Hot Air Balloon Flights - Launch Sites and General Information

 

Locations

Balloon flights are available in most areas of the UK. There are about eighty balloon operators in the UK and many of them have multiple launch sites. The current list of locations and the merchants providing them is:

Balloon flight locations in the UK
    Activity Gifts     Buy a Gift     Days 2 Amaze     Virgin
Avon Bath Y Y Y Y
  Bristol Y Y Y Y
Berkshire Reading Y   Y Y
Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes Y   Y  
Cambridgeshire Bury St Edmonds     Y  
  Cambridge       Y
  Linton       Y
Cheshire Chester Y   Y Y
  Nantwich Y   Y Y
Cornwall Bodmin Y Y Y Y
Launceston Y Y Y Y
Cumbria Keswick Y      
  Windemere     Y  
Derbyshire Chatsworth Y   Y Y
Devon Exeter Y Y Y Y
  Plymouth Y Y Y Y
Dorset Blandford Forum Y Y Y Y
  Shaftsbury Y Y Y Y
  Sherborne Y Y   Y
Essex Braintree Y   Y  
  Brentwood Y   Y  
  Chelmsford Y   Y  
East Sussex Uckfield       Y
Gloucestershire Bourton on the Water Y   Y Y
  Cirencester     Y Y
  Cheltenham Y Y Y Y
  Stow on the Wold Y Y Y Y
  Stroud Y     Y
Hampshire Alton Y   Y Y
  Basingstoke Y Y Y Y
  Hartley Wintney Y Y Y Y
  Old Basing Y Y Y Y
  Popham Y   Y Y
  Winchester       Y
Herefordshire Ledbury Y   Y Y
Hertfordshire Hemel Hempstead Y Y Y Y
  Stevenage Y Y Y Y
  Watford Y Y Y Y
Kent Leeds Castle     Y  
  Maidstone Y     Y
  Sevenoaks Y   Y Y
  Tunbridge Wells Y   Y Y
Norfolk Norwich Y   Y Y
  Snetterton Y   Y Y
Northamptonshire Northampton Y   Y Y
Oxfordshire Banbury Y Y Y Y
  Oxford Y Y Y Y
Shropshire Whitchurch Y   Y Y
Somerset Castle Carey     Y  
  Taunton Y Y Y Y
  Wincanton Y Y   Y
  Yeovil Y Y   Y
Staffordshire Stafford Y   Y Y
Suffolk Bury St Edmunds Y   Y Y
  Eye     Y Y
  Ipswich Y   Y Y
Surrey Farnham Y   Y Y
  Godalming Y   Y Y
  Guildford Y   Y Y
Sussex Uckfield Y   Y  
Warwickshire Coventry Y Y    
  Stratford Upon Avon Y   Y Y
  Warwick Y Y Y Y
Wiltshire Salisbury Y Y Y Y
  Swindon Y   Y Y
Worcestershire Evesham Y   Y Y
  Worcester Y   Y Y
Yorkshire Beverley Y   Y Y
  Conisborough Castle     Y Y
  Doncaster Y   Y Y
  Knaresborough     Y  
  York Y   Y Y
Scotland Edinburgh/Lothian Y Y Y Y
  Kinross   Y    
Wales Tintern Y Y Y Y
  Usk Valley Y Y Y Y
  Wye Valley Y Y Y Y
 


 

Who offers balloon flights?

We have four merchants offering these balloon flights, Activity Gifts, Days to Amaze, Virgin and Buy a Gift. All are large reputable firms, and all use much the same balloon flight centres. These are all major players in the gift experience market so we would not recommend any one over the others. However they all offer variations on the theme so check them all out before booking. Some prices are shown on the right of this page, but you can click here for the full list of balloon flight prices.  

 

Clothing

Hot air balloon flights are like any other outdoor activity in that you should dress sensibly and appropriately for the time of year. You should always take a sweater or waterproof as it can be somewhat exposed in the basket of the balloon, and as you will be climbing in and out of the basket and standing during the flight sensible shoes are a must. If it's a hot day then a hat and suncream are also a good idea. Balloons can be windy so trousers are generally preferable to skirts. Don't forget to take a camera and binoculars.  


 

Restrictions

Restrictions vary, but in general you must be tall enough to see out of the basket and be in good general health. Pregnant women and those with serious medical conditions will not be allowed to fly. Some flight centres will allow children under 16, others will not. As with any form of flying, if you turn up "under the influence" you are likely to be turned away.  


 

Weather

If the weather is unsuitable the balloon flight will be cancelled. Be aware of this and be sure to check with the flight centre before setting-off. Hot air balloons are very susceptible to weather and require light winds, no rain and good visibility.  


 

Timings

The balloon flying season is from April to September, and flights generally take off either just after dawn or late afternoon when the weather is stillest.  


 

How big are the balloons?

You may be surprised to learn that the balloons vary greatly in size and can carry anything from two to twenty passengers.  


 

What should I expect?

Don't expect to turn up dressed as if for a day in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot before being gently wafted over the rolling plains of Britain to be gently deposited back where you started. Ballooning is about the whole experience of flying in an amazing 18th Century mode of transport. You'll learn about balloons, will help to inflate the ballon, travel wherever the winds dictate and land goodness knows where. On landing you'll be able to help deflate and pack the balloon while waiting for the support vehicles to arrive and ferry you back where you started from. Great fun, and even better if you're prepared to muck in and help.  


 

Disclaimer

This page contains general information about Hot Air Balloon flights. Do not assume everything here will hold true for the particular provider you choose to book with. Always check details with the merchant you book with.

 


 

Where can I learn more about hot air balloons

Where else but Wikipedia - hot air balloons.  


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