The 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse crosses Iceland and northern Spain, but the UK sits close enough to the path to catch a dramatic partial eclipse. Every part of the country — from Cornwall to Shetland — will see a large bite taken out of the sun in the early evening, with western and northern regions seeing the deepest coverage.
UK cities: eclipse times and coverage
All times below are BST (British Summer Time). "Max obscuration" is the peak percentage of the sun's disc covered by the moon as seen from that city. Because the UK is outside the path of totality, the sun is never fully covered — certified glasses must stay on for the entire duration.
| City | Eclipse begins | Maximum | Eclipse ends | Max obscuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 19:01 | 20:12 | 21:17 | 94% |
| Cardiff | 19:07 | 20:19 | 21:23 | 92% |
| Edinburgh | 19:05 | 20:16 | 21:20 | 91% |
| Glasgow | 19:03 | 20:14 | 21:19 | 92% |
| Manchester | 19:07 | 20:18 | 21:22 | 90% |
| Liverpool | 19:06 | 20:17 | 21:21 | 91% |
| Birmingham | 19:08 | 20:20 | 21:23 | 89% |
| London | 19:12 | 20:23 | 21:25 | 86% |
Times are approximate and rounded to the nearest minute. Confirm exact local timing closer to the date using a reputable astronomical source.
Why the UK never gets totality on this date
Totality — the brief window when the sun is completely covered and it's safe to look without glasses — happens only along a narrow band crossing Iceland, the North Atlantic and northern Spain. The UK sits just outside that band. Even at 94% obscuration in Belfast, the remaining sliver of sun is still thousands of times brighter than a full moon and will cause permanent retinal damage if viewed directly.
Certified glasses are essential for the entire event
Because the UK sees a partial eclipse only, there is no moment during the event when it is safe to look at the sun without protection. Sunglasses — even very dark ones — do not filter out the harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation that damages the retina. The only safe option is a certified filter meeting EN ISO 12312-2:2015, ideally also carrying the UKCA or CE mark.
SolarOptics glasses are ISO 12312-2, CE and UKCA certified, and ship from inside the UK/EU on the same day for orders placed before the mid-afternoon cut-off. For the deep partial the UK is getting, that certification is exactly what stands between a memorable evening and a lasting eye injury.
Planning your UK viewing
The eclipse falls in the early evening, so the sun will be low in the west-north-west sky by the time maximum coverage happens. Pick a spot with a clear horizon in that direction — a coastal cliff, a hilltop or an open field. Avoid built-up areas where buildings or trees will block the view.
If you're organising for a school, community group or family gathering, order well ahead: wholesale packs for groups of 50 or more, or the family and classroom packs for smaller groups. Certified stock sells out sharply in the final two weeks before any eclipse.