Solar eclipse as watched across England – in pictures
People gather to view the partial solar eclipse in Greenwich Park in London, United Kingdom. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesPeople observe a partial solar eclipse on Crosby beach near Liverpool as the moon covers part of the sun in Liverpool, England. Photograph: Jon Super/APArsenal fans watch the solar eclipse ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Como at Emirates Stadium in London. Photograph: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty ImagesA woman holds a piece of paper showing the eclipse refracted from binoculars on Primrose Hill in London. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesPeople view the partial solar eclipse at Parliament Hill in London, England. Photograph: Brook Mitchell/Getty ImagesMembers of the public watch the solar eclipse during the European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
Solar eclipse across Europe – in pictures
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory in in Arcos de las Salinas, near Teruel, Spain. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/ReutersA solar eclipse is seen over a Virgin Maria church in Vidigulfo, near Pavia, northern Italy. Photograph: Antonio Calanni/APPeople gather at the Dinnyés Observation Tower to watch the partial solar eclipse close to Agard, Hungary. Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty ImagesBeachgoers watch a solar eclipse as the moon partially covers the sun and briefly dims the afternoon light along the coast of Fregene, near Rome, Italy. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersGrooms Jerry Bone, 30, and Jamie Bone, 25, take a moment during their wedding day to watch the solar eclipse in Alpheton, Suffolk. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Erm.
Google searches for “eyes hurt” are up by 5,000% compared to same time last week this evening, peaking at 7.08pm London time – just as the sun was reaching the moment of totality here.
Google trends chart showing a spike in people searching terms ‘eye hurt’ during the solar eclipse Photograph: Google Trends
Should have watched our guide to safe solar eclipse watching, clearly.
Credit to Alex Selby-Boothroyd at the Economist for spotting this over on BlueSky.
People watch eclipse across London – in pictures
Telegraph Hill Park in South London. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The GuardianA man uses protective glasses during a solar eclipse, as seen from El Arenal beach in Mallorca, Spain. Photograph: Francisco Ubilla/ReutersParis St Germain fans watch the solar eclipse through protective glasses inside the stadium before the match in Salzburg, Austria. Photograph: Angelika Warmuth/ReutersA festival-goer observing the Sun during a partial solar eclipse at the 30th Venoge Festival in Penthaz, Switzerland. Photograph: Laurent Gilliéron/EPAFestival-goers take pictures with a mobile phone and a pair of protective eclipse viewing glasses at the 30th Venoge Festival in Penthaz, Switzerland. Photograph: Laurent Gilliéron/EPA
Alexandra Topping
at National Theatre, London
It’s been incredible on the balcony of the National Theatre on the South Bank in London in the last hour or so: yes, because we got to see the eclipse, but also because people have been so friendly and happy to talk to each other.
A man with a colander seen on the balcony of the National Theatre in London during a partial solar eclipse in London. Photograph: Alexandra Topping/The Guardian
Special glasses have been shared, colanders have been raised and customised LK Bennett shoe boxes have been passed around.
I’ve actually felt quite emotional sharing this experience and sense of wonder with both friends and total strangers.
Guardian journalist Alexandra Topping with friends during the solar eclipse in London Photograph: Alexandra Topping/The Guardian
It’s also incredible – even if at some level obvious, I guess? – just how dark everything went during the total eclipse in Iceland and Spain.
The diamond ring effect is seen from the Cuna Verde viewpoint in Madrid, Spain. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesSolar eclipse photographed from the Turin Hill in Italy. Photograph: Daniele Solavaggione/LaPresse/Shutterstock
The effect was less pronounced here, in the UK, but still notable.
What was your experience of the eclipse? – let us know
Got your own pictures or want to tell us about your experience?
Let us know.
Ah, that’s a great composite image showing seven different stages of the eclipse – as observed from Arija, Spain.
A composite image of seven separate photographs taken with a single fixed camera shows stages of a solar eclipse before, during and after totality, as seen from Arija, Spain. Photograph: Borja Suárez/Reuters
Eclipse moment across Europe – in pictures
A total solar eclipse is seen from Berlanga de Duero, central Spain. Photograph: Bernat Armangué/APA bird flies past the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben as a near total solar eclipse in London. Photograph: Toby Shepheard/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Sun’s corona glows as the moon completely blocks the Sun during the totality phase of the total solar eclipse as seen from San Asensio, La Rioja region, Spain. Photograph: Ander Gillenea/AFP/Getty ImagesPeople use protective glasses to observe a partial solar eclipse from the Debod Temple, near the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain. Photograph: Alejandro Martinez Velez/ReutersPeople gathering to watch the solar eclipse on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, the first total solar eclipse visible over mainland Europe since 1999. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PACrowds gather at Monte Stella to watch the solar eclipse in Italy. Photograph: ShutterstockGeneral view inside the stadium as the LED board shows the Solar eclipse prior to the UEFA Super Cup 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at Stadion Salzburg in Austria. Photograph: Sebastian Widmann/UEFA/Getty Images
I mean, just look at this thing!
Here’s the moment of totality, seen from Arija in Spain.
The moon completely covers the sun during a total solar eclipse as seen from Arija, Spain. Photograph: Borja Suárez/Reuters
Martin Belam
on Hampstead Heath
It’s been a really lovely, friendly family atmosphere up on Hampstead Heath in north London.
I saw someone giving out eclipse glasses to a couple who didn’t have them. There were a few groups of people who didn’t even realise an eclipse was going on and were baffled as to why so many people turned out, but they started joining in.
Crowds watching the solar eclipse from Hampstead Heath in London Photograph: Martin Belam/The Guardian
People were using glasses and homemade viewers, and there has been loads of dogs and children running around – although I am slightly confused how you convince the former not to look directly at an eclipse.
It got notably cooler as the eclipse approached near totality – 92% in London.
I spoke to a couple, Elaha and Arnold E Matthew, who were using a colander to project images of the eclipsed sun on to his white T-shirt.
Another person I spoke to, Alex, was only six the last time the UK experienced an eclipse anywhere near like this. He made a makeshift viewer out of a cereal box, although admitted it had been much less effective than glasses.
By about 7.20pm people were already drifting away, but it had been a lovely, lovely evening.
Just incredible.
Total solar eclipse seen in Spain, via the European Space Agency stream Photograph: European Space Agency
