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They’re back! The Met Office issued an extreme space weather alert over the weekend and, as predicted, the northern lights showed up on Monday (January 19) night to dazzle Britain with vibrant streaks of blue, pink and green.
The solar spectacle, caused by a particularly ‘severe’ geomagnetic storm, was seen everywhere from Scotland to Wales and even all the way down in Devon. If you missed it, don’t despair. People typically travel far north to Iceland, Sweden, Norway or Finland to tick a northern lights sighting off their bucket list, but heightened solar activity right now means that we can expect to see more stunning aurora borealis displays from right here in the UK in 2026 (Caithness in Scotland is one of Time Out’s best places to visit in the UK this year for that very reason).
The next time you should look out for the borealis? Tonight. Here’s everything you need to know if you want to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights are the result of geomagnetic storms. A stream of charged particles escape the sun in something known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) and then hurtle towards the Earth’s atmosphere at several million kilometres per hour.
When they hit our planet’s atmosphere, they combine with oxygen and nitrogen, triggering a geomagnetic storm and creating the multicoloured burst that we see from down here. A green glow is associated with oxygen while purple, blue or pink illuminations are associated with nitrogen.
The sun is currently at a ‘solar maximum’, meaning that the geomagnetic storms right now are more frequent and powerful than normal.
When will the northern lights be visible in the UK?
Following spectacular displays on Monday night, there is a chance that the northern lights will be visible from parts of the UK again on Tuesday night (January 20).
Where will the northern lights be visible in the UK?
The lights are most likely to be visible in northern parts of the country. Krista Hammond, a space weather manager at the Met Office, said: ‘The effects of the CME may linger into Tuesday night, with aurora sightings possible across Scotland, perhaps also Northern Ireland and northern England, where skies are clear. This is likely to wane further by Wednesday night, perhaps with some glimpses possible from the far north of Scotland.’
However, clouds and rainy weather forecast for this evening will make them more difficult to see than Monday night.
When’s the best time to see the northern lights?
The Met Office says that the prime time for catching a glimpse of the lights is normally between 10pm and 2am when the sky is darkest.
Best places in the UK to see the northern lights
To see the northern lights in their full colourful glory, you’ll need to find somewhere that has minimal light pollution, is high up and has an unobstructed view the northern horizon.
If you’re committed enough, pack a blanket, waterproofs and a flask of tea and set up camp at your nearest Dark Sky Reserve. In the north of the country, they include the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland International Dark Sky Park and Galloway Forest Park.
See all the best places in the UK for stargazing here.
📍 The 14 best places to visit in the UK in 2026.
🇬🇧 The best new things to do in the UK in 2026.
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