Qibla finder / United Kingdom
Qibla direction from Stoke-on-Trent, 118.1° east-southeast.
From Stoke-on-Trent, face 118.1° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 4,996 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 117.7°.
- Distance to the Kaaba
- 4,996 km (3,105 miles)
- Magnetic compass bearing
- 117.7°
- Magnetic declination
- 0.4° east
- City centre
- 53.0042, -2.1854
How to face the qibla
Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 117.7°. That is 118.1° from true north, adjusted for the 0.4° east magnetic declination in Stoke-on-Trent. Or open the live compass on your phone.
Worked out for the centre of Stoke-on-Trent. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.
Guide
Why the qibla is east-southeast from Stoke-on-Trent.
The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Stoke-on-Trent that path leaves heading east-southeast, at 118.1° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.
A compass points to magnetic north, which in Stoke-on-Trent is 0.4° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 117.7°, differs from the true bearing.
Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
- Maliki, Hanbali
- Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.
Qibla from other cities in United Kingdom
| City | Qibla | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| London | 119.0° | ESE |
| Birmingham | 118.0° | ESE |
| Manchester | 118.5° | ESE |
| Bradford | 119.3° | ESE |
| Leicester | 118.9° | ESE |
| Luton | 119.0° | ESE |
| Glasgow | 118.3° | ESE |
| Sheffield | 119.2° | ESE |
| Leeds | 119.5° | ESE |
| Liverpool | 117.6° | ESE |
| Doncaster | 119.7° | ESE |
| Nottingham | 119.2° | ESE |
| Coventry | 118.3° | ESE |
| Edinburgh | 119.5° | ESE |
| Rochdale | 118.7° | ESE |
| Blackburn | 118.4° | ESE |
| Ilford | 119.3° | ESE |
| Bolton | 118.3° | ESE |
| Oldham | 118.6° | ESE |
| Watford | 118.8° | ESE |
| Cambridge | 119.9° | ESE |
| Hounslow | 118.7° | ESE |
| Maidenhead | 118.4° | ESE |
| Newcastle | 120.4° | ESE |
| Sunderland | 120.6° | ESE |
| Croydon | 118.9° | ESE |
| Swindon | 117.2° | ESE |
| Walsall | 117.9° | ESE |
| Swansea | 115.0° | ESE |
| High Wycombe | 118.4° | ESE |
| Aberdeen | 121.7° | ESE |
| Gloucester | 117.0° | ESE |
| Norwich | 121.6° | ESE |
| Harrow | 118.8° | ESE |
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know.
What is the qibla direction from Stoke-on-Trent?
The qibla from Stoke-on-Trent is 118.1° from true north, which is east-southeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 117.7°.
How far is Stoke-on-Trent from Makkah?
About 4,996 km (3,105 miles) in a straight line over the globe.
Why is the qibla east-southeast from Stoke-on-Trent?
The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.
How exact do I need to be?
In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.