Adventure Balloons is the leading balloon flight company in the Home Counties and London, and offers balloon flights from a range of unique launch sites throughout the South East of England.

Have you caught the ballooning bug? Then why not join one of our balloon crews and make the most of those summer months. Because ballooning is seasonal and normally runs between March and November, we generally have vacancies every year for both full time and part time balloon crew operatives.

Being a part of our balloon crew is especially suitable for outdoor types; you must be physically fit, and have good communication skills as you will be dealing with customers and land owners. Experience with Minibuses and 4×4’s would also be helpful, as well as map reading abilities and you must be over 25 and have at least 3 years clean driving licence.

Full time crew will receive a fixed weekly wage and there is also additional hourly paid work for support and promotional work. If you would like to know more about becoming a part of the balloon crew visit the Adventure Balloons website.

Hampshire has a long association with ballooning history and was the home to the Government Balloon Factory situated in Farnborough from 1905 to 1916, where it built balloons for the British Army. Although the manufacture of balloons stopped in 1916, the plant at Farnborough continued to build fixed wing aircraft and is now the setting for the world famous Farnborough Airshow.

Adventure Balloons offers balloon flights in Hampshire from its exclusive launch sites at Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney and Old Basing. The launch site will depend on the wind direction on the day of the launch. Special considerations are also in place to ensure that we stay out of Heathrow Airports airspace.

There are many aerial attractions to see when taking a balloon flight over Hampshire including, the Duke of Wellington’s house Stratfield Saye, the police training facility at Bramshill and small villages and towns such as Crondall, Overton and Hook.

Taking a balloon flight is a magical and romantic time, especially if it is shared with a loved one. Adventure Balloons offers fantastic balloon flights in Oxford and the surrounding area, giving you the chance to view some of the most romantic scenery in the UK.

Adventure Balloons launch sites at South Park and Cuttleslowe Park are ideal to view the unique landscape of Oxford, including its historical spires and tranquil countryside. Morning flights are usually launched from Cuttleslowe Park and evening flights take off from South Park.

Other attractions that you might see when taking a balloon flight in Oxford are; the Didcot Railway, Cuttleslowe Park Miniature Railway and of course the spectacular city of Oxford.

The annual balloon festival in Oxford, which is held in May, is now located at Cuttleslowe Park because of its large open space and Adventure Balloons attends this impressive event each year. Book now to take advantage of Adventure Balloons £20 off special offer, and soon you’ll be experiencing the joys of ballooning for yourself.

Our customers are an inquisitive lot and always ask us a lot of questions, which is only a good thing. Here are the most common questions and answers that are asked before taking a balloon flight.

What clothes should I wear? – It is recommended that you wear sensible outdoor clothing for your balloon ride. It may be warm on the ground, but when the balloon rises up in the air it is often colder and you’ll be glad you brought your coat. The balloon will take off and land in fields that may be wet, so footwear is important; a pair of hiking boots or wellingtons will be fine.

Is there an age limit? – Children wishing to take a hot air balloon ride must be over 8 years old, and their height must be greater than 4 foot 6 inches; this is so that they can see over the side of the basket. All children under the age of 16 must also be accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit, but we do ask that passengers should be capable of climbing in and out of the balloon basket and to be able to stand for about an hour.

What time does the flight take place? – A hot air balloon flight takes place in the early morning or evening. This is because the weather is cooler and this helps the balloon to rise up into the air. Time depend on the sunrise and sunset, but in May you can expect the flight to take place at 6am in the morning and 6pm at night.

What is good weather for ballooning? – To have a successful balloon flight the weather must have light winds, no rain and clear visibility. As you may well know the UK is not renowned for its good weather, but if we have to cancel your flight because of the weather conditions, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible to suit you.

As you may already know, Kent is widely known as ‘The Garden of England’ because of its rolling orchards and stunning landscape. Adventure Balloons now offer hot air balloon flights in Kent from their launch site at The Hop Farm Country Park close to Tunbridge wells.

In addition there are two other launch sites that Adventure Balloons will use depending on the wind direction on the flight day. These are at Bewl Water and Lamberhurst Vineyard and also boast stunning views of the impressive landscape that Kent has to offer.

When taking a hot air balloon flight over Kent, you can also expect to see the famous Oat Houses that were used for making ale in historical times. Wherever you fly from in Kent, you can be sure that you will have one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life and coupled with the extraordinary sights of the Kentish countryside, will have memories to last for years to come.

A hot air balloon ride is a magical experience and an unforgettable day for you or a loved one; that is why nearly 50% of our bookings come from personal recommendations alone. Adventure Balloons offers balloon flights from various locations throughout the south of England, including the county of Surrey.

With our unique launch sites in Farnham, Guildford and Godalming, you too can experience the thrills and sights of taking a hot air balloon flight with us.

To ensure that our balloons keep clear of Gatwick and Heathrow airports, the launch site will be chosen depending on the wind speed and direction on the day of the flight. Wherever you fly from in Surrey you will be sure to see some of the best countryside the UK has to offer.

Other attractions that you are likely to see are Guildford Cathedral, Farnham Castle and ancient ruins like Waverley Abbey; all from the comfort of the balloons basket floating majestically over the Surrey landscape.

Booking a hot air balloon ride has never been simpler with the Adventure Balloons booking system. There are three ways to book your flight; you can use the online booking service, print out a booking form and send it to us or contact us directly by phone.

With a range of balloon flight locations over the Home Counties and London, Adventure Balloons can cater for all your ballooning needs and now offers a happy birthday embossed balloon flight for up to 4 people and a variety of champagne balloon rides.

There are also a variety of balloon vouchers available from £25 up to £250, and is an ideal gift to give a loved one on a birthday or special occasion.

Once you have booked your balloon flight or voucher you can use the date availability page on our website to select a specific date and time you want to fly (depending on availability), and from what location you want to fly from.

So why not book your unforgettable experience today with Adventure Balloons.

The basket is situated at the bottom of the hot air balloon and carries both the pilot and the passengers. As well as carrying people, the balloon basket also has storage space for the gas cylinders that power the balloon burners, generating lift for the balloon.

The balloon basket comes in various different sizes and shapes, from baskets holding 2 to 3 people for a more intimate flight up to large 20 people baskets for groups and parties. The balloon basket is still made in the traditional way; the basket is woven using Kooboo and Palambang cane.

This not only makes the balloon basket look aesthetically pleasing, it also makes the basket extremely strong, with the added bonus of it being lightweight as well. The elasticity of the cane helps to absorb most of the energy produced when the hot air balloon is landing.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to take a ride in a hot air balloon? It can be one of the most ore-inspiring experiences of your life. Floating high above the tranquil countryside, powered only by the wind and the odd blast from the balloon burners.

A hot air balloon ride is not just one of the best ways to travel, it also gives you the opportunity to see the beautiful landscape and in some cases the wildlife that the UK has to offer; all from a unique point of view.

Taking a balloon ride will also give you the experience of one of the oldest forms of flying and gives you an insight to what the very first balloonists felt when they launched the first manned balloon flights back in 1783. A balloon ride is an unforgettable experience that will be with you for the rest of your life.

The weather is the most important consideration to think of when deciding whether or not to launch a hot air balloon. Because the balloon moves with the wind and is not directly controlled by the pilot, the climate and wind conditions are closely monitored by both the balloon crew and pilot.

The pilot will only fly when the conditions are right; to ensure a safe and enjoyable flight for the passengers the pilot will be in constant contact with the weather service in case the weather conditions change.

A hot air balloon needs a stable wind to fly efficiently; this is why a balloon flight will take place first thing in the morning or just before sunset as the weather conditions are more stable. The balloon also flies better in the cooler temperatures during these times, as the hot air provides greater lift to the balloon.

Visibility is also a factor when launching and flying a hot air balloon. It is unlikely that a flight will take place in foggy or misty conditions and even rain can ground a balloon flight if visibility is poor.