Everyone in London has at least one mate obsessed with bucket-list adventures, and more than a few Londoners dream of seeing the northern lights. No, you can't just hop on the tube to spot them (unless you count themed cocktails in Soho), but London makes a brilliant starting point for chasing the aurora borealis. From Heathrow and Gatwick, there are direct flights every week to Iceland, Norway, and Finland—places where the lights steal the show every winter.
While standing on Primrose Hill at midnight won’t cut it (sorry, light pollution is a killer), the advantage of living in London is travel access. You’ve got dozens of specialist tour operators—like Discover The World, based in Surrey, and Regent Holidays in Bristol—offering tailored northern lights packages for UK travellers. Local shops even rent out heavy-duty camera gear so you don’t have to pack it all the way from Camden to Lapland. If you’re serious about spotting the lights, timing and planning are your biggest weapons, and London has everything you need to prepare without fuss or wasted cash.
- Why Londoners Love the Northern Lights
- Quickest Ways to See the Aurora from London
- Top Scenic Spots for Northern Lights Chasing
- Essential Planning and Pro Tips
- Bringing the Aurora Experience Back to London
Why Londoners Love the Northern Lights
You’d think that with London’s big city hustle, folks wouldn’t crave far-off natural wonders. But the truth is, the northern lights have become a top travel obsession here. Maybe it’s the endless grey winters or the urge to get out beyond the M25. Either way, every year, thousands of Londoners set their sights north for a shot at the aurora borealis.
Social media has a lot to answer for. Instagram and TikTok feeds fill up every January with mates posting surreal photos from Iceland or Norway—vivid green swirls in the Arctic sky, shared with the hashtag #aurorahunters. The FOMO is real, especially when you know Heathrow is just a night flight away from places where the aurora is actually visible. Plus, tour companies based in the UK have made booking a northern lights adventure easier than scoring a Friday night table in Soho.
There’s also a culture of event-chasing in London. Whether it’s Notting Hill Carnival or Chelsea Flower Show, locals love a good spectacle. No wonder so many jump at the chance to tick this marvel off their bucket list. And because the northern lights don’t show up in the UK often—just briefly over the North of Scotland in rare conditions—it feels exclusive for Londoners.
If you want to know where London ranks among UK cities for travel to see the aurora, check this out:
| City | Annual Searches for 'Northern Lights trips' |
|---|---|
| London | 48,000+ |
| Manchester | 15,000 |
| Glasgow | 7,500 |
| Edinburgh | 7,200 |
Londoners aren’t just watching from afar. From school kids at the Science Museum getting aurora demos, to locals booking group tours from travel brands in Kensington, the city’s curiosity is constant. The northern lights aren’t just a natural show—they’re a London must-do.
Quickest Ways to See the Aurora from London
If you've got limited holiday days, you want the shortest route from London travel to a real-life aurora sighting. Good news—Londoners have a load of direct flight options out of Heathrow, Gatwick, and even Stansted. In winter, you can be in Reykjavik in just over 3 hours on Icelandair or British Airways, and fair warning, that's about as quick as it gets from any major city.
For those keen on Norway, flights from London to Tromsø usually take around 3.5 hours, and SAS and Norwegian Air keep things regular during aurora prime time (late September to March). If Finland is your jam, Finnair does direct flights to Ivalo, which is slap-bang in the middle of Lapland's northern lights zone.
| Destination | Typical Flight Duration from London |
|---|---|
| Reykjavik, Iceland | ~3 h 15 min |
| Tromsø, Norway | ~3 h 30 min |
| Ivalo, Finland | ~3 h 15 min |
Once you're out of the airport, go with local tours that pick you up from the city centre—these often skip the tourist traps and take you straight to the darkest, clearest spots. Many London-based travel companies partner with Arctic operators; just ask for recommendations at Flight Centre branches around Oxford Street or check London forums like TripAdvisor for honest reviews.
If spontaneity is your thing, keep an eye out for "aurora alerts"—Real-time apps like My Aurora Forecast (highly rated among UK sky watchers) tip you off when there’s a good chance you’ll see the lights, so you’re not left scrambling. No need to book a two-week expedition; weekend trips are totally doable, especially with the range of late-night flights heading north.
Here’s a bite-sized checklist to make your aurora chase smooth from London:
- Book direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, or Stansted for speed.
- Pack only essentials—Arctic gear is easy to rent locally (try Snowshepherd, which delivers UK-wide).
- Download a solid aurora forecasting app before you go.
- If you don’t want to go it alone, London agencies offer group tours—just make sure they cover transfers to the viewpoints.
- Check your travel insurance covers flight delays and winter weather (which can hit schedules up north).
Top Scenic Spots for Northern Lights Chasing
If you’re based in London and itching to see the northern lights, start by picking the right spot. The farther north you go, the higher your chances—so forget quick trips to rural Kent. Here’s where you want to be:
- Tromsø, Norway: This is probably the top pick among Londoners. Multiple direct flights from Gatwick and Heathrow get you there in just over three hours, and you’re right in the aurora zone. The city has good hotels, local guides, and you don’t need to trek into the wild just to see green skies above.
- Abisko, Sweden: Famous for having a “blue hole” microclimate. Even when other areas are cloudy, Abisko often stays clear. Plenty of Scandinavian rail and flight packages are sold in London travel agencies, like STA Travel and Trailfinders.
- Reykjavik and Beyond, Iceland: Icelandair flights leave London every day, landing in Reykjavik in about three hours. The city itself is nice, but the best views are outside town. Rent a car through a company with desks at Gatwick, like Europcar. The Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula are all solid picks.
- Finnish Lapland – Rovaniemi and Inari: Santa is big news here, but so are the lights. Many Londoners book Lapland UK experiences for kids, but the real show is a direct flight north and a night in a glass igloo. The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is the classic choice for a reason.
Here’s a quick snapshot that Londoners love—average probability of seeing the aurora borealis by location if you stay for three nights:
| Location | Chance of Seeing Aurora (%) |
|---|---|
| Tromsø, Norway | 80 |
| Abisko, Sweden | 85 |
| Reykjavik region, Iceland | 70 |
| Rovaniemi, Finland | 75 |
If you’re after something a bit quirky, some UK-based operators offer small ship cruises along Norway’s coast—Hurtigruten is a name you’ll spot at the Telegraph Travel Show every year. Those cruises come with on-board aurora alerts, hot drinks, and a fair shot at seeing the lights from the water.
One last tip: Avoid major cities if you want pure, bright displays. Go rural, dress like you’re tackling Hampstead Heath in January, and keep your phone charged. Apps like My Aurora Forecast and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s Yr app are handy tools, letting you know when it’s prime time to look up.
Essential Planning and Pro Tips
If you want to actually see the northern lights, you need to nail your timing, pack smart, and book things the right way. It’s nothing like a Sunday stroll in Hyde Park – missing just one detail can mean flying home aurora-less.
- Best Time to Go: Aim for late September to late March when the nights are longest in northern spots like Iceland and Lapland. You want crisp, clear nights—February is a favourite for many UK travellers because it’s still dark for hours, but not as painfully cold as deep winter.
- Flights and Transfers: Use London airports like Heathrow, Gatwick, or even Luton for direct flights to Reykjavik, Tromsø, or Rovaniemi. Budget carriers like easyJet and Norwegian sometimes have great deals, but snap them up early.
- Book in Advance: Popular aurora borealis trips can sell out months ahead—especially December and February half-term, when loads of London schools take breaks. Don’t leave it till the last minute or you’ll pay through the nose.
- Gear Up: Local shops in London like Park Cameras (Victoria) rent out DSLRs and tripods purpose-built for shooting northern lights. You’ll want a camera with manual mode and a sturdy tripod. Forget your phone unless it’s a flagship model—low light kills most snaps.
- Dress Properly: Think layers—heat-tech base, jumper, windproof coat, wool socks, gloves, and a hat that covers your ears. Decathlon and GO Outdoors stock this kit in London well before Christmas.
- Apps and Alerts: Download an aurora forecast app before you go. AuroraWatch UK is a great shout if you’re chasing northern lights from the UK, but local apps in Iceland or Norway will warn you of solar activity spikes.
| Best Aurora Destinations | Flight Time from London |
|---|---|
| Reykjavik, Iceland | 3 hours |
| Tromsø, Norway | 3.5 hours |
| Rovaniemi, Finland | 3.5 hours |
Don’t obsess over perfect weather—check forecasts but be ready to get outside on short notice. Meteorologist Paul Knightley at Weatherquest shares,
“Clear, stable high-pressure nights give you the best chance at the aurora borealis, but the sun’s activity is what really matters. Stay flexible once you’re there, and check local updates nightly.”
If you’re going with a group, book a guided tour with small numbers for flexibility. Large tours can mean crowds and fewer chances to shift locations if clouds move in. Most UK tour operators offer private or semi-private options if you ask.
One last thing—protect your eyes from the cold with wraparound glasses (available everywhere from Boots to Black’s on Oxford Street) and bring a reusable thermos for hot chocolate. No outdoor pub in London will compare to sipping cocoa while the aurora flickers above.
Bringing the Aurora Experience Back to London
So, you’ve chased down the northern lights and have a camera roll full of wild green swirls. Back in London, you can easily keep the vibe going and share what you’ve seen. London’s gone big on aurora-inspired events the last few years—think immersive VR at the Science Museum or creative cocktails at themed bars in Shoreditch. If you missed out on good photos, there are even Aurora photo exhibitions that showcase snaps from UK-based adventurers, so you won’t have to rely on your slightly blurry phone pictures from Norway.
One of the best ways to re-live your trip is to turn your photos or videos into practical keepsakes. Local print shops in Shoreditch and Camden do custom prints—canvas, t-shirts, even mugs with your best aurora pictures. Some companies like Snapfish UK and Boots Photo offer same-day or next-day printing, which is handy if you’re giving gifts or want a quick pick-me-up in your office.
Want to keep learning? Check out talks at places like the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. They run stargazing events and aurora workshops with real UK astronomers, so you can get the science behind what you actually saw. Aurora apps and live streams (like AuroraWatch UK) also let you keep tabs on aurora activity—even here in England, there are rare nights when strong solar storms make the lights visible on the north coast or even up in Scotland. It may be a long shot from London, but you never know.
- Print your own aurora canvas or poster at London print shops.
- Book a virtual reality aurora experience, like those at the Science Museum.
- Hit up astronomy events at the Royal Observatory for more insights.
- Use AuroraWatch UK to see when the aurora borealis might be viewable in parts of the UK.
- Host a sharing night—invite friends over, show your aurora photos, and serve Nordic snacks (Icelandic chocolate from Selfridges is a solid hit).
If you picked up northern lights merch—hats, scarves, or glow-in-the-dark socks—wear them out. It’s a good convo starter, even on a rainy London bus ride. And if the adventure bug bites hard, remember there’s always the next direct flight from Heathrow to Reykjavik or Tromsø waiting for your next London travel story.
Write a comment