Image caption, No special viewing glasses? No problem
ByLeigh BoobyerWest of England- Published12 August 2026, 20:37 BST
Thousands of people from across the West of England stood or sat completely still on Wednesday evening to watch a historic partial eclipse.
More than 90% of the sun was obscured by the moon - the most it has been blocked above UK skies since the total eclipse in 1999.
In areas like Weston-super-Mare, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham and Warminster people gathered to watch the phenomenon with special glasses, alongside DIY viewers who looked through cereal boxes and colanders. One person even watched through a welding mask.
From vantage points to pub gardens and homes, here's how you watched the once-in-a-generation solar eclipse.
Bristol
Image source, HandoutImage caption, Huge crowds gathered on Clifton's Downs, where earlier free eclipse glasses were being handed out
Image caption, For those not lucky enough to secure the free glasses on Clifton Downs, some people have taken to other means
Image source, HandoutImage caption, There were cheers on Trooper's Hill as people gathered to watch the phenomenon
Image source, HandoutImage caption, Nine-year-old Louis was given a pair of glasses by a stranger and says he "feels really lucky"
Gloucestershire
Image caption, People climbed Cleeve Hill, on the edge of Cheltenham, to watch the eclipse at what is the highest point of Gloucestershire
Image caption, Some people had both the eclipse glasses and homemade viewing devices
Image caption, Picnics at the ready: lots of people combined the eclipse viewing with alfresco dining
Somerset
Image caption, Weston-super-Mare's famous beach was packed with people hoping to view the eclipse
Image caption, Families gathered in Weston-super-Mare hoping to get a clear view of the eclipse
Image caption, Beckford Tower, in Bath, was also busy with eclipse enthusiasts
Image caption, Meanwhile, people gathered by Cheddar Reservoir for a scenic view
Wiltshire
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, People turned to DIY methods to view the eclipse at prehistoric Stonehenge
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, One woman stood out from the crowd wearing a welding mask
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, And lots of people brought their colanders to the event
Image caption, Meanwhile, Starquest Astronomy Club held a special event in Warminster town park for people to view the spectacle
Image caption, Two women don their fiery eclipse glasses
Image caption, And some people got very creative to view the historic moment
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