Perseids meteor shower 2015: Where to watch peak of cosmic light show display in UK

The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak next week between 11 and 13 August 2015, with around 50 shooting stars expected to be seen every hour in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Perseids is considered one of the best meteor showers of the year in the UK, and this year should be particularly impressive as it will be a dark, moonless night as a result of the waning crescent Moon. As long as there are clear skies, stargazers should be able to view the display throughout the night.

Those living in the countryside should have no problem seeing the meteor shower, but people in cities may wish to travel further afield to escape light pollution. Here, IBTimes UK looks at the best places to watch the Perseid meteor shower in cities across the UK:

London

The WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre in north-east London provides dark skies away from the capital's night-time light pollution. The closest train stations are Clapton and Leyton Midland Rd.

Birmingham

Warley Woods is where the Birmingham Astronomical Society sometimes meets to watch the night's sky. It is off the A456 Hagley Road going west from the centre of Birmingham; visitors can either drive or get a bus from the city centre.

Manchester

The biggest park in Greater Manchester, Heaton Park, is one of the locations of BBC's Stargazing Live. Astronomy sessions run by the Heaton Park Astronomy Group also run every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm at the Bowls Pavilion.

Newcastle

Carricks Picnic Area and Parkhead Station are both recommended for stargazing. These spots are between 20 and 30 miles from the city centre, and both have free car parks open 24 hours a day, and are considered areas of outstanding natural beauty by Dark Sky Discovery Sites.

Edinburgh

Tourist website Edinburgh Seasons says that for the best dark skies, people should head towards the Scottish Borders. It also says that Scotland has some of the darkest skies in the whole of Europe.

Cardiff

The Brecon Beacons, just over an hour's drive away from Cardiff's city centre, is where some of the darkest skies in the UK are located. On 12 August, experts from Dark Sky Wales will be hosting a special event to watch the Perseids. They will meet at the National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, and tickets cost £12.

Bristol

Avon Gorge and Downs, on the edge of the city, is open 24/7 and is an ideal spot to watch the lunar eclipse. Parking is also free at The Downs. The area consists of 440 acres and includes Durdham Down, Clifton Down and Clifton Observatory.

Belfast

Oxford Island National Nature Reserve is a little more than 20 miles from the city and is open to pedestrians at all times, although some gates are locked: stargazers are advised to call ahead before visiting. The nature reserve is on the southern shores of the Lough Neagh, and is not directly overlooked by streetlights. It hosted a BBC Stargazing event this year and last.