Londoners dazzled by Northern Lights dancing above the capital

In an incredibly rare event, the Northern Lights were seen across the UK last night (Friday, May 10), and even above London. Despite the light pollution that the city emits the amazing natural light show managed to cut through it and amaze Londoners.

Amazing videos shared online show the beautiful lights dance across the skies of south London above people's homes and streets. One X user Ravinder Singh posted: "I never thought I'd see the Northern lights here in London" with an incredible time time-lapse of pink and green lights dancing above south London seen from his window.

For anyone who missed the stunning views on Friday night, Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon told the BBC "conditions could continue on Saturday night, but we still have to work out some details on where exactly that will be". The aurora borealis were particularly strong last night because of an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

READ MORE: BBC Weather forecasts 11 straight days of rain in London after beaming sunshine

A sunspot cluster appears to have merged with each other to become one giant super sunspot 17 times the size of Earth which is firing out massive solar flares and plasma towards our planet. This has meant a G5 "extreme" solar storm was sent earthwards - the highest classification.

The aurora borealis were particularly strong last night because of an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A sunspot cluster appears to have merged with each other to become one giant super sunspot 17 times the size of Earth which is firing out massive solar flares and plasma towards our planet. This has meant a G5 "extreme" solar storm was sent earthwards - the highest classification.

When these come into contact with Earth the geomagnetic field interacts with them producing this beautiful ethereal display of colour in our skies. The last time a G5-rated storm hit Earth in October 2003, it caused power outages in Sweden.

Abhishek Giri, another X user posted more insane videos of the light show from London last night, expressing his disbelief at seeing them in the caption which read: "Unbelievable scenes In UK. The Solar geomagnetic storm triggered Northern Lights over the UK as we flew over London at midnight on Friday"

It wasn't just in London and the UK too - the lights were seen across the world as far south as Alabama in the US, and Switzerland. They were also seen further afield in the British Isles too in Devon Suffolk, Kent, Hampshire and Liverpool.

The sightings have reached as far as Ireland, with the Irish weather service Met Eireann posting images of the lights in Dublin and at Shannon Airport in Co Clare.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said on Friday there was a good chance for the Northern Lights to be seen. He said: “Although the shorter nights will limit the visibility window, there’s a good chance to see the aurora, particularly on Friday night and especially in Scotland, Ireland and parts of northern England and Wales.

"There could even be visibility further south if you have the right equipment. Those conditions could continue on Saturday night but we still have to work out some details on where exactly that will be.”

While sometimes they are not visible to the naked eye, using a longer exposure on your camera means that they can be seen - even on more modern phone cameras with long exposure features.

Some Londoners took to X to post their frustrations with the city's light pollution blocking their view of the magnificent event. Jackson Barb wrote: "Me looking at people’s pictures of the northern lights all over the UK knowing that London's light pollution is inhibiting any chance I've got"

However, some lucky people still managed to see the lights from the capital like in Belsize Park in North London, parts of East London and South London and Croydon.

One particularly spectacular view was taken from above the capital on a plane. Joseph Alsousou who captured the amazing photo wrote: "Incredible! The Solar geomagnetic storm triggered Northern Lights over the UK as we flew over London at midnight on Friday"

Who needs to go to Iceland or Finland to see the Northern Lights when we've got them right in our back gardens?

Get the biggest stories from around London straight to your inbox. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.