Where in the UK will get the best view of the solar eclipse?

For the first time in the 21st century, people across the United Kingdom will witness a spectacular celestial event on Wednesday evening: a nearly total solar eclipse. This phenomenon, where the moon passes between the sun and Earth, will block a significant portion of the sun's light.

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will still be impressive sights

This year's eclipse offers a rare opportunity for the UK and Ireland, with 90-96% of the sun expected to be covered. It marks the last chance to see such an event until 2081. While parts of Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Spain will experience a total eclipse for up to two minutes, UK viewers will see a partial, yet impressive, obscuration.

The extent of the eclipse varies across the UK. Those in the west will have the best views, with Plymouth anticipating 95% coverage, followed by Cardiff at 93.2% and Belfast at 93.1%. Londoners will see about 91.4% of the sun obscured, while Edinburgh will experience 90.7% coverage. The Shetland Islands will have the lowest proportion, at 88%.

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given the summer we’ve had a lot of the UK will have reasonable viewing conditions

Astronomers recommend finding locations with clear, unobstructed views to the west. While weather predictions are still tentative, meteorologists suggest there's a reasonable chance of clear skies, particularly in the south and east of the UK, though Scotland and Northern Ireland might face more cloud cover. "For many it'll be quite a spectacular and rare event," said Tom Morgan, a Met Office meteorologist.

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For many it'll be quite a spectacular and rare event

Experts emphasize the importance of safety. "The most important thing... is to wear eclipse glasses, and avoid looking directly at the sun," stressed Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer Jess Lee. Even when the sun appears dimmer during an eclipse, its solar radiation can still cause irreversible retinal damage without immediate pain. Following the 1999 total solar eclipse, around 70 people reported vision problems after looking directly at the sun.

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I plan to check the Met Office’s fantastic online cloud cover forecast as we get closer to the day. I’m ready to hop on a train north, south, east or west to find some cloud-free skies