The what, where, when, and how of hot air balloon rides in and around London UK
Being high above the ground brings a special kind of peace, comfort, and fulfillment. Just ask hikers climbing mountains before sunrise, those who light up at a terrace view, or airplane passengers who’d give anything to get a window seat.
Beyond the feeling itself, heights have set the stage for many unforgettable adventures, surprise proposals, and lasting friendships. As we browse through the photos, we can’t help but wish for more moments like them.
Why not add hot air balloon rides in and around London UK to the list? Everything you need to know about them is here, anyway—so take note of the available experiences, popular launch sites, booking tips, and other essential information to help you plan your trip.
Overview of hot air ballooning near London
The fact that the UK ranks among the leading nations for ballooning enthusiasts already says a lot about hot air balloon rides in the country. Hundreds of certified pilots, a thriving industry, and large-scale festivals all prove how it has grown into a beloved once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It started long before that enchanting photo carousel or video you saw on Instagram. Think 1784, when Italian pioneer Vincenzo Lunardi performed the first-ever ride over London from Moorfields—with a dog, a cat, and pigeons in the basket.
Public interest grew quickly—by 1785, Letitia Ann Sage became the first British woman to fly one of Lunardi’s balloons from St. George’s Fields. Today, however, airspace restrictions make regular over-the-city flights rare, limited mostly to special occasions.
It’s still very much alive, though. From March to October, locals and tourists alike plan their rides, looking forward to the light winds and clear skies that mark the hot air ballooning season in London and across the UK.
Available hot air balloon experiences near London
Adventure Balloons
Media credit: adventure_balloons
Website: https://www.adventureballoons.co.uk/
Address: London Rd, Hartley Wintney, Hook
Contact details: +44 1252 844222
Operating hours: Monday to Friday – 9 AM – 5 PM
Adventure Balloons can take you up to 5,000 feet above counties near London, including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Sussex. Over the course of an hour, you’ll drift 2 to 20 miles across villages, towns, and countryside—at their most magical in the morning light.
There actually used to be London flights, but stricter airspace regulations ended them in 2023. Still, we relive them in the photos taken by pilots and passengers who got to experience them, capturing aerial views of Tower Bridge, Parliament Hill, Regent’s Park, and many more.
Meanwhile, the Birthday Balloon rides—often gifted as a surprise—add extra fun to any celebration. Although the colorful hot air balloons bearing ‘Happy Birthday’ have been retired, they’ve made way for today’s iconic red balloons, followed by a post-flight Prosecco toast.
Those red balloons are from none other than Virgin Balloon Flights, Adventure’s flight provider, which we’ll cover in more detail next. For almost 30 years, they’ve provided stable baskets, shared in-flight photos, and even invited customers to help with balloon setup and deflation.
Virgin Balloon Flights
Media credit: virginballoonflights
Website: https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/
Address: Dart Country Park, River, Newton Abbot
Contact details: +44 1225 435505
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9 AM – 6 PM
- Friday – 9 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday – 9 AM – 4 PM
In case you don’t know yet, Virgin Balloon Flights is the UK’s only nationwide balloon ride operator, offering more than 100 launch sites. Among the London-area locations are Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, Tunbridge Wells in Kent, and Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.
Wherever the wind takes you—north, west, east, or south—bustling streets, rolling hills, parks, and picturesque towns unfold from 2,000 to 5,000 feet in the air. Since over-the-city flights aren’t allowed, balloons usually take off within a 30-mile radius of Central London.
You’ll be one of 16 passengers aboard the basket, and as you fly close to each other for an hour, there goes your chance to make new friends. Many lasting bonds have been formed while pitching in to inflate and deflate the beautiful big red Virgin balloons.
On birthdays, gift-givers receive free note cards for the celebrant to read on the day of the ride. Also, don’t miss the soft drinks or Prosecco waiting on the ground and the exhilarating drag landing, where the pilot lets the basket skim the grass before coming to a stop.
The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta
Media credit: xballooning
Website: https://www.balloonregatta.com/
Launch sites: London City Airport, Battersea Park (may vary)
Contact details: +44(0)1453 511 280
Season: May, June, and July (subject to change)
If you’d rather watch than fly, The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta is the one to experience. As London’s official ballooning event, it brings a colorful and memorable sight each year, featuring up to 50 balloons rising over the city in support of the Lord Mayor’s appeal.
Some float by promoting big names like The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Charity, Keltbray, British Airways, and Fortnum & Mason. Others simply join for the beauty of it, with designs that might have you spotting a Minion, a lion, and countless creative patterns and shapes.
The runway of London City Airport and Battersea Park have hosted some of the most remarkable launches—26 balloons in 2017 and 46 in 2019. Check the updates page for standby dates, and be ready to get up early, as take-offs usually begin around 5:30 AM to 6:00 AM.
Popular launch sites around London
Surrey (Guildford)
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Website: https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/guildford
Address: Shalford Park Sports Pavilion, Shalford Road Guildford
Contact details: +44 1524 230808
Season: March-October
Launch time:
- Morning flights – 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM
- Evening flights – 6 PM – 7 PM
When on a Surrey hot air balloon ride, panoramic views of the South Downs’ rolling green hills, scenic villages, and farmland are what you’ll see below. Keep an eye out, too, for Guildford Cathedral, the Tunsgate Arch, or the ruins of William the Conqueror’s castle.
It’s the promise of those sights that makes Surrey a favorite launch site. Passengers first gather at the Shalford Park sports pavilion, where parking is available, before taking off on the A281, south of Guildford.
If you’re coming from Central London, Guildford is 35 to 40 minutes by direct train from Waterloo, followed by a 5- to 10-minute taxi or a 20-minute walk to Shalford Park. By car, the A3 road will take you about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Kent (Tunbridge Wells & Hollingbourne)
Media credit: virginballoonflights
Website:
- Tunbridge Wells – https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/hot-air-balloon-ride-tunbridge-wells-hop-farm
- Hollingbourne – https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/hollingbourne
Address:
- Tunbridge Wells – The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood Tonbridge
- Hollingbourne – Mercure Maidstone Hotel
Contact details: +44 1233 221565
Season: March-October
Launch time:
- Morning flights – 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM
- Evening flights – 6 PM – 7 PM
In Kent, you can choose between flying from The Hop Farm near Tunbridge Wells or launching from the picturesque grounds of Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel beside Hollingbourne. Either way, the ‘Garden of England’ opens up beneath you as you gently rise into the sky.
Imagine endless countryside stretching out in every direction, dotted with orchards, oast houses, and vineyards. The meandering River Medway may even reveal itself to Tunbridge Wells passengers, while Leeds Castle is often the first landmark Hollingbourne flights see.
Central Londoners sometimes take a train ride to Paddock Wood to reach The Hop Farm launch site, or drive via the M25 and A21. As for the Mercure Maidstone Hotel, it’s about an hour by train from Victoria to Maidstone East plus a quick taxi, or by car via the M20.
Hertfordshire (Hatfield House & Berkhamsted)
Media credit: virginballoonflights
Website:
- Hatfield House – https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/welwyn-hatfield-house
- Berkhamsted – https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/berkhamsted
Meeting point:
- Hatfield House – Hatfield House, Hatfield Park
- Berkhamsted – Berkhamsted & Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club, Lockhart Field, Cow Roast
Contact details: +44 1234 867737
Season: March-October
Launch time:
- Morning flights – 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM
- Evening flights – 6 PM – 7 PM
Hertfordshire’s launch sites offer a mix of cityscape and countryside. Over Hatfield House, balloons often drift toward the Thames Valley, revealing stretches of the winding river; above Berkhamsted, Ashridge Estate’s parkland spreads elegantly below.
By car, drive along A1(M) from Central London to reach Hatfield House, or the A4251 to Berkhamsted, where parking is available. By train, catch a service from King’s Cross to Hatfield or Berkhamsted stations for quick access to each take-off point.
Don’t miss the in-house park experience at the Hatfield House ballooning site. Open Thursday to Sunday, 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM during spring and summer, friends and family can make a day of beekeeping and walking through the gardens of Hatfield Park before or after their flight.
Booking your hot air balloon ride
Choose a provider and select a date
With Adventure Balloons and Virgin Balloon Flights already here, the only thing left to do is choose between the two. Both have experienced pilots, strong safety records, and positive reviews—the very factors you should be considering for a smooth and memorable flight.
Once you’ve picked a provider, select a date that works for you. To secure that, book as early as possible—preferably two to three months in advance—especially if you’re planning a weekend, holiday, or special celebration.
It helps to have a few backup dates in mind, too, in case limited slots or promotions are released. Feel free to check Adventure Balloons’ booking page to purchase a ride or explore Virgin Balloon’s London rides on the website.
Check pricing information
The flight itself lasts about an hour, but the whole experience usually runs for three to four hours, including a pre-flight briefing and, at times, a post-flight toast with soft drinks or Prosecco. Extras like in-flight photos and champagne upgrades also add to the overall cost.
Adventure Balloons and Virgin Balloon Flights follow the same pricing structure. The table below shows how rates vary mainly by time of day and whether you choose a weekday or any-day option:
| Ticket type | Availability | Experience details | Price |
| Weekday morning | Monday-Friday | – 3-4 hour experience with about an hour in the air – Fly from any location nationwide – Bookable 18 months in advance | £169 |
| Weekday morning or evening | £189 | ||
| Any day morning or evening | Monday-Sunday | £209 |
On the other hand, you don’t have to worry about tickets or admission fees for The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta. Watching the show is completely free for the public from various locations like bridges, parks, or rooftops across Central London.
Understand cancellation policies
Weather plays a big role in hot air balloon flights, and both Adventure Balloons and Virgin Balloon Flights emphasize safety first. If the conditions aren’t suitable for flying, your booking is rescheduled at no extra charge, and your ticket remains valid for a future date.
For cancellations outside of weather issues, policies differ slightly. Adventure Balloons requires advance notice for rescheduling, while Virgin Balloon issues flight vouchers that can be rebooked within their validity period, typically 12 months.
What to expect on the day of your flight
Pre-flight preparations
Arrive at the launch site early to meet the crew, go through a safety briefing, and watch as the balloon is inflated. You’re even encouraged to help with the setup, adding to the excitement before take-off.
In-flight experience
Once in the air, you’ll drift with the wind for about an hour, soaring anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 feet. As discussed above, expect to see countryside, villages, and landmarks, with the calm atmosphere making conversation and photos effortless.
Post-flight traditions
After landing, passengers often assist the crew pack away the balloon—a hands-on way to end the adventure. The day usually finishes with a celebratory toast of Prosecco, soft drinks, or orange juice, along with the presentation of a flight certificate.
Important considerations
Weather dependencies
Both Adventure Balloons and Virgin Balloon Flights only operate in calm, clear conditions, so flights may be rescheduled if the weather isn’t suitable. Stand by for updates, as final calls and announcements are often made close to your scheduled time.
Physical requirements and restrictions
Keep in mind that you should be able to climb into the basket using built-in foot holes and stand for at least an hour. Also, Adventure Balloons and Virgin Balloon generally do not carry pregnant passengers or very young children.
Attire and items to bring
Dress in casual layers with sturdy shoes, as take-off and landing often happen in grassy fields. Virgin even suggests a hat to shield your head from the warmth of the burners, while both recommend bringing a camera to capture your adventure.