Adventure Balloons has come a long way since it first took to the skies in 1985, and has become one of the largest passenger balloon companies in the UK. It now operates eight hot air balloons, ranging from exclusive 2 person flights to large 16 passenger balloons and offers balloon flights throughout the South East of England including Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Oxford and London.

The unique ‘stained glass window’ effect balloons have become so popular that Adventure Balloons now use the design for their logo and it adorns their balloon flight memorabilia such as t-shirts, mugs and hats.

As demand for balloon flights grew over the last 20+ years, Adventure Balloons have been working closely with balloon manufacturers to improve the safety and enjoyment for it passengers; this includes partitions in the balloon baskets to separate the fuel and pilot from the passengers and ensuring that the pilot is in the best position to land the balloon safely.

With more than 24 years of experience and offering over 18 different launch sites throughout the South East, Adventure Balloons can make your hot air balloon experience a great one!

Offering its customers hot air balloon flights throughout the south east of England, Adventure Balloons can make your ballooning experience fantastic. With launch sites in Kent, Sussex and Essex as well as Oxford and exclusive London flights, it’s no wonder that the popularity of ballooning is growing.

See the countryside from a bird eye view and see landmarks from a different perspective, all from the safety of the wicker balloon basket as it floats majestically in the sky. Most passengers are owe struck when they look up into the balloon, describing it as looking like a kind of historic dome architecture, but the main attraction is the views.

The hot air balloon can travel up to 3,000 feet high and depending on the wind speed travel in excess of 20 miles across the landscape. This provides an opportunity to capture some great aerial photography that you can share with your family and friends.

A hot air balloon flight is a magical experience and is a great way to spend time with a loved one.

The balloon crew are an integral part of a hot air balloon flight, making sure that the balloon is properly inflated, launches correctly and helping the pilot to navigate and land safely. There are many tasks which the balloon crew must complete to ensure a safe flight for both the pilot and there passengers.

Inflating and launching the balloon – there are two main positions that the balloon crew take for launching a hot air balloon; these are called the crown line and the throat. The crown line usually consists of one person, who acts as an anchor and stabilises the balloons envelop during the inflation process. Once the balloon is inflated enough the pilot will gather the crown line and ties it to the balloons basket.

The throat consists of two of more members of the balloon crew, who hold open the mouth of the envelope as the hot air is pumped in. Once the balloon is inflated and starts to come into an upright position, the balloon crew members will place weight onto the basket until all the lines are secured.

Chasing the balloon – Once the balloon has been launched, the balloon crew will load up the vehicles and chase the balloon. The balloon crew will navigate for the driver to ensure that they stay ahead of the balloon and will also assist the pilot as they come in to land.

Landing the hot air balloon – When the pilot is ready to land, the balloon crew will advise them on the best area and one member will try to locate the land owner to ask for permission. When the balloon comes in to land the crew member position themselves on either side of the basket and help to weigh the balloon down once it hits the floor. The balloon is then deflated and packed away.

Once the balloon has been packed away, the pilot, passengers and crew will take part in the certificate ceremony, where the traditional champagne toast is performed for another successful balloon flight.

Adventure Balloons has been offering passenger balloon flights over Reading for many years and has proved to be a popular destination because of its beautiful countryside and unforgettable landmarks. Our balloon launch sites are located in Prospect Park and Kings Meadow in Reading, as well as an alternative launch site in Padworth Village.

Because of the nearby Heathrow airport, care has to be taken to keep the balloon out of restricted airspace, so the launch site may change on the day of the flight if the wind direction is unfavourable; this in no way affects the balloon flight experience as passengers can still experience the fantastic scenery of Reading and the surrounding area.

During a balloon flight over Reading you can follow the River Thames and see the large country houses by its walls, view small towns and villages such as Henley on Thames, Goring and Wokingham and have a bird’s eye view of the fantastic Caversham Marina. Landmarks are also plentiful like the Reading wind turbine and the magnificent Medjeski Football Stadium.

With Christmas only a few weeks away, are you struggling to find new and unique presents for your loved ones? Then a hot air balloon flight might be the answer. Treat your loved one to this fantastic gift for Christmas and watch their face light up as they open their balloon voucher.

The Adventure Balloons voucher lasts for 12 months, and with the 2010 balloon season running from the end of March to the beginning of November a balloon flight can be taken at a time to suit you. Simply go to the date availability page and choose the location, date and time of your balloon flight, it’s that easy.

The balloon flight itself taken between 3 to 4 hours including inflating the balloon and packing the balloon away. In flight time is around an hour and after the flight there will be a champagne reception (over 18’s only) and certificate ceremony to top off your experience.

Ordering your balloon voucher is easy and can be done over the phone, on the website or by printing a booking form out and sending it to us with a cheque, and with prices starting from just £95 per person there has never been a better time to book your Adventure Balloons hot air balloon flight.

London is one of the most spectacular cities in the UK and attracts millions of tourists each year, but there is a new way to experience the sights and sounds of London, in a hot air balloon! Adventure Balloons have been offering their balloon flights over London for a number of years and have several launch sites within a few miles of the Tower of London and the River Thames.

Good weather is key for a London Balloon flight, and wind direction is a major factor to keep the balloon out of restricted airspace; the wind speed must also be high enough to land the balloon clear of built up areas. Because of the Air Traffic restrictions, London flights are only available on weekday mornings, but once up in the air the views are truly staggering.

Passengers who experience a flight over London can expect to see various historical landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Big Ben, as well as modern landmarks like the Millennium Dome and the London Eye. Together with having one of the best vantage points over London, the balloon basket is the ideal place to capture some fantastic aerial photography.