On Aug. 12, 2026, skywatchers throughout the U.Okay. will expertise a uncommon astronomical double-header: a deep partial photo voltaic eclipse earlier than sundown adopted, hours later, by the height of the annual Perseid meteor bathe. Though the path of totality will sweep from Greenland and Iceland to Spain, it’s going to miss Britain totally. Nevertheless, the photo voltaic eclipse will nonetheless be dramatic, with as much as 96% of the solar obscured for viewers within the far southwest.
This would be the U.Okay.’s deepest partial photo voltaic eclipse since 2015, and timing shall be every thing. The eclipse reaches its peak round 7:00-7:16 p.m. BST, with the solar hanging low above the west-northwest horizon as a narrowing crescent shortly earlier than sundown. As a result of the solar shall be comparatively low, selecting the best location will matter excess of touring large distances. Coastal viewpoints, hilltops and open landscapes with unobstructed western horizons will provide assured views — if the sky is evident.
The areas under prioritize one other essential issue: darkish skies. Whereas the eclipse shall be seen virtually in all places within the U.Okay. and most shall be comfortable to see it from near the place they dwell, the true reward comes after darkness falls, when the Perseids begin flashing across the sky. Find somewhere remote, stay overnight — ideally camp — and this could become one of the most memorable observing sessions of the year.
Eclipse timings and sightlines are from Xavier Jubier’s Interactive Google Maps; cloud cowl is from Time and Date, the figures mirror long-term climatological averages for mid-August, not climate forecasts. Bortle and sky high quality meter (SQM) information come from the Light Pollution map.
Throughout a partial photo voltaic eclipse, it’s NEVER secure to look immediately on the solar with out photo voltaic eclipse glasses designed for photo voltaic viewing. Learn our information on how you can observe the solar safely.
1. Hugh City
Location: St. Mary’s Island, Isles of Scilly, U.K.
Max eclipse: 96.4% at 7:16 p.m. BST
Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:19-8:10 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:49 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 3.2 Bortle/SQM 21.86
Cloud risk: 74%
The Isles of Scilly combine Britain’s deepest partial eclipse with some of southern England’s darkest skies. From Hugh Town and nearby west-facing beaches on St Mary’s, the eclipsed sun will hang low above the Atlantic Ocean late in the day. Later that night, with minimal light pollution and broad sea horizons, the islands are an exceptional place to watch the Perseid meteor shower beneath pristine late-summer skies.
2. Land’s End
Location: Sennen, Penzance, England
Max eclipse: 95.9% at 7:16 p.m. BST
Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:19-8:10 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:47 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 3.1 Bortle/SQM 21.85
Cloud risk: 71%
Land’s End is one of the best places on mainland Britain to watch the eclipse because of its vast Atlantic horizon and minimal obstruction toward the west-northwest. The sun will appear heavily eclipsed as it descends toward the ocean before sunset. After dark, the remote far-western location and low levels of artificial light make this region an outstanding destination for viewing the Perseid meteor shower.
3. Boscastle
Location: Cornwall, England
Max eclipse: 94.7% at 7:15 p.m. BST
Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:18-8:09 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:45 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 4.0 Bortle/SQM 21.71
Cloud risk: 76%
Boscastle’s narrow harbor and dramatic valley may create a natural frame for the eclipsed sun as it sinks toward the Atlantic. The village’s northwest-facing coastline offers clear views toward the low evening eclipse, while the surrounding Cornish countryside remains relatively dark after sunset. Once twilight fades, the cliffs and headlands nearby become excellent places to watch for bright Perseid meteors.
4. Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Location: Exmoor National Park, Somerset and north Devon, England
Max eclipse: 93.7% at 7:14 p.m. BST
Sun position: 12° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:17-8:08 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:42 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 3.9 Bortle/SQM 21.67
Cloud risk: 69%
Exmoor combines elevated moorland, dramatic coastline and protected dark skies, making it ideal for both the eclipse and the Perseids. Coastal viewpoints such as Valley of Rocks and Heddon’s Mouth offer clear west-facing horizons for the low-eclipsed sun before sunset. Later that night, Exmoor’s status as a Dark Sky Reserve makes it perfect for seeing bright Perseid meteors — and the Milky Way.
5. Rhossili Bay
Location: Gower Peninsula, Swansea, Wales
Max eclipse: 93.8% at 7:13 p.m. BST
Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:16-8:07 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:46 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 4.0 Bortle/SQM 21.63
Cloud risk: 73%
Rhossili Bay’s enormous west-facing beach and elevated clifftops make it ideal for watching a low eclipse unfold above the sea. Located on the Gower Peninsula, the area is a Dark Sky Community that retains comparatively darkish skies regardless of its reputation throughout the day. As darkness falls later that night, the open coastal panorama supplies glorious visibility for Perseid meteors.
6. Strumble Head
Location: Pencaer, Pembrokeshire, west Wales
Max eclipse: 94.0% at 7:13 p.m. BST
Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:15-8:07 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:51 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 3.3 Bortle/SQM 21.84
Cloud risk: 70%
Strumble Head offers one of the clearest west-facing horizons in Wales, with the eclipsed sun appearing above the Irish Sea beside its iconic lighthouse. The remote Pembrokeshire coastline experiences very little artificial light, helping preserve dark skies after sunset. Once the eclipse ends, this rugged headland becomes an excellent place to watch the Perseids, with broad ocean views and little interference from nearby towns.
7. Llŷn Peninsula
Location: Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd, north Wales
Max eclipse: 93.3% at 7:11 p.m. BST
Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:14-8:05 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:52 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 2.9 Bortle/SQM 21.91
Cloud risk: 70%
The remote Llŷn Peninsula projects deep into the Irish Sea, offering expansive views toward the west-northwest horizon, where the eclipsed sun will appear before sunset. It is also one of the darkest regions in Wales, lying close to the protected skies of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) Dark Sky Sanctuary. With minimal gentle air pollution and broad rural vistas, the peninsula turns into an excellent location for watching Perseid meteors later that very same night time.
8. Galloway Forest Darkish Sky Park
Location: Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Max eclipse: 91.8% at 7:07 p.m. BST
Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:10—8:01 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:47 p.m. BST
Cloud risk: 85%
Galloway Forest Park was Britain’s first Dark Sky Park and stays one of many nation’s premier stargazing locations. Open western views round Clatteringshaws Loch, together with different viewpoints away from the forests, make it well-suited to the low night eclipse. After twilight fades, exceptionally darkish skies reveal the Milky Approach in hanging element, creating near-perfect situations for viewing the Perseid meteor bathe within the early hours — if the sky is evident.
9. Northumberland Darkish Sky Park
Location: Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland, England
Max eclipse: 90.4% at 7:07 p.m. BST
Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon
Eclipse window: 6:10-8:00 p.m. BST
Sunset: 8:49 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 3.3 Bortle/SQM 21.82
Cloud risk: 90%
Northumberland’s Dark Sky Park combines distant landscapes with a few of England’s darkest skies. Areas round Kielder Water and Northumberland Nationwide Park present broad views towards the low west-northwest eclipse shortly earlier than sundown. Later that night time, the area turns into one of many best locations in Europe to look at the Perseids, with frequent views of the Milky Approach and vibrant meteors overhead. Verify for any occasions at Kielder Observatory.
10. Big’s Causeway
Location: Bushmills, Northern Ireland
Max eclipse: 93.1% at 7:07 p.m. BST
Sun position: 16° above the west horizon
Eclipse window: 6:09-8:02 p.m. BST
Sunset: 9:31 p.m. BST
Light pollution: 4.2 Bortle/SQM 21.52
Cloud risk: 81%
The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland offers a spectacular foreground for the eclipse, with the sun appearing low above the Atlantic beyond the famous basalt columns. Although the skies here are not as dark as in some rural parks, the north Antrim coastline still experiences relatively modest light pollution. Nearby coastal viewpoints and beaches provide good conditions for watching Perseid meteors later that night beneath expansive northern skies.
