The Northern Lights have begun appearing in more parts of the UK than ever before.
They are commonly seen in the far northern reaches of Scotland, but are rarely seen further south.
However, in May 2024, the most extreme geomagnetic storm in two decades made the display visible as far south as Cornwall.
And 2025 is expected to be one of the best years for Northern Light sightings, with high levels of sun activity set to continue.
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are described as "one of the most spectacular displays in the night sky".
The display is caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
The colours occur due to different gases in the Earth's atmosphere being energised by the charged particles.
Nitrogen and oxygen are the two most common gases in the atmosphere, with nitrogen emitting purple, blue and pink colours and oxygen emitting green.
Timelapse of the Northern Lights
The best places to see the Northern Lights in the UK
The best places to see the Northern Lights in the UK, according to Independent Cottages, are National Parks.
The holiday experts explained: "Given their minimal light pollution and remote locations, there is no better place to spot the lights in all of their glory (when weather conditions are optimal, of course).
"Rather than having to travel to traditional aurora destinations, Brits can now spot them much closer to home."
The best national parks in the UK for Northern Light sightings are:
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
- Cairngorms National Parks
- Northumberland National Park
The best time to see the Northern Lights in the UK
November 7 is the best day of the year to be in with a chance of seeing the Northern Lights in the UK, Independent Cottages said.
"On this date, there has been Northern Lights activity across all 15 national parks during the last three decades, giving it an average likelihood of 25.56% witnessing its appearance," they added.
Tips for taking night sky photos on your phone
October 22 is the second-best date for Northern Light sightings, with a 23.78% average likelihood.
The best days to see the Northern Lights in each of the UK's national parks are:
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons): October 22 and November 7
- The Cairngorms: September 4
- Dartmoor: September 7, 8, 17 and 25; October 2 and 22; and November 7 and 8
- Exmoor: September 7, 8, 17 and 25; October 2 and 22; and November 7 and 8
- Eryri (Snowdonia): October 22 and November 7
- Lake District: October 22 and November 7
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs: September 4
- New Forest: September 7, 8, 17 and 25; October 2 and 22; and November 7 and 8
- Norfolk Broads: September 7, 8, 17 and 25; October 2 and 22; and November 7 and 8
- North York Moors: October 22 and November 7
- Northumberland: May 2 and November 7
- Peak District: October 22 and November 7
- Pembrokeshire Coast: October 22 and November 7
- South Downs: September 7, 8, 17 and 25; October 2 and 22; and November 7 and 8
- Yorkshire Dales: October 22 and November 7
Tips for viewing the Northern Lights
"Seeing the Northern Lights in the UK requires far more than just high geomagnetic activity – it’s all about timing and luck with the weather," Independent cottages continued.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Can the Northern Lights be seen with the naked eye? All you need to know
- How can you take a photo of the Northern Lights? (A guide for beginners)
- WATCH: Family captures 'bright shooting star' on doorbell camera
To help, the holiday experts have come up with a few things to consider when on the hunt for the Northern Lights:
- The Northern Lights in the UK are heavily seasonal - the best viewing window is usually between September and March when nights are dark.
- You are dependent on clear skies – thick cloud cover will totally ruin any chance of spotting the Aurora Borealis.
- Location "matters enormously" - you need to avoid light pollution as much as possible by going to remote areas like National Parks or Dark Sky Sites.
You can check the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights in your local National Park on specific days via the Independent Cottages calculator, which can be found on its website (a link to which can be found above).
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