The Met Office has revealed the best places to watch the UK’s fullest solar eclipse for the next 54 years.
The eclipse will take place on Wednesday (August 12) evening, promising a dramatic display in the sky as the moon covers a large portion of the sun.
The rare astronomical event is expected to be the most significant seen in the UK since the total eclipse in 1999, with more than 90 per cent of the sun obscured in many areas.
The best places in the UK to watch the solar eclipse
Devon and Cornwall are expected to offer the best views of the solar eclipse, according to the Met Office.
The UK will experience a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August.
The extent of the Sun's coverage and the timing of maximum obscuration will differ across the country.
Never look directly at the sun; use a pinhole projector or certified eclipse glasses to view it. pic.twitter.com/lRfh8fq5uq— Met Office (@metoffice) August 8, 2026
Plymouth can expect to see as much as 94.66 per cent of the sun covered by the moon at 7.16pm, while nearby areas in Devon and Cornwall could experience up to 96 per cent coverage.
Parts of the western UK, including the rest of Wales, Northern Ireland, and the West Midlands, will see between 92 and 94 per cent coverage.
Areas further east, such as Norfolk and Yorkshire, will see lower coverage, with between 88 and 90 per cent of the sun obscured.
Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, said: "It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting.
"We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time.
"So, it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared.
"You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes."
When is the solar eclipse?
The partial eclipse will be visible across the UK on Wednesday, starting at 6.17pm and ending at 8.06pm.
While not a total eclipse, the event will see a significant portion of the sun obscured by the moon, offering a rare opportunity for UK skywatchers.
Scientists and astronomers have recommended watching the event via safe viewing methods, such as:
- Solar eclipse glasses
- Solar telescopes
- Indirect projection using household items
Ms Bell emphasised the dangers of looking at the sun directly and advised using only certified solar eclipse glasses or a solar telescope.
Ms Bell said: "You can use solar eclipse glasses, which are very, very different from sunglasses – they block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the sun, because that’s how much light they need to block for the damaging light of the sun to be safe to view.
“Ideally a solar telescope is an amazing way to witness it, and if you don’t have one of them then you can look into whether your local astronomy society is doing any events.
"And if all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander which has lots of holes in – point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool."
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The next time an eclipse of this magnitude will be visible from the UK will be in 2081.
A total solar eclipse will not occur in the UK until 2090.
Where will you be watching the solar eclipse on Wednesday? Let us know in the comments below.
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