Solar Eclipse 2027: UK Date, Times, Where to See Totality & Eclipse Glasses
The solar eclipse of 2027 is set to be one of the biggest astronomical events of the decade. On Monday 2 August 2027, the Moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, producing a spectacular total solar eclipse across parts of southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
For people in the UK, there is a slight catch: the 2 August 2027 eclipse will not be total from mainland Britain. However, a substantial partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK, with southern England getting some of the best views. In London, around 42% of the Sun’s area will be obscured at maximum eclipse.
Anyone wanting the full experience will not have to travel particularly far. Southern Spain and Gibraltar lie directly in the path of totality, making the 2027 eclipse an unusually accessible total solar eclipse for UK travellers.
When Is the Solar Eclipse 2027?
The date to put in your diary is:
Monday 2 August 2027
Globally, this will be a total solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality crosses southern Spain before continuing through North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the rest of Europe, including the UK, will experience a partial eclipse.
The eclipse is particularly notable because totality will last for more than six minutes at its maximum near Luxor in Egypt. The National Solar Observatory calculates a maximum of around 6 minutes 22 seconds, making it the second-longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century.
What Time Is the Solar Eclipse 2027 in the UK?
The exact timing varies slightly depending on where you are.
For London, the eclipse is expected to:
| Eclipse stage | UK time |
|---|---|
| Partial eclipse begins | 9:03 am BST |
| Maximum eclipse | 10:00 am BST |
| Partial eclipse ends | 10:59 am BST |
The entire event therefore lasts just under two hours in London.
Across the UK as a whole, the partial eclipse begins from approximately 8:57 am BST, with the last locations seeing it end shortly after 11:00 am.
That makes this a conveniently timed eclipse compared with events that occur around sunrise or sunset.
How Much of the 2027 Solar Eclipse Will Be Visible in the UK?
The further south you travel, generally the greater the percentage of the Sun that will be obscured.
Approximate maximum obscuration for selected UK cities is:
| UK city | Sun obscured |
|---|---|
| Southampton | 44.23% |
| Bristol | 42.30% |
| Cardiff | 42.24% |
| London | 41.92% |
| Birmingham | 38.65% |
| Liverpool | 35.55% |
| Manchester | 35.27% |
| Leeds | 34.15% |
| Glasgow | 27.64% |
So if the weather cooperates, southern England, South Wales and the South West should offer some of the UK’s strongest partial-eclipse views.
Even with 40% or more of the Sun obscured, however, it will not suddenly become night. The Sun is extraordinarily bright, which is also why proper eye protection remains essential throughout a partial eclipse.
Where Can You See the Total Solar Eclipse in 2027?
If you want to see the Sun completely disappear, you’ll need to book your travel and hotel on Expedia UK and travel into the path of totality,
NASA lists the total eclipse as visible from southern Spain and parts of North Africa including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, as well as Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The path also extends through areas including Somalia, while the National Solar Observatory identifies cities including Cádiz, Tangier, Gibraltar, Benghazi, Luxor and Jeddah as lying beneath the path.
Southern Spain
For UK travellers, southern Spain is arguably the easiest place to experience the 2027 total solar eclipse.
The path of totality covers almost all of Cádiz province, part of Málaga province and southern areas of Granada and Almería, together with Ceuta and Melilla.
Some notable Spanish locations include:
- Cádiz: approximately 2 minutes 54 seconds of totality
- Málaga: approximately 1 minute 48 seconds
- Ceuta: approximately 4 minutes 48 seconds
- Melilla: approximately 4 minutes 34 seconds
The eclipse occurs at around 10:45–10:50 am local time, depending on location.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar could become another popular destination for British eclipse watchers.
Totality is expected to last around 4 minutes 28 seconds, with the total phase beginning at approximately 10:45 am local time.
Its proximity to the UK and position directly beneath the eclipse path make Gibraltar an obvious candidate for an eclipse holiday.
Morocco
The Moon’s shadow then crosses the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco.
Tangier lies within the path of totality, before the eclipse continues eastwards across North Africa.
Algeria and Tunisia
The path continues across Algeria and Tunisia, both of which will experience totality in selected areas. NASA confirms both countries are within the total-eclipse corridor.
Libya
The eclipse then moves across Libya, with Benghazi among the cities identified within the totality path.
Egypt – One of the Best Places to Watch the 2027 Eclipse
For serious eclipse watchers, Luxor in Egypt is likely to be one of the most sought-after destinations.
Near Luxor, totality will last for approximately 6 minutes 22–23 seconds.
Six minutes of totality is exceptionally long. During this period, the Moon will completely cover the bright surface of the Sun, revealing its corona and dramatically darkening the daytime sky.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen
After crossing the Red Sea, the eclipse continues through parts of the Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Jeddah is among the major cities located within the path of totality.
Do You Need Solar Eclipse Glasses for the 2027 Eclipse?
Yes.
If you are viewing the eclipse from the UK, you’ll be watching a partial solar eclipse. You must therefore use appropriate solar viewing protection whenever looking directly at the Sun.
Ordinary sunglasses are not safe, regardless of how dark they appear.
Look for solar viewing glasses designed to meet the ISO 12312-2 standard for direct observation of the Sun. ISO describes ISO 12312-2 as the international standard covering filters specifically intended for direct solar viewing, including eclipse viewers.
Buy Solar Eclipse Glasses on Amazon
If you’re preparing for the 2027 eclipse, you can buy solar eclipse glasses on Amazon.
You can also read our solar eclipse glasses review to compare different options and learn more about what to look for before buying.
What Are ISO 12312-2 Eclipse Glasses?
ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses are solar viewers designed for direct observation of the Sun.
The current published standard is ISO 12312-2:2015, although ISO is working on a second edition.
The standard is specifically intended for solar viewing products rather than conventional sunglasses.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich recommends checking for ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015 markings when choosing eclipse glasses. It also advises checking previously used glasses for damage such as scratches or creases before using them again.
ISO itself makes an important distinction: ISO develops the standard but does not itself certify or approve individual pairs of eclipse glasses.
That means simply seeing “ISO” in an online product description shouldn’t be your only check. Buy from a reputable source and inspect the glasses carefully before use.
Can I Use Normal Sunglasses to Watch the Solar Eclipse?
No.
Even extremely dark conventional sunglasses are not designed to make direct observation of the Sun safe. ISO specifically distinguishes ordinary sunglasses from filters intended for direct solar viewing.
Don’t improvise with several pairs of sunglasses stacked together either.
Proper solar viewers are designed to reduce the intense visible, ultraviolet and infrared solar radiation reaching your eyes.
Can You Wear Eclipse Glasses With Binoculars or a Telescope?
Not in the way you might expect.
You should never look through an unfiltered telescope, binoculars or camera lens while simply wearing eclipse glasses.
Optical devices concentrate sunlight and require their own correctly fitted solar filters. ISO specifically warns that eclipse glasses are intended for direct viewing and should not be relied upon when looking through magnifying optical equipment.
What Happens During a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun and appears large enough in our sky to completely cover the Sun’s bright visible surface.
If you’re standing inside the path of totality, daylight rapidly fades. The temperature can drop, the sky becomes dark and bright planets or stars can sometimes become visible.
Most spectacularly, the normally invisible solar corona becomes visible surrounding the black silhouette of the Moon.
The 2027 eclipse is especially exciting because people close to its maximum in Egypt will experience this for more than six minutes.
When Is the Next Eclipse in the UK?
There are actually several answers, depending on whether you’re looking for a solar or lunar eclipse.
Next Lunar Eclipse in the UK – 28 August 2026
The next eclipse visible from the UK is a partial lunar eclipse on 28 August 2026.
It begins at around 3:33 am BST and reaches maximum eclipse at approximately 5:12 am, when roughly 90% of the Moon will be within Earth’s darker umbral shadow.
Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need eclipse glasses to watch a lunar eclipse.
UK Eclipses During 2027
The UK has several eclipse events during 2027:
20–21 February 2027 – Penumbral lunar eclipse
A subtle lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK.
2 August 2027 – Partial solar eclipse
This is the major event covered in this guide. Around 42% of the Sun will be obscured in London, with greater coverage in some southern locations.
17 August 2027 – Penumbral lunar eclipse
Another subtle lunar eclipse will be visible from parts of the UK.
When Is the Next Solar Eclipse in the UK After 2027?
You won’t have to wait very long.
A partial solar eclipse will be visible from the UK on 26 January 2028. Globally, this event is an annular eclipse, although the annular phase will not be visible from the UK.
Another partial solar eclipse follows on 12 June 2029, with further solar eclipse opportunities in the years ahead.
One particularly notable event occurs on 1 June 2030, when roughly half of the Sun will be obscured from parts of the UK. The Royal Observatory Greenwich lists 2030 among the next significant partial solar eclipses for British observers.
When Is the Next Total Lunar Eclipse in the UK?
The next total lunar eclipse visible from the UK is on 31 December 2028 – a particularly memorable way to spend New Year’s Eve.
Total lunar eclipses are much easier to observe safely than solar eclipses because looking at the Moon poses no danger to your eyesight.
When Is the Next Total Solar Eclipse in the UK?
This requires rather more patience.
The next total solar eclipse whose path of totality crosses part of the UK will occur on 23 September 2090.
Before then, Britain will experience several substantial partial eclipses. One of the most impressive is expected on 3 September 2081, when as much as 99% of the Sun could be obscured from favourable locations in Cornwall and along the south coast.
For most of us, travelling to a total eclipse elsewhere in the world is therefore considerably more practical than waiting for the next British one.
Solar Eclipse 2027 FAQ
Is there a solar eclipse in 2027?
Yes. There are two solar eclipses during 2027. An annular solar eclipse occurs on 6 February 2027, followed by the major total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027.
Is the 2027 solar eclipse visible from the UK?
Yes. The 2 August 2027 total solar eclipse will appear as a partial eclipse throughout the UK. London will see approximately 42% obscuration, while parts of southern England will exceed 44%.
Will the 2027 eclipse be total in London?
No. London will experience a partial eclipse beginning at approximately 9:03 am, reaching maximum at 10:00 am and ending at around 10:59 am BST.
Where is the best place to see the 2027 total solar eclipse?
For UK travellers, southern Spain or Gibraltar offer convenient options. For those prepared to travel farther, Luxor in Egypt is particularly attractive because totality will last more than six minutes.
Do I need ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses?
For direct viewing during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, use suitable solar viewers designed for direct observation of the Sun. Look for ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses from a reputable source. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient.
Can I photograph the eclipse through my eclipse glasses?
Don’t hold eclipse glasses over a camera lens as a substitute for a proper camera solar filter. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes concentrate sunlight and require appropriately designed solar filters.
Get Ready for the Solar Eclipse 2027
The 2 August 2027 solar eclipse should be one of the astronomical highlights of the decade.
UK observers can enjoy a substantial partial eclipse during the morning, while anyone willing to travel has the opportunity to experience totality relatively close to home in southern Spain or Gibraltar. Those venturing farther south towards Egypt could experience more than six extraordinary minutes of totality.
Whichever option you choose, prepare your viewing equipment in advance. Demand for eclipse glasses can rise sharply as major eclipses approach.
Buy solar eclipse glasses on Amazon and check our solar eclipse glasses review for more information on choosing suitable eye protection.
Most importantly, when viewing any partial phase of the eclipse, protect your eyesight with appropriate solar viewing equipment – ideally reputable ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses – and never assume ordinary sunglasses are safe for looking directly at the Sun.
