Selecting your hot air balloon flight has never been easier with Adventure Balloons online date reservation. You can use this system to arrange a date for your balloon flight and also check availability before your purchase a voucher.

To use the date availability system you simply choose the location you wish to fly from, how many spaces you require and whether you want to your flight in the morning or the evening. Once this is done click the ‘Check Availability’ button and all flights which match your criteria are listed in date order.

To make a reservation and confirm the flight date, you must have either an Adventure Balloons or an Agency flight voucher. You can purchase a balloon voucher on our booking page and once that has been completed you will receive a provisional voucher number via email. This number can then be used to book your date through the Flight Date Reservation system.

Adventure Balloons, with its vast experience was the first hot air balloon passenger company to work with the Oxford City Council to permit balloon flights from Oxford’s City Parks. This not only enables passengers to see the spectacular spires of Oxford from a birds eye view, but also lets passengers experience the serene countryside in and around the Oxfordshire area during their flight.

Adventure Balloons now offers two launch sites for hot air balloon flights in Oxford, these are from South Park and Cutteslowe Park. South Park is normally used for evening flights and Cutteslowe Park for morning flights.

The annual Oxford Balloon Fiesta, which is usually held in May, is now run from Cutteslowe Park and Adventure Balloons attends this prestigious event every year.

There is a tradition in ballooning that after a hot air balloon flight the passengers and crew have a champagne reception. This longstanding tradition dates back to the 1780’s, when the first manned balloon flights were made.

On one of the earliest successful manned balloon flights the pilots took a bottle of champagne to enjoy during the flight. They did not get to drink it; instead they had to offer it as a gesture of goodwill to the farmer, whose field they had landed in. The champagne acted as an apology to the disruption of the land and grazing animals.

This tradition is still used to this day, but instead of giving it to the farmer the passengers and crew will toast champagne after the balloon flight. This is normally done after the balloon has been packed away and throughout the certificate presentation and picture viewing.

As anyone who has ever taken a ride in a hot air balloon will tell you, it is an unforgettable experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Just imagine climbing into the traditional wicker basket, the pilot checks that everyone is safely on board and then signals to the balloon crew that he is ready, and you’re off. The anchor ropes are untied and the balloon rises majestically into the morning or evening sky.

Calmly floating through the sky with a sense of peace and freedom, you look down and see the beautiful towns and breathtaking countryside as if it was a part of a model railway. After the flight you are returned to the ground safely and watch as the massive structure is deflated and packed away, whilst enjoying a glass of champagne. An unforgettable experience that is enjoyed from a unique perspective.

You can book your Hot Air Balloon flight quickly and easily through the Adventure Balloons website.

Due to the terrible weather the south of England has had over the past few weeks, very few hot air balloon flights have been made. But with the recent good weather the balloons are once again rising into the sky and taking passengers on their once in a lifetime experiences.

With over 10 different locations throughout the Home Counties and London, Adventure Balloons gives you the widest range of launch sites in the south of England. Whether you want to fly over the tranquil countryside of Kent and Sussex or fancy seeing the historical landmarks of London from a different perspective, you can with Adventure Balloons.

Booking your Hot Air Balloon Flight has never been easier, you can book through the website, or if you prefer over the phone or fax. Alternatively if you would like to pay by cheque, you can print out a booking form and send it back to us at the supplied address.

It is somewhat ironic that when predicting the weather for hot air balloon flights, the Met Office uses another type of balloon, commonly known as the weather balloon.

These helium filled balloons are fitted with a radiosonde, a unit that measures atmospheric conditions and relays them to a fixed receiver on the ground.

There is an average of 4 to 5 weather balloons launched from each of the hundreds of weather stations UK wide, and consist of a balloon, parachute and various instruments used to measure temperature and humidity.

Initially the weather balloons were filled with hydrogen, but this is highly flammable and the Met Office now uses helium which is much less hazardous.

When a weather balloon is launched it is tracked by radar and wind speed and direction is measured as it rises through the atmosphere. The balloon expands as it rises and when it reaches about 7000 feet the pressure bursts the balloon and the instruments float back down to the ground on the end of the parachute.

The data is then collected, wind speed and direction is calculated and the temperature and humidity are used to determine how much cloud is likely to form throughout the day. This in turn is relayed to the hot air balloon team that will decide if the weather conditions are right for the balloon flight to go ahead.

When choosing your balloon flight, it is important that you choose the right company to take you on your once in a lifetime experience. Adventure Balloons is the longest serving balloon ride company operating in London and the Home Counties, and have the expertise to make your flight the most enjoyable of experiences.

With over 25 year experience in passenger balloon rides, Adventure Balloons has found that taking a flight over an area that is familiar to you can be an important feature for the enjoyment of your flight.

Adventure Balloons has several launch sites throughout London and the Home Counties including; Oxford, Farnham, Guildford, Basingstoke and numerous launch sites in Kent, Sussex and Essex as well as many more. Check the locations page for more launch sites.

Most of the Launch sites are unique to Adventure Balloons, and they are easy to find and perfect for friends and family to come and watch you take off. These launch sites give passengers the bonus of town and countryside views during the flight.

Adventure Balloons now offer hot air balloon rides in the beautiful county of Surrey. This provides a unique challenge for our balloon pilots as they have to keep clear of both Heathrow and Gatwick airports airspace.

Adventure Balloons has several launch sites in Surrey; Shalford Park in Guilford, the Burys in Godalming that is near to the River Wey, and Farnham Park which is next to Farnham Castle. There is also a launch site at Holt Pound which is sometimes used.

To ensure that you are given a safe and enjoyable flight, the site will be chosen depending on the wind direction and speed on the day, as well as visibility and any other operational factors. Whichever site is used, flying over Surrey, you will appreciate its beautiful countryside and tranquil setting.

During your flight there are a few attractions you may see including; Farnham Castle, Guilford Cathedral and Alice Holt Forest. You may also pass over small villages and towns like Churt and Puttenham, and ruins such as Waverley Abbey.

You can book online now from Adventure Balloons website and experience the subtle charm of this stunning county.

Here at Adventure Balloons we get asked a lot of questions, so we thought we would answer a few of them.

What do I wear? - This is the most common question. You should wear sensible outdoor clothing and wear no loose jewellery, with either hiking boots or wellingtons as the fields may be damp. Also a hat would be handy to protect you from the heat of the burners.

Is there an age limit? – No, but riding in a Hot Air Balloon is a type of outdoor sport, so requires some degree of fitness. You must be able to climb in and out of the basket and will be required to stand for about an hour. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and it is recommended that their height be over 4’6” to be able to see over the side of the basket.

What time of day do we meet? – Adventure Balloons fly in the early mornings or evenings and times vary due to the sunrise and sunset. Normally throughout May, meeting times are 6am for morning rides and 6pm for evening rides.

What is good ballooning weather? – For a successful balloon ride the weather must have light winds, no rain and good visibility. If a balloon flight is cancelled due to bad weather, it will be rescheduled to suit your timetable.

How do I book my balloon flight? – If you own a credit or debit card you can order your flight online, but we also take bookings by fax and telephone. If you would prefer to pay for it by cheque, you can print out a booking form and send it to us. Gift vouches can be purchased at anytime through the Adventure Balloons website.

Summers is here and what better way to celebrate a loved one’s birthday or special occasion by taking them on an unforgettable experience, a hot air balloon ride.

Adventure Balloons is the longest running and the most experienced passenger balloon ride company in the UK and offers flights all over London and the Home Counties. Whether you want to experience a flight over the tranquil countryside of Kent, Sussex, Surrey or Essex or view the historical landmarks of the City of London, you can with Adventure Balloons.

Champagne Flight prices start from just £145 per person and you can also purchase balloon flight vouchers from £25 to put towards that once in a life time opportunity. Photographs of your flight are also available so you can treasure the moments for years to come.