Solar Eclipse 2026: Check your postcode to see when the unbelievable occasion will hit your space

The Met Office has revealed the absolute top spots to take a look at the UK’s most complete solar eclipse in 54 years tomorow (11th August) – with tourist hotspots Devon and Cornwall emerging as the ultimate destinations for this unique celestial spectacle.

More than 90% of the sun is set to be hidden by the moon between 6.17pm and 8.06pm on August 12, marking the greatest blockage seen in British skies since the total eclipse of 1999.

The Daily Star has been searching high and low across the British Isles to find the best spots for budding eclipse gazers, and even created this postcode finder so you can see the best spots in your neighbourhood.

For those willing to travel for the unbelievable occasion, Devon, Cornwall and the far western reaches of Pembrokeshire in Wales are the places to go, and are poised to experience the eclipse at its peak, with between 94% and 96% of the sun concealed by the moon.

Plymouth specifically is predicted to witness the moon blocking 94.66% of the sun at 7.16pm on Wednesday, the Met Office reports.

The remainder of Wales, Northern Ireland, sections of the West Midlands and South West, plus Scotland’s westernmost areas can anticipate seeing 92% to 94% solar coverage.

In Cardiff, the moon is expected to hide 93.24% of the sun at 7.13pm while in Belfast it will mask 93.09% of the sun at 7.08pm.

Stargazers elsewhere across the UK will probably witness the moon blocking 90% to 92% of the sun – with 91.79% anticipated in Birmingham at 7.12pm, 91.41% in London at 7.13pm, 90.74% in Inverness at 7.03pm, 90.71% in Edinburgh at 7.06pm and 90.22% in Newcastle at 7.07pm.

Those most eager to glimpse the fullest possible solar eclipse should steer clear of the UK’s easternmost regions, where merely 88% to 90% of solar coverage is forecast.

These encompass the coastlines of Norfolk, Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire, along with the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The Royal Greenwich Observatory has also cautioned the public that ordinary sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection to safely observe this celestial event.

Imo Bell, a planetarium astronomer at the observatory, previously informed the Press Association: “It’s not a total eclipse, but over 90% is really exciting. We’re not going to get one this good for a really long time.

“So, it’s important not to miss it, and to be prepared. You can’t just go out and expect to have a look because it’s really dangerous for your eyes.

“So, you can use solar eclipse glasses, which are very, very different from sunglasses – they block out so much light that you can’t see anything through them except the sun, because that’s how much light they need to block for the damaging light of the sun to be safe to view.

“Ideally a solar telescope is an amazing way to witness it, and if you don’t have one of them then you can look into whether your local astronomy society is doing any events.

“And if all else fails, you can project the image of the eclipse using a household item like a colander which has lots of holes in – point the colander towards the Sun with your back facing it, and in the shadow of the colander you’ll be able to see the eclipse in the holes, which is really cool.”

The next occasion when the moon will obscure as much of the sun will be in 2081, and the subsequent total solar eclipse in the UK will occur in 2090.

Ms Bell recommended finding a viewpoint facing west, with as few buildings as possible, for the optimal eclipse viewing experience.

“We might notice the sky getting a little bit dark, so if you’re looking safely, it’ll look a bit like the moon is taking a bite out of the sun, you’ll see something that looks a bit like a crescent sun.”

Reykjavik in Iceland and Spanish cities A Coruna, Oviedo, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Valencia will witness a total eclipse on Wednesday, where the moon completely blocks out the sun.