United Kingdom: Where and When to See the Northern Lights
Aurora season in United Kingdom runs from September to April.
United Kingdom: how often the northern lights appear depends on how far you are from the pole. Around Lerwick it takes about Kp 4; around Plymouth, about Kp 6. Season: September to April.
United Kingdom tonight
Moderate
Best aurora chance tonight, United Kingdom: Moderate. Best place: Whitby, 11:00 PM–2:00 AM.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WhitbyEngland | 53Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 14% | 5 |
| ScarboroughEngland | 52Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 19% | 5 |
| LerwickScotland | 50Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 99% | 4 |
| KirkwallScotland | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| SwanseaWales | 44Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 0% | 6 |
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Track the Northern Lights forecast in United Kingdom
Use the app to follow the Northern Lights forecast across United Kingdom with local aurora scores, cloud cover, Kp index and viewing windows. Save cities and regions in United Kingdom, compare conditions, and get alerts when the aurora forecast becomes favorable.
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Best Months to See the Northern Lights in United Kingdom
The aurora season in United Kingdom usually runs from September to April.
Aurora by region in United Kingdom
Where the odds are best in United Kingdom
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧LerwickScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 57.9° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧KirkwallScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.6° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧ThursoScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.2° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧WickScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.0° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧StornowayScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.0° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧UllapoolScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.5° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧PortreeScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.0° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧InvernessScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 55.0° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧AviemoreScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.6° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧AberdeenScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.5° | September to April |
Popular cities in United Kingdom
Other countries
Northern lights guides
- What Is the Kp Index? Scale, G-Storms, and Your LatitudeThe Kp index measures geomagnetic disturbance, not aurora overhead: the 0–9 scale, NOAA G-storm levels, and what a rising Kp means at your latitude.
- How to Read Our Aurora Forecast: Score, Kp and CloudsHow to read the Aurora Score, Kp, cloud cover and best viewing window on our forecast pages, and turn them into tonight's decision.
- How to See and Photograph the Northern Lights on Your PhoneYour phone often shows aurora your eyes can't. Why cameras see color the eye misses, how to shoot it with night mode, and when it won't work.
- What Kp Do You Need to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?Iceland sits at the edge of the auroral oval, so low Kp is enough when it is dark and clear. Why Reykjavík needs a little more, and how to use the number.
- How Our Aurora Forecast Works: Data Sources and MethodHow the Aurora Score is built: NOAA Kp and OVATION, Open-Meteo cloud cover, darkness, moon, AACGM-v2 geomagnetic latitude — every weight and known limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in United Kingdom tonight?
United Kingdom: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Lerwick needs about Kp 4; Plymouth needs about Kp 6. On top of that it takes a clear, dark sky — cloud blocks aurora at any Kp. The table at the top of this page has tonight's forecast city by city.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has no single number. The higher the Kp, the further from the pole the auroral oval reaches, so the threshold rises with distance from the pole: Lerwick needs about Kp 4, Plymouth about Kp 6. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in United Kingdom?
September to April, with November to February the darkest stretch — though at this latitude the season is set by how often a storm reaches you, not by daylight.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in United Kingdom?
United Kingdom: of the places in this list, Lerwick needs the least — about Kp 4 — while Plymouth needs about Kp 6. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.