UK sees best solar eclipse since 1999 as crowds watch

Crowds across Kent, Surrey and Sussex watched a near-total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, describing the Moon passing in front of the Sun as "incredible."

The eclipse, visible between 18:20 and 20:10 BST, was the UK's best chance to witness the phenomenon since 1999.

Spectators brought solar glasses and improvised pinhole cameras made from kitchen colanders, turning the occasion into picnics and parties as temperatures climbed into the 30s. Cars queued on coastal roads as enthusiasts gathered on beaches from Whitstable to Goring-by-Sea. Others flocked to the South Downs and beauty spots such as Tunbridge Wells Common in Kent and Ockham Common in Surrey.

Rhiannon Quinche, from Tunbridge Wells, called the eclipse "amazing" and the "strangest thing ever." She said everything went dark with an eerie light, and even the birds seemed confused, leaving only a thin line of sun visible.

In Eastbourne, Michael Simpson watched with his daughter Chloe and sister Anne. He recalled that during the 1999 eclipse in Nigeria, rainy-season clouds obscured the view, though the birds "took off." This time, he said, the temperature dropped and the light dimmed before a "crescent sun" appeared.

On top of the South Downs, Stephen Whiles, Glenda Whiles, David Hearn and Andrea Illingworth walked up from their homes to watch together. Glenda said it was "such a special day" and they "didn't really want to miss it," celebrating with a glass of bubbly from their perfect vantage point.