Millions experience maximum solar eclipse in the UK

The partial solar eclipse has now reached its peak in most parts of the UK. Huge crowds turned out for the spectacle after a run on eclipse-safe glasses earlier today. Most of the UK has seen more than 90 per cent of the Sun covered by the Moon this evening in the fullest solar eclipse in this country since 1999. Millions were thrust into an eerie shadowy darkness just after 7pm as the partial eclipse reached its peak. Spain, Iceland and Greenland are getting total solar eclipses this evening. Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates. Eclipse reaches maximum point in the UK Watch: Hundreds queue to get their hands on solar eclipse glasses The best places to view the solar eclipse across the UK How to watch the eclipse safely – even if you don’t have the special glasses Sort: Newest first Oldest first August 12, 2026 9:00 pm This live blog is now closed We’re pausing our coverage there for the evening. Thanks for joining us today for this once-in-a-generation eclipse. We hope you enjoyed.The stages of the solar eclipse before, during and after totality, as seen from Arija, Spain (Photo: Borja Suarez//Reuters) August 12, 2026 8:44 pm Even more fantastic photographs Molly the dog is held with eclipse glasses over her eyes during the solar eclipse at King’s Stairs Gardens in Bermondsey, south London (Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)Members of the public watch the solar eclipse during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham(Photo: Ben Stansall/ AFP via Getty Images) August 12, 2026 8:24 pm Eclipse visits some famous landmarks Solar eclipse over the Prague Castle, as seen from Prague, Czech Republic (Photo: Eva Korinkova/Reuters)The Eiffel Tower is silhouetted as the moon partially covers the sun during a solar eclipse (Photo: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters) August 12, 2026 8:11 pm Amazing shots from Spain The view from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in Arcos de las Salinas, Spain (Photo: Christian Hartmann/Reuters)Scientists and astronomy enthusiasts observe a total solar eclipse at the Galactica Centre (Photo: Christian Hartmann/Reuters) August 12, 2026 7:55 pm Total eclipse hits Spain A total solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain(Photo: Borja Suarez/Reuters) August 12, 2026 7:41 pm Delighted reactions on the ground By Richard Percival at Parliament HillSpeaking after the peak, Nicole Mwananshiku, 26, from London said: “I think it’s amazing that everyone’s come together on top of a hill and something we can all enjoy for free in London. “The last one happened just at the same time when I was born so it’s quite cool that it’s 27 years on.”Meanwhile Amy Molden-Iordachescu, 19, from East London, said: “It’s my first eclipse so that’s really exciting and I just like that everyone of different backgrounds all come out together for the same goal and seeing everyone get excited over something that’s just so natural.“I think it’s good that even people who aren’t into space or science, it’s something for us all to come together and witness.” August 12, 2026 7:32 pm Eclipse reaches maximum point in the UK The partial solar eclipse has now passed its peak, though much of the Sun will still be blocked by the Moon until around 8pm.The maximum point of the solar eclipse has been reached across the country as the Moon mostly obscured the Sun (Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire) August 12, 2026 7:09 pm Unconventional eyewear on display Crowds in the UK and elsewhere have donned some unconventional – and in some cases unsafe- eyewear for the occasion.Stewards wearing welding helmets to watch the solar eclipse ahead of a pre season match at Croke Park, Dublin(Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire)Cesar Berzal poses for a portrait with protective eclipse glasses during the watch party for the solar eclipse, in Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain (Photo: Susana Vera/Reuters) August 12, 2026 7:01 pm Edgbaston crowds pause for eclipse Clare Walsh Spectators at the cricket at Edgbaston this evening donned eclipse glasses from the stands.They were distracted from The Hundred men’s match.A spectator in the stands uses special eclipse glasses to watch the eclipse during The Hundred men’s match at Edgbaston, Birmingham (Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire) August 12, 2026 6:55 pm Greenland sees total eclipse A view of the total eclipse as seen from on board a cruise ship off the coast of Greenland(Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) August 12, 2026 6:49 pm Moon takes crescent out of the Sun as eclipse comes further into view The UK is already seeing some partial eclipse, though it is not yet at its peak. Photos from Bermondsey in South London show a chunk of the Sun is already obscured.The Moon passes in between the Earth and the Sun, at the start of the solar eclipse as seen from King’s Stairs Gardens in Bermondsey, south London(Photo: Aaron Chown/PA Wire) August 12, 2026 6:42 pm Most significant solar eclipse since last century A quick reminder that the last time the UK saw such a major eclipse was 27 years ago, all the way back in 1999. Back then, many used welder’s masks to see the event, though some reported permanently damaged eyesight as a result.Let’s take you back to August 1999…People watching a total solar eclipse in Reading, 11th August 1999 (Photo: Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)Three friends wake up to cloud cover at Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall (Photo: Toby Melville/PA/AFP via Getty Images) August 12, 2026 6:37 pm Palpable excitement among growing crowds By Richard Percival at Parliament HillSteven Douglas, 56, from North London told The i Paper: “It’s very exciting. I may not see another one. I’m very much looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing it go dark.“It’s a nice location, there’s thousands of people here. I think it’s an incredibly important event. We’ve got a history of looking at the stars.”Also at the London viewing point, Steve Hill, 57, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the city plunged into darkness in a kind of zombie apocalypse fashion and re-emerging from the other side hopefully with our vision intact – unlike Day of the Triffids.” August 12, 2026 6:25 pm Crowds gather in London for rare astronomical event By Richard Percival at Parliament HillThousands of people have gathered at Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath, one of the highest points in London to see the eclipse.A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation, which manages Hampstead Heath, as a registered charity issued a warning urging people not to travel to the location.They told The i Paper: “Hampstead Heath is under immense pressure from prolonged dry weather and high visitor numbers.“To help protect the Heath, we are asking people not to travel there to watch tonight’s solar eclipse.“Those watching on TV will get a much clearer and safer view than with the naked eye.”People gather at Parliament Hill to view the partial solar eclipse (Photo: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) August 12, 2026 6:12 pm One hour to go – the countdown begins Most parts of the UK will see the most coverage of the eclipse in just over an hour’s time. As a reminder, these are the timings for a couple of key locations across the country:Edinburgh – 19.05Belfast – 19.08Manchester – 19.10London – 19.13Cardiff – 19.13Penzance – 19.16 August 12, 2026 6:03 pm Dispatch: Spain readies for rare total eclipse Graham KeeleyReporting from Spain and Portugal for The i Paper It might be just a few minutes of solar obscurity but for millions who descended on Spain to watch the Sun disappear behind the Moon, it means much more.Many headed for rural areas of northern Spain like Segovia, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela which, experts said, are guaranteed ‘totality’.One of these is Sean Mahoney, 59, from Britain, who has seen 13 eclipses. He compared witnessing a total solar eclipse to having sex.“Seeing a total eclipse is incomparable to anything else. It is something primal; everyone reacts by holding their breath and then exhales. I always compare it to having an orgasm,” he told El País, a Spanish newspaper.Mahoney, who travelled to Chile, India and Transylvania among other places to see the phenomenon, went to León in northern Spain to witness the eclipse.   Demand for hotel rooms along the path of totality has soared in recent weeks with many booked months ago.  In Mallorca, wealthy solar enthusiasts were spending thousands of pounds renting yachts or paying for special trips in hot air balloons to get closer to the Sun.  August 12, 2026 5:38 pm Eclipse watchers surprised by wildfire in Spain As eclipse observers have gathered across Europe, in north west Spain some have been disturbed by a small wildfire. Firefighters doused the flames, and the gathered crowd was not in any direct danger.It is a reminder of the huge wildfires which have devastated parts of Spain this summer due to the hot dry weather.People watch as a wild fire climbs a hill near where thousands are set to gather for the total solar eclipse (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)The small blaze broke out near El Monte De San Pedro park A Coruña, Spain (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) August 12, 2026 5:18 pm ‘I booked a solar eclipse flight ticket for just £2.50’ Nicky Kelvin, a travel expert who runs The Points Guy, has booked a flight for just £2.50 to try to get a front row seat to the solar eclipse – literally.He has booked a window seat facing west on a flight from London Gatwick to Malaga this evening.He told The i Paper: “Two days ago with all the excitement around the eclipse, I just had this bubbling sense of, I’m an adventurous person. I like to be in the heart of the action. I love flying. I love points. How can I just try and see this eclipse in a more epic way?”https://www.instagram.com/p/Db3efKiic7n/?hl=enHe said the pictures he saw from previous eclipses viewed from planes “looked insane”. “One of the things which makes it super cool is that you get to see the giant shadow of the moon sweeping across the earth below you. So it’s a very unique view.”Now, Nicky, his boyfriends, and two friends are all booked onto the flight sat one behind the other by the windows, with one pair of eclipse glasses each. The travel points expert nabbed the tickets for an absolute bargain, too. He said: “We wanted to find a great deal on this and not have to fork out loads of money. The flight only cost £2.50 cash outlay and I think 14,000 Avios points.”For the elaborate plan to work, he’s banking on the plane taking off around an hour late, which Nicky calculated it often does. Fingers crossed the risk pays off. August 12, 2026 5:01 pm Huge night for astronomers in rare double event The eclipse is not the only astronomical event set to occur tonight. Just hours later, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower is set to begin.If skies stay clear, stargazers should be treated to a spectacular display of shooting stars, as Earth makes its annual trip through the debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet.Caption: A Perseid meteor streaks across the Milky Way in, Sri Lanka (Photo: Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NASA says about 50 to 100 meteors per hour may be visible between midnight and dawn.Alfredo Carpineti, space and physics editor at IFL Science, told Sky News he estimates there has not been an eclipse on the same day as the peak of a major meteor shower in more than 5,000 years. August 12, 2026 4:45 pm Run on colanders as sales skyrocket ahead of eclipse One of the most popular solutions to the sold-out eclipse glasses is the use of a colander to produce shadows on a flat surface, such as a sheet of paper.John Lewis has reported a significant increase in sales compared to this time last year, showing eclipse fever really has gripped the UK.A spokesperson for the department store chain said: “Colander sales have surged nearly 40 per cent compared to last year, as shoppers prepare for tonight’s eclipse. “We’ve still got plenty of stock for anyone wanting to view this solar phenomenon safely, and, unlike eclipse glasses, you can use it to strain your spaghetti for dinner afterwards.”A person uses a colander and paper to see the shadow of a partial solar eclipse (Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)