Millions in London watched a solar eclipse as the Moon covered around 90 per cent of the Sun, giving the capital an eclipse photo moment just after sunset. The event started at 6.17pm and was due to finish around 8.06pm.
At its height, the eclipse was described as the fullest of its kind seen in UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999. The Royal Observatory posted an image taken at 7.08pm, after the time predicted for peak eclipse over London was 7.13pm.
Waterloo Bridge and Greenwich Park
Hundreds gathered on Waterloo Bridge to observe the eclipse, while people also watched from homes and parks across the capital. A spontaneous round of applause broke out across the hills of Greenwich Park at the moment of peak eclipse.
The scene changed quickly as the capital was starting to brighten again after the peak. That left only a narrow window for anyone still outside to catch the deepest part of the eclipse before the light began to return.
The Royal Observatory
The Royal Observatory’s latest update was recorded at 7.29pm, giving a mid-event checkpoint after the image at 7.08pm and the predicted peak at 7.13pm. For viewers in London, the practical takeaway was simple: the strongest coverage passed fast, and the best viewing came during the short stretch around the peak rather than later in the evening.
The open question is how many people in total gathered in London to watch the eclipse. What is clear is that the capital had a brief, closely watched display before the Moon moved on and the sky began to brighten again.
