- The aurora season runs from about September to March, when nights are dark enough
- Iceland and Tromsø are both around three to four hours' direct flight from London
- Give yourself at least three or four nights and get away from city lights
- Clear skies matter as much as solar activity, so build in flexibility
Seeing the northern lights is near the top of many bucket lists, and the good news for UK travellers is that some of the best aurora destinations are only a few hours away. The not-so-good news is that nature doesn't run to a timetable: you need darkness, clear skies and solar activity to line up.
This guide covers the best northern lights destinations from the UK, when to go and how to give yourself the best possible chance.
When is the northern lights season?
The aurora happens year-round, but you can only see it when the sky is properly dark. In the far north, that means roughly September to March. Around the autumn and spring equinoxes (September and March) are often good, with milder weather than midwinter. December and January offer the longest nights but the coldest temperatures.
Solar activity peaked during the current solar cycle in the mid-2020s, and strong displays are still occurring in 2026. That said, the forecast on the night and cloud cover matter more than the year.
The best places to see the northern lights from the UK
| Destination | Flight from London | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland (Reykjavík) | About 3 hours direct | Combining aurora with geysers, waterfalls and lagoons | Changeable, cloudy weather |
| Tromsø, Norway | About 3.5-4 hours direct in winter | City base above the Arctic Circle, whale watching in winter | Coastal cloud; prices can be high |
| Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi and beyond) | Usually via Helsinki; seasonal direct flights from some UK airports | Snowy forests, husky rides, glass igloos | Very cold in midwinter |
| Abisko, Swedish Lapland | Via Stockholm to Kiruna | Famously clear skies, dark-sky setting | Remote; longer journey |
Iceland
Iceland is the most popular choice for UK travellers. Flights from London to Keflavík take about three hours, and you can base yourself in Reykjavík and take a northern lights tour or hire a car and drive away from city lights. By day, you can explore the Golden Circle or relax in the Blue Lagoon.
Iceland's weather is the main challenge: cloud can roll in quickly. Staying outside Reykjavík, or travelling further along the south coast, improves your odds. See our Iceland guide and our Iceland ring road or Golden Circle comparison.
Tromsø, Norway
Tromsø sits about 350km north of the Arctic Circle, right under the auroral oval. In winter 2026/27 there are direct flights from London with British Airways (Heathrow), Norwegian and easyJet (Gatwick) and Wizz Air (Luton), with a flight time of around three and a half to four hours. Local guides chase clear skies inland, sometimes driving towards the Finnish border. From roughly late November to mid-January the sun doesn't rise above the horizon, a period known as the polar night.
Norway isn't cheap, but Tromsø offers a lively small city with good restaurants. See our Norway guide.
Finnish Lapland
Lapland offers snowy forests, reindeer, husky safaris and the famous glass-roofed igloos. Rovaniemi is the main gateway, usually reached via Helsinki, with seasonal direct flights from some UK airports. Inland Lapland tends to have more stable, colder weather than the coast.
Abisko, Swedish Lapland
Abisko is known for its clear skies, thanks to a microclimate created by the surrounding mountains. It's a quiet, remote spot, reached via Kiruna, and ideal for serious aurora hunters.
How to boost your chances
- Stay at least three or four nights: more nights means more chances of clear skies.
- Get away from light pollution: even a short drive out of town makes a big difference.
- Check the forecasts: use an aurora forecast app or local service and the cloud forecast.
- Go for a tour if you don't want to drive: guides know where the clear skies are.
- Avoid the full moon if you can: a bright moon washes out fainter displays.
- Be patient: displays often peak between about 10pm and 2am, but can happen any time it's dark.
your phone can often pick up aurora colours your eyes can't. Use night mode or a long exposure and keep the phone steady.
What to pack
You'll be standing outside at night in temperatures that can fall well below freezing. Bring thermal base layers, a warm insulated jacket, waterproof trousers, a hat, gloves and warm boots. Our ski holiday packing list works well for aurora trips too.
Combine it with something else
An aurora trip is most rewarding when the daytime is fun too. Think whale watching from Tromsø, husky sledding in Lapland or hot springs in Iceland. If you love the polar regions, an Arctic expedition cruise to Svalbard in summer offers polar bears and the midnight sun instead; see Svalbard vs Antarctica and our Arctic expeditions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see the northern lights?
Anywhere from September to March can be good. Many guides favour September-October and February-March for a balance of dark nights and milder weather.
Can you see the northern lights from the UK?
Sometimes, especially in northern Scotland during strong solar activity, but sightings are far less reliable than in Iceland or Arctic Norway.
Is Iceland or Norway better for the northern lights?
Both are excellent. Tromsø is further north and directly under the auroral oval; Iceland offers more varied daytime sightseeing. Weather on the night matters most.
How many nights do I need to see the northern lights?
Plan for at least three or four nights to give yourself a realistic chance of a clear, active sky.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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