Perseids 2026: How to See the Biggest Meteor Shower of the Year in London This Week

The Perseids meteor shower — the biggest and brightest shower of the year — will be at its most visible this week. Here's your complete guide to catching shooting stars in London.

If you're hoping to spot a shooting star from the streets of London, this week is your golden opportunity. The Perseids — the largest and brightest meteor shower of the year — are about to peak. They've actually been streaking through our skies for a few weeks now, so you may have already glimpsed a few. But the shower reaches its 'maximum' — the moment the highest number of meteors become visible — in mid-August.

This week doesn't just bring the year's most dazzling meteor shower: on August 12 — the very same date as the Perseids peak — a deep solar eclipse will also occur, creating a true astronomical double-header.

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What is the Perseids meteor shower?

Meteor showers are made up of debris from comets hurtling around our solar system. Some of that debris hits our planet's atmosphere at speeds of up to 45 miles per second and vaporises, leaving bright streaks of light visible from Earth. The Perseids stem from a comet called 109P/Swift-Tuttle and have been dazzling humans since at least 69 BC. At its peak, around 125 vivid meteors blaze across the sky per hour. Royal Museums Greenwich calls the Perseids 'one of the best meteor showers of the year'.

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When will the Perseids peak?

The Perseids will hit their maximum overnight on Wednesday August 12 into Thursday August 13.

Will they be visible from London?

Absolutely — as long as weather conditions cooperate (more on the forecast below).

What's the best time to see them?

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the ideal window for Perseid-spotting is between midnight and 5am, when the moon sits below the horizon. Conditions are especially favourable this year, as the new moon following the solar eclipse means the sky will be exceptionally dark.

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How to watch

Find a spot with an uninterrupted sky view and minimal light pollution (bear in mind that most London parks close after sunset), give your eyes about 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness, look up, and be patient. Skip the binoculars or telescope — they'll actually limit how much of the sky you can see.

Best viewing spots in London

Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill will be open all night on Wednesday.

Parliament Hill

Like Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill stays open 24 hours on Wednesdays (every day, in fact).

What's the weather forecast?

The overnight conditions from Wednesday into Thursday look ideal for stargazing: cloud-free, rain-free, and toasty — staying above 20°C all night.

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When is the next meteor shower?

After the Perseids, the next shower is the much smaller Draconids, which will peak on October 9.