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Is it possible to take a photo of Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) from an airplane window?
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I see sometimes photos of the Elizabeth Tower allegedly taken from an airplane window. Here are just two of them taken from Instagram account loves_bigben.
Do passenger airplanes really fly such low heights above the center of London that it is possible to take such photos?
london photography
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
favorite
I see sometimes photos of the Elizabeth Tower allegedly taken from an airplane window. Here are just two of them taken from Instagram account loves_bigben.
Do passenger airplanes really fly such low heights above the center of London that it is possible to take such photos?
london photography
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
3
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
favorite
up vote
12
down vote
favorite
I see sometimes photos of the Elizabeth Tower allegedly taken from an airplane window. Here are just two of them taken from Instagram account loves_bigben.
Do passenger airplanes really fly such low heights above the center of London that it is possible to take such photos?
london photography
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
I see sometimes photos of the Elizabeth Tower allegedly taken from an airplane window. Here are just two of them taken from Instagram account loves_bigben.
Do passenger airplanes really fly such low heights above the center of London that it is possible to take such photos?
london photography
london photography
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
edited 10 mins ago
Kat
282311
282311
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
asked 10 hours ago
Neusser
4,68722441
4,68722441
3
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
3
3
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
1
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
42
down vote
accepted
No, airliners do not fly low enough that those can be photos.
On the left-hand one the distance between the top of the tower and the horizon is much less than the height of the tower, meaning that if this is a photograph, it would be taken from a height of about 500 feet.
The right-hand one apparently shows the top of the tower above the horizon, meaning that the vantage point would be even lower.
Flights landing at London City Airport's runway 09 pass quite close to the Palace of Westminster at low altitudes -- see for example AZ216 on Flightradar24 today -- but not that low. That would put them lower than several of the skyscrapers in the City which they need to pass over to get to the runway.
The charted approaches to LCY specify staying at an altitude of 2000 feet (which is more than 6 times the height of the clock tower) until just west of the Isle of Dogs. Some approaches to runways 27R/27L at Heathrow pass close to Westminster too, but at an altitude of 3000 feet.
More generally, the Palace of Westminster is in Restricted Area R157 where flights below 1400 feet without special advance permission are forbidden.
Both images look like digital artwork rather than photos to me.
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
8
down vote
As Henning's answer makes clear, the images in the question are composites and passenger planes don't fly that low over central London. Also, the clouds in the second image are obviously fake: they're clearly large clouds but being below the roof-line of the Palace of Westminster means they'd have to be between ground level and about 100ft (30m) altitude.
However, passenger planes do fly quite low over London. Typically, the wind in the UK is from the west, and planes land into the wind where possible. Since Heathrow is to the west of London, this means that, in typical weather conditions, commercial flights coming into Heathrow do pass over central London at low enough altitudes to give very good views of the major landmarks. It is possible to get nice photos of London from commercial flights; but not that nice. Also, the weather in London is often cloudy so you may well fly over central London and see nothing.
If I remember, I'll edit this to give an indication of the altitude they fly over London but, as luck would have it, planes are landing from the west at Heathrow today, so they're not coming in over London.
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
I have in fact seen Big Ben while flying into london heathrow once or twice, but always from far further away than these photos. Far enough that I had to search a bit to find landmarks.
The photos are certainly manipulated for artistic effect and the originals are likely either from the London Eye (a large enclosed ferris-wheel) or from a helicopter touring the city.
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
This is a real photo taken on 21st September from a plane coming in to land at Heathrow airport. Planes on final approach to Heathrow often fly down the south side of the Thames so if you have a window seat on the right of the plane you often get a very good view. However, not as close as in your images at the top! I doubt it is easy to get any closer.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
42
down vote
accepted
No, airliners do not fly low enough that those can be photos.
On the left-hand one the distance between the top of the tower and the horizon is much less than the height of the tower, meaning that if this is a photograph, it would be taken from a height of about 500 feet.
The right-hand one apparently shows the top of the tower above the horizon, meaning that the vantage point would be even lower.
Flights landing at London City Airport's runway 09 pass quite close to the Palace of Westminster at low altitudes -- see for example AZ216 on Flightradar24 today -- but not that low. That would put them lower than several of the skyscrapers in the City which they need to pass over to get to the runway.
The charted approaches to LCY specify staying at an altitude of 2000 feet (which is more than 6 times the height of the clock tower) until just west of the Isle of Dogs. Some approaches to runways 27R/27L at Heathrow pass close to Westminster too, but at an altitude of 3000 feet.
More generally, the Palace of Westminster is in Restricted Area R157 where flights below 1400 feet without special advance permission are forbidden.
Both images look like digital artwork rather than photos to me.
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
42
down vote
accepted
No, airliners do not fly low enough that those can be photos.
On the left-hand one the distance between the top of the tower and the horizon is much less than the height of the tower, meaning that if this is a photograph, it would be taken from a height of about 500 feet.
The right-hand one apparently shows the top of the tower above the horizon, meaning that the vantage point would be even lower.
Flights landing at London City Airport's runway 09 pass quite close to the Palace of Westminster at low altitudes -- see for example AZ216 on Flightradar24 today -- but not that low. That would put them lower than several of the skyscrapers in the City which they need to pass over to get to the runway.
The charted approaches to LCY specify staying at an altitude of 2000 feet (which is more than 6 times the height of the clock tower) until just west of the Isle of Dogs. Some approaches to runways 27R/27L at Heathrow pass close to Westminster too, but at an altitude of 3000 feet.
More generally, the Palace of Westminster is in Restricted Area R157 where flights below 1400 feet without special advance permission are forbidden.
Both images look like digital artwork rather than photos to me.
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
42
down vote
accepted
up vote
42
down vote
accepted
No, airliners do not fly low enough that those can be photos.
On the left-hand one the distance between the top of the tower and the horizon is much less than the height of the tower, meaning that if this is a photograph, it would be taken from a height of about 500 feet.
The right-hand one apparently shows the top of the tower above the horizon, meaning that the vantage point would be even lower.
Flights landing at London City Airport's runway 09 pass quite close to the Palace of Westminster at low altitudes -- see for example AZ216 on Flightradar24 today -- but not that low. That would put them lower than several of the skyscrapers in the City which they need to pass over to get to the runway.
The charted approaches to LCY specify staying at an altitude of 2000 feet (which is more than 6 times the height of the clock tower) until just west of the Isle of Dogs. Some approaches to runways 27R/27L at Heathrow pass close to Westminster too, but at an altitude of 3000 feet.
More generally, the Palace of Westminster is in Restricted Area R157 where flights below 1400 feet without special advance permission are forbidden.
Both images look like digital artwork rather than photos to me.
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
No, airliners do not fly low enough that those can be photos.
On the left-hand one the distance between the top of the tower and the horizon is much less than the height of the tower, meaning that if this is a photograph, it would be taken from a height of about 500 feet.
The right-hand one apparently shows the top of the tower above the horizon, meaning that the vantage point would be even lower.
Flights landing at London City Airport's runway 09 pass quite close to the Palace of Westminster at low altitudes -- see for example AZ216 on Flightradar24 today -- but not that low. That would put them lower than several of the skyscrapers in the City which they need to pass over to get to the runway.
The charted approaches to LCY specify staying at an altitude of 2000 feet (which is more than 6 times the height of the clock tower) until just west of the Isle of Dogs. Some approaches to runways 27R/27L at Heathrow pass close to Westminster too, but at an altitude of 3000 feet.
More generally, the Palace of Westminster is in Restricted Area R157 where flights below 1400 feet without special advance permission are forbidden.
Both images look like digital artwork rather than photos to me.
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
edited 7 hours ago
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
answered 9 hours ago
Henning Makholm
37.5k693150
37.5k693150
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
2
2
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
This would be a great question for photo.stackexchange.com
– Peter M
9 hours ago
11
11
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
Addition: Big Ben is under construction 'till 2021 with a scaffolding all around it. So even if it was possible, it wouldn't look like this at the moment anyway ;-)
– NicolasB
8 hours ago
10
10
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
The right picture suggests something horrendous happened to Westminster Abbey, considering it seems to be levelled compared to the left picture. The left picture on the other hand would've had the plane crashing into London Eye (from which it was most likely taken.) So maybe the disaster is related to the change?
– Chieron
7 hours ago
2
2
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
@Chieron: Hmm yes, that perspective matches quite well.
– Henning Makholm
7 hours ago
2
2
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
@FreeMan: Well, evidently the pictures posted in the question must have been made by someone, somehow.
– Henning Makholm
6 hours ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
8
down vote
As Henning's answer makes clear, the images in the question are composites and passenger planes don't fly that low over central London. Also, the clouds in the second image are obviously fake: they're clearly large clouds but being below the roof-line of the Palace of Westminster means they'd have to be between ground level and about 100ft (30m) altitude.
However, passenger planes do fly quite low over London. Typically, the wind in the UK is from the west, and planes land into the wind where possible. Since Heathrow is to the west of London, this means that, in typical weather conditions, commercial flights coming into Heathrow do pass over central London at low enough altitudes to give very good views of the major landmarks. It is possible to get nice photos of London from commercial flights; but not that nice. Also, the weather in London is often cloudy so you may well fly over central London and see nothing.
If I remember, I'll edit this to give an indication of the altitude they fly over London but, as luck would have it, planes are landing from the west at Heathrow today, so they're not coming in over London.
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
As Henning's answer makes clear, the images in the question are composites and passenger planes don't fly that low over central London. Also, the clouds in the second image are obviously fake: they're clearly large clouds but being below the roof-line of the Palace of Westminster means they'd have to be between ground level and about 100ft (30m) altitude.
However, passenger planes do fly quite low over London. Typically, the wind in the UK is from the west, and planes land into the wind where possible. Since Heathrow is to the west of London, this means that, in typical weather conditions, commercial flights coming into Heathrow do pass over central London at low enough altitudes to give very good views of the major landmarks. It is possible to get nice photos of London from commercial flights; but not that nice. Also, the weather in London is often cloudy so you may well fly over central London and see nothing.
If I remember, I'll edit this to give an indication of the altitude they fly over London but, as luck would have it, planes are landing from the west at Heathrow today, so they're not coming in over London.
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
As Henning's answer makes clear, the images in the question are composites and passenger planes don't fly that low over central London. Also, the clouds in the second image are obviously fake: they're clearly large clouds but being below the roof-line of the Palace of Westminster means they'd have to be between ground level and about 100ft (30m) altitude.
However, passenger planes do fly quite low over London. Typically, the wind in the UK is from the west, and planes land into the wind where possible. Since Heathrow is to the west of London, this means that, in typical weather conditions, commercial flights coming into Heathrow do pass over central London at low enough altitudes to give very good views of the major landmarks. It is possible to get nice photos of London from commercial flights; but not that nice. Also, the weather in London is often cloudy so you may well fly over central London and see nothing.
If I remember, I'll edit this to give an indication of the altitude they fly over London but, as luck would have it, planes are landing from the west at Heathrow today, so they're not coming in over London.
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
As Henning's answer makes clear, the images in the question are composites and passenger planes don't fly that low over central London. Also, the clouds in the second image are obviously fake: they're clearly large clouds but being below the roof-line of the Palace of Westminster means they'd have to be between ground level and about 100ft (30m) altitude.
However, passenger planes do fly quite low over London. Typically, the wind in the UK is from the west, and planes land into the wind where possible. Since Heathrow is to the west of London, this means that, in typical weather conditions, commercial flights coming into Heathrow do pass over central London at low enough altitudes to give very good views of the major landmarks. It is possible to get nice photos of London from commercial flights; but not that nice. Also, the weather in London is often cloudy so you may well fly over central London and see nothing.
If I remember, I'll edit this to give an indication of the altitude they fly over London but, as luck would have it, planes are landing from the west at Heathrow today, so they're not coming in over London.
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
edited 5 hours ago
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
answered 6 hours ago
David Richerby
10k73971
10k73971
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
1
1
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
Even when planes are crossing central London on approach the LHR, they are sometimes above the cloud base, so good views are not guaranteed! (It is obvious from ground level that they are above the cloud base - you can hear them, but not see them).
– alephzero
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
@alephzero Good point -- added to the answer.
– David Richerby
5 hours ago
1
1
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
Flightradar24 tracks from days in the last week show that those arrivals are typically descending from about 4500-5000 feet to about 3300 feet on the "scenic" stretch between the 0° meridian and Battersea Park. Views are best on the right side of the plane.
– Henning Makholm
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
I have in fact seen Big Ben while flying into london heathrow once or twice, but always from far further away than these photos. Far enough that I had to search a bit to find landmarks.
The photos are certainly manipulated for artistic effect and the originals are likely either from the London Eye (a large enclosed ferris-wheel) or from a helicopter touring the city.
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
I have in fact seen Big Ben while flying into london heathrow once or twice, but always from far further away than these photos. Far enough that I had to search a bit to find landmarks.
The photos are certainly manipulated for artistic effect and the originals are likely either from the London Eye (a large enclosed ferris-wheel) or from a helicopter touring the city.
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
I have in fact seen Big Ben while flying into london heathrow once or twice, but always from far further away than these photos. Far enough that I had to search a bit to find landmarks.
The photos are certainly manipulated for artistic effect and the originals are likely either from the London Eye (a large enclosed ferris-wheel) or from a helicopter touring the city.
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
I have in fact seen Big Ben while flying into london heathrow once or twice, but always from far further away than these photos. Far enough that I had to search a bit to find landmarks.
The photos are certainly manipulated for artistic effect and the originals are likely either from the London Eye (a large enclosed ferris-wheel) or from a helicopter touring the city.
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
answered 4 hours ago
Ruadhan2300
2313
2313
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
1
1
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
The first one does look like it's from about the right angle to be from the Eye -- well spotted! In that case, view would be to the south-west, so the sunset is in the wrong place. The second picture looks like it's taken looking south-east (the roof-line visible in that is the House of Commons) so wouldn't be from the Eye.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
1
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
(@DavidRicherby) if you're shopping a stock London photo in, why not add a sunset too· Or clouds. They don't look real: ground mist in London tends to be flat-topped without the thinner cloud just above -- I grew up on a hill looking out over London
– Chris H
4 hours ago
1
1
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
@ChrisH Yeah, the clouds in the second photo are obviously the sort of large clouds that there simply isn't space for at ground level.
– David Richerby
4 hours ago
1
1
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
@DavidRicherby: The direction of the sunset is not necessarily wrong; in late December the sunset in London is seen in direction 232°, which does match the line of sight from the top of the Eye to Big Ben pretty well. Still, I'm not sure taking photos directly into the sunset should leave the buildings in the foreground so nicely exposed ...
– Henning Makholm
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
This is a real photo taken on 21st September from a plane coming in to land at Heathrow airport. Planes on final approach to Heathrow often fly down the south side of the Thames so if you have a window seat on the right of the plane you often get a very good view. However, not as close as in your images at the top! I doubt it is easy to get any closer.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
This is a real photo taken on 21st September from a plane coming in to land at Heathrow airport. Planes on final approach to Heathrow often fly down the south side of the Thames so if you have a window seat on the right of the plane you often get a very good view. However, not as close as in your images at the top! I doubt it is easy to get any closer.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
This is a real photo taken on 21st September from a plane coming in to land at Heathrow airport. Planes on final approach to Heathrow often fly down the south side of the Thames so if you have a window seat on the right of the plane you often get a very good view. However, not as close as in your images at the top! I doubt it is easy to get any closer.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This is a real photo taken on 21st September from a plane coming in to land at Heathrow airport. Planes on final approach to Heathrow often fly down the south side of the Thames so if you have a window seat on the right of the plane you often get a very good view. However, not as close as in your images at the top! I doubt it is easy to get any closer.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
answered 49 mins ago
gebjon
211
211
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
gebjon is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
Elizabeth Tower is just right of centre.
– gebjon
48 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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3
FYI these are simple "cartoon-like" fun images. They are just created (perhaps for ads?) and are totally unrealistic in every way.
– Fattie
4 hours ago
Taking these with drones would also be problematical as these are exclusion zones for the sorts of fliers that could take photos of this quality; silicon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dronesflyzone.jpg
– Valorum
4 hours ago
1
The airplane windows look like real photos, but nothing outside looks photo-realistic. Just look at how blurry the clock hands are.
– Barmar
2 hours ago