on Wednesday 12 August 2026, with the Moon covering around 90% of the Sun in London and even more in parts of south-west Britain.
And you don’t need to book a flight or buy an expensive ticket to see it.
You just need a decent view of the sky – as well as a safe way to watch it.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is happening in the sky tonight?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun from our view.
While parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Spain will experience a total solar eclipse, here in the UK we’ll see a partial eclipse.
But “partial” is slightly underselling this one.
In London, around 90% of the Sun will be covered at the eclipse’s maximum, while Cornwall will see roughly 95% coverage. The further south-west you are, generally, the more of the Sun you’ll see disappear behind the Moon.
It’s the greatest eclipse coverage seen from the UK and Ireland since the famous eclipse of 1999.
What time is the solar eclipse in the UK?
The exact timing depends on where you are, but the eclipse will take place during the early evening.
In London, Bristol, and Cardiff, it begins at approximately 6.17pm, reaches its maximum at around 7.12pm, and ends at approximately 8.06pm.
Elsewhere, maximum eclipse is expected at roughly:
- Edinburgh & Glasgow: 7.05pm
- Manchester & Liverpool: 7.10pm
- Birmingham & Norwich: 7.11pm
- London, Bristol & Cardiff: 7.12pm
- Truro, Cornwall: 7.16pm
The whole event lasts for around an hour and 50 minutes, so you don’t have to catch one split-second moment.
If you only have time to pop outside briefly, aim for around 7pm–7.20pm, depending on where you live. Although be warned, there will be crowds as others try to do so too!
Where is the best place to watch it?
There’s one particularly important thing to think about when choosing your spot: the horizon.
This eclipse is happening in the evening, which means the Sun will already be getting relatively low in the western sky.
Watch out for tall buildings, trees, and anything else that could get in your way of the view.
If you’re in London, this might be one of those evenings when the city’s hills and viewpoints really come into their own.
Think Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill, Brockwell Park, or another open space with a clear western view rather than somewhere surrounded by high-rise buildings.
The other risk is our great British wildcard: clouds.
Can I look directly at the eclipse?
No – not without proper eye protection.
Even when most of the Sun is hidden by the Moon, looking directly at it can seriously damage your eyes.
Normal sunglasses aren’t enough.
If you’re planning to watch the eclipse directly, you need proper solar eclipse glasses that meet the appropriate safety standard, such as ISO 12312-2.
You should also never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera unless the equipment has been specifically fitted with an appropriate solar filter.
No eclipse glasses? Try this instead
Left it until the last minute? Same.
I bought some protective glasses off Amazon, promising next-day delivery, but the order is now showing delivery this Friday. D’oh!
Fortunately, I have been told that you can still experience the eclipse without staring at the Sun.
One of the easiest options is pinhole projection.
Make a tiny hole in a piece of card or paper, stand with your back to the sun, and allow the sunlight to pass through the hole onto another surface. As the eclipse progresses, you’ll see the changing shape of the Sun projected onto it.
You can even look underneath trees. Small gaps between the leaves can act as natural pinhole projectors, creating lots of tiny crescent-shaped Suns on the ground.
A colander can produce a similar effect.
Very low-tech. Very cheap.
Not sure how I am going to look in the park peeking through one of those! I do have one buried in the kitchen cupboard, so it’s time to clean that off and get it out for the night.
Will it actually get dark?
Not completely.
Because this is only a ‘partial’ eclipse in the UK, there will always be a small part of the Sun visible.
But with around 90% or more covered in many places, you may notice the daylight becoming dimmer and the atmosphere around you changing with the eclipse.
Definitely makes this one worth experiencing.
You don’t necessarily need a telescope or a perfect photograph.
Pay attention to the light.
Look at the shadows.
Look underneath the trees.
Notice whether the temperature seems to change.
Sometimes the interesting part isn’t just what’s happening in the sky – it’s watching the world around you respond to it.
Obviously, if you have managed to get solar eclipse glasses in time, then enjoy the eclipse tonight, wherever you may be!
What if it’s cloudy?
There is perhaps nothing more British than waiting years for a major astronomical event only for it to be obscured by clouds. I have often looked out for a full moon, only for me to see absolutely nothing, other than a dull glow in the night sky.
Fortunately, there is a backup plan. So even if the British weather refuses to cooperate, you don’t necessarily have to miss it.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is livestreaming the eclipse for free, with coverage beginning at 6.10pm.
Also handy if you want to chill out tonight at home, have other commitments, or, like me, haven’t been able to source safety glasses in time.
When will the next solar eclipse happen in the UK?
This is what makes tonight particularly special.
The UK does experience partial solar eclipses – there was one as recently as March 2025 – but an eclipse with this level of coverage is much more unusual.
And if you’re holding out for another total solar eclipse visible from the UK, you could be waiting a while.
The next one isn’t until 2090.
So perhaps this is one evening when it’s worth putting everything else down for ten minutes.
Find somewhere with a view.
Look west.
And watch the sky do something extraordinary.
Please check the Gov.UK website for full guidance or source your glasses from the Royal Museums Greenwich (now sold out).
Broke Girl Top Tips 💛
I am one of the people who is very excited about tonight’s eclipse. I have organised to meet with a friend and head to one of the parks in South London.
I hope you can also head to the solar eclipse. Why not arrange to go somewhere to meet a friend in your local park, or head to one of your favourite viewpoints before sunset. Take a drink and something to eat to avoid costs when you are out. Make sure you have a safe way of viewing the eclipse, and turn it into a free summer evening out.
Sometimes the best things happening in the city aren’t happening in a venue at all.
They’re happening above it.
If you are unable to get out tonight or have been unable to get hold of solar eclipse safety glasses. You can also watch it on the live stream thanks to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
