Solar Eclipse 12th August 2026

Just before sunset on Wednesday 12 August 2026, people in the UK and Ireland will see a partial solar eclipse, when around 90% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.
The new Moon and the Sun will gradually move closer together in the sky in the late afternoon. As the side facing us will be dark, the Moon will be invisible without specialist equipment.

Eclipse timings around the UK

Exact timings of the 12 August solar eclipse will vary around the UK and Ireland. In general you’ll be able to see more coverage the further south-west you are.

For example, viewers in London will see 90% coverage, while viewers in Cornwall will see roughly 95%, and viewers in Pembrokeshire will see 94%. If you’re able to go to the south-western tip of Ireland, you might see almost 97.5% coverage.

Stage	Edinburgh and Glasgow	Galway and Dublin	Manchester and Liverpool	Norwich	London, Bristol and Cardiff	Truro, Cornwall
‘First contact’ (the Moon first covers the disc of the Sun)	6.08pm	6.12pm	6.13pm	6.15pm	6.17pm	6.18pm
Eclipse maximum (when most of the Sun is covered)	7.05pm	7.10pm	7.10pm	7.11pm	7.12pm	7.16pm
End of eclipse (the Moon is no longer covering the Sun)	8pm	8.05-06pm	8.03-04pm	8.04pm	8.06pm	8.10pm

Video showing the path of the 2026 solar eclipse

Map showing the path of the solar eclipse on August 12th 2026

With just one week until the solar eclipse, it is time to consider where you will have the best opportunity to view it. As you can see from the map below, the British Isles fall into the area of only partial eclipse, but this rare event will be a memorable experience the whole family can share for years to come.

For the best view, I will be choosing the north-west side of the South Downs with a clear view all the way to the North Downs. Not everyone has access to such beautiful scenery but for city dwellers, the top floor of a car park or the stair-well of an office block or flats.

Wherever you choose, DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING GLASSES WITH YOU!