Welcome to Yorkshire
Inspiration • August 11th, 2026
|Yorkshire is preparing for one of the most impressive astronomical events visible from the UK in decades, with special events planned in Leeds and York for the partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
Although the eclipse is total along a path crossing Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, Yorkshire lies outside the path of totality. Instead, the county will experience a very deep partial eclipse, with more than 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon around 7.10pm.
In Leeds, the eclipse begins at approximately 6.12pm, reaches its maximum at 7.09pm and finishes at around 8.03pm. York's timings are almost identical, with maximum eclipse at 7.09pm, while Sheffield reaches maximum at around 7.10pm.
Because the eclipse takes place during the evening, the Sun will be relatively low in the western sky. That makes choosing the right viewing location particularly important: high ground and places with an unobstructed view towards the west or west-northwest will offer the best chance of seeing the event. The Royal Observatory Greenwich recommends finding a high point with a clear western horizon.
Solar eclipse events in Yorkshire
Several organised viewing opportunities are taking place in Yorkshire.
Banstead Park Harehills Leeds will host a community eclipse watch organised by Harehills Love. The gathering begins at 6.15pm, with the park chosen because it is one of the higher points in the surrounding area. Organisers are encouraging people to arrive early so they can watch the eclipse develop.
Harehills Community Solar Eclipse For those looking for a city-centre vantage point, The Rooftop Social on Park Cross Street is holding a rooftop watch party, providing an elevated setting above central Leeds.
Rooftop Social eclipse watch party Another option is Azotea Rooftop Restaurant & Bar on Sovereign Street, where rooftop eclipse viewing is also planned.
In the Yorkshire Dales, guests staying at Ashes Farm near Selside and Ribblehead can watch the partial eclipse from private outdoor seating in the surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and its dark skies, with visitors advised to bring certified solar eclipse glasses.
In Otley, the Otley Science Festival is running a free Kids’ Funzone in Otley Market Place from 10am on 12 August, helping families prepare for the eclipse later that evening. Activities include crafts, storytime, a climbing wall and UV bead solar bracelets, while volunteers will offer advice on safe eclipse viewing and the best local places to watch. Free certified eclipse glasses, provided courtesy of Go Stargazing, will also be available.
In South Yorkshire, Doncaster Astronomical Society is hosting a free public eclipse viewing at Austerfield Study Centre and the Brian Joynes Observatory from 5.30pm on 12 August. Experienced astronomers will be on hand with specialist solar telescopes, explaining the science behind the eclipse and helping visitors observe it safely, while certified eclipse glasses provided by Go Stargazing will also be available.
Near Rotherham, the Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society is inviting the public to observe the partial solar eclipse from the J A Jones Hoober Observatory on 12 August. The observatory provides an ideal setting to experience the event alongside local astronomers, with specialist equipment available for safely observing the Sun as the Moon passes across it.
In Tingley, near Wakefield, Tingley Methodist Church is holding a community eclipse evening from 6pm on 12 August. Visitors can gather outdoors to watch the partial eclipse together, with refreshments available and special solar eclipse glasses provided by Go Stargazing to allow people to view the event safely.
In Scarborough, members of the Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society will hold a public viewing at Oliver’s Mount from 6pm on 12 August. Experienced astronomers will have specialist solar telescopes available, offering a safe way to watch the Moon cover around 90% of the Sun. Maximum eclipse is expected at around 7.08pm, and a limited number of certified eclipse glasses will be available to buy. The event is weather dependent.
In the Yorkshire Dales, Reeth Informal Astronomy Group is hosting an evening of stargazing at Rukin’s Park Lodge Campsite in Keld on 12 August. The programme begins at 6pm with safe observation of the partial solar eclipse, followed by an astronomy group meeting at Keld Public Hall from 8pm and Perseid meteor watching back at the campsite from 10pm until around midnight. Everyone is welcome, making it possible to combine the eclipse with one of the year’s best-known meteor showers – and even turn the occasion into a camping trip in the Dales.
In Pontefract, West Yorkshire Astronomical Society is opening the Rosse Observatory from 6pm on 12 August for an evening beginning with the partial solar eclipse and continuing into the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Specialist solar telescopes and eclipse glasses will be available for safe viewing, while a live stream will be shown on a large screen if cloud prevents direct observation. The neighbouring Grange community centre will also offer refreshments and children’s activities, with the observatory remaining open until late.
In East Yorkshire, Brough Astronomy Club is opening Brough Observatory on Prescott Avenue from 6pm on 12 August for an evening of safe solar observing. Experienced astronomers will have specialist solar telescopes available as the Moon covers around 90% of the Sun, while certified eclipse glasses supplied by Go Stargazing will also be available for visitors. The observatory plans to remain open until late, giving those who stay on the chance to watch the peak of the Perseid meteor shower too, weather permitting.
SOLD OUT!! At the University of York, a special eclipse evening begins at 6.15pm at the Ron Cooke Hub. Astrophysicist Dr Emily Brunsden will give a short talk explaining eclipses before visitors head outside for safe observing through specialist solar telescopes, with experts available to answer questions. Around 92% of the Sun is expected to be covered at maximum, and certified eclipse glasses supplied by Go Stargazing will be available. If cloud prevents observing, the event will continue with live eclipse coverage from elsewhere.
Watch the eclipse from the River Ouse in York
York has an unusual alternative to standing on a hill: watching the eclipse from the River Ouse.
City Cruises - Boat Tours (King's Staith) is running a special eclipse cruise on Wednesday evening. Boarding takes place at King's Staith from 5.30pm, with the boat sailing between 6pm and 7.15pm. Its open-air decks should provide an unusually open view of the sky while the eclipse progresses.
The eclipse begins in York at approximately 6.12pm and reaches its maximum at 7.09pm, shortly before the cruise ends. Eclipse glasses will also be available to buy on board for £2.
Best places to stand to see the eclipse
You do not need to attend an organised event to see the eclipse. The main requirement is a clear view towards the western horizon.
The Sun will be getting progressively lower as the eclipse develops, so a location that is normally good for watching the sunset is a useful starting point. Hills, moorland viewpoints, open fields, coastal headlands and other elevated locations facing west are likely to offer better views than streets surrounded by buildings or trees.
Across Yorkshire, potential locations include the higher ground around the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, open viewpoints around Leeds and Bradford, and elevated locations around Sheffield. Coastal locations can also provide long sightlines, although the important consideration is the direction of the sunset rather than simply being beside the sea.
Around Leeds, Almscliffe Crag and Otley Chevin have both been discussed by local eclipse watchers, although anyone heading to popular viewpoints should expect them to be considerably busier than usual.
What time should you be there?
For most of Yorkshire, aim to be in position by around 6pm.
The precise times vary slightly around the county, but a useful guide is:
Location Eclipse begins Maximum Eclipse ends
Leeds 6.12pm 7.09pm 8.03pm
York 6.12pm 7.09pm 8.02pm
Sheffield 6.13pm 7.10pm 8.03pm
North Yorkshire 6.12pm 7.08pm 8.02pm
The most dramatic period will be around maximum eclipse shortly after 7pm, when the Sun will appear as a narrow crescent.
How to watch the eclipse safely
It is essential not to look directly at the Sun without suitable protection. Even when more than 90% of the Sun is hidden, the remaining visible portion is powerful enough to cause serious and potentially permanent eye damage.
Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient. Anyone viewing the Sun directly should use eclipse glasses or viewers that comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard for direct observation of the Sun.
Do not look at the Sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera viewfinders while wearing eclipse glasses. Optical equipment concentrates sunlight and requires a correctly fitted solar filter designed specifically for the equipment.
An alternative is indirect viewing. A simple pinhole projector can project an image of the Sun onto another surface, allowing the progress of the eclipse to be followed without looking towards the Sun itself.
Children should be supervised closely throughout the eclipse.
If you miss the eclipse this year
If clouds spoil the view in Yorkshire, or you simply miss the eclipse on 12 August, there is always another chance to make an occasion of it.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is offering dedicated solar eclipse cruises for the next total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027, giving passengers the opportunity to travel specifically to see the phenomenon from a prime viewing location. For Yorkshire travellers, it could be an alternative worth planning ahead for — turning the next eclipse into a holiday rather than relying on the Yorkshire weather.
Ambassador Cruise Line
Another option for 2027 is Ambassador Cruise Line’s 19-night Mediterranean Moments & Solar Eclipse voyage aboard Ambition, departing Dundee on 27 July 2027. The itinerary is timed to be in Gibraltar for the total solar eclipse on 2 August, combining the event with calls in Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean.
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