All this cold weather doesn’t half bring the mood down. Fuel prices are going through the roof, we’re all struggling to keep our homes warm, and now the seasons are teasing us! Our garden flowers, shrubs and climbers are re-budding and daffodils are raising their sunny heads bringing us hope for spring, warmth and sunshine, but then the frost is quickly killing them off again. With the recent snowy conditions, it seems spring has been put on hold entirely! However let’s be realistic, spring will come again and just as we’ve had for the past 5 summers, our summer will all happen at around the same time and be gone within weeks. With the sunny season of late being so short lived, it seems that year on year out we’re not getting enough of a chance to enjoy it and re-charge our batteries. It used to be that we’d look forward to winter after a scorcher of a summer, however now we’re left wanting more!

It’s all very odd, but we’ve found that the key to enjoying your spring/summer is to maximise it! Book as much into Britain’s tiny summer as possible and photograph every moment so that when you look back it will feel as though you’ve actually had one! And what better to put at the top of that list than a fabulous trip 3,000 feet in the air, in a hot air balloon?! This is where we come in…

Adventure Balloons specialise in extraordinary champagne balloon rides across the most beautiful and fascinating parts of Britain, Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Micheldever, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex. We are the longest running passenger balloon ride company around London and the Home Counties and have been operating since 1985! People come to us when they want a balloon ride for that special occasion; For birthday presents we offer our unique HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloons, for valentine’s we even have balloon rides just for the two of you (and the pilot of course), we’ve a reputation for attention to detail and tailored service for Wedding balloon rides and proposals and you can choose from a number of voucher designs and even gift box your treat for Christmas surprises! Companies choose us for corporate flights and advertising and recommend us highly for our professionalism where appropriate and more personal touch.

You have all the options you need with us, you can check date availability, book online, order last minute for emailed vouchers or call us for more information and one to one bookings. Our telephone number is 01252 844222, call us local rate for consistently friendly help and guidance. From everyone here at Adventure Balloons, Welcome Aboard!

At Adventure Balloons we first took to the skies in April 1985, at this time passenger Ballooning was a relatively new thing and so there weren’t many of us around! However as demand grew, so did we and it seems our reputation exceeded us! It wasn’t long before our name stood for quality ballooning, excellent customer service and a drive to please. And how true this is, we love ballooning today as much as we ever have and it’d be fair to say that we gain a lot of our appreciation of what we do from giving our customers a good time!

Now, as the largest company in the country offering UK balloon flights, we operate seven hot air balloons with capacities which range from four to sixteen people and even boast our very own HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloons!

So what do our customers say about us? You can take a look for yourself by viewing our ‘customer comment’ section on the site. We’ve taken a few of the best ones below to give you an idea.

It is easy to forget that you are suspended from a large piece of nylon held up with a few canisters of gas. Travelling across the town you can almost imagine you are in a cinema watching a film.” – Reading Chronicle

“Having promised myself a flight in a balloon by the time I reached 40, I was thrilled with the realisation of this dream. It was such a peaceful, surreal experience, made all the more fulfilling by all the people involved, the friends helping to inflate the balloon. – PK – Herts

“Hot air ballooning has to be one of the most romantic ways to fly. Few can resist the attractions, and whether you choose a morning or evening flight, the experience will be remembered for years to come!” - Surrey Advertiser

And one last thing; you have one week to go until the big day! Valentine’s Day falls on Tuesday 14^th February this year giving you just 6 full days to organise that special gift. Are you thinking a box of chocolates just won’t cut it this year? Well imagine the look on their face if you presented them with hot air ballooning vouchers! Although you’ve only a week left, you can leave this one right to the very last minute if you have a printer. You can simply book online and we’ll email you your printable vouchers immediately, or if you’d rather we gift boxed your surprise vouchers (along with a few little extras), get in touch now! You’ve just enough time to order your vouchers and your £15 gift box in time for 14^th!

At Adventure Balloons we specialise in hot air ballooning but what makes us stand out above the rest is that we don’t hand out rides like a conveyer belt. Our passion for ballooning drives us to enjoy providing our customers with unique experiences every time. Making you happy really does make us happy and so we always strive to tailor each flight to the individual. After 27 years of running passenger hot air balloon rides, we’re more in love with the ‘sport’ than we ever have been! There’s nothing as wonderful to us, than seeing the expressions and reactions from our passengers when we take them up on their first hot air balloon ride; it’s magic!

However it’s not just our dedication to customer satisfaction that makes us so popular; we have looked at every corner of our business so that we can bring you the very best in every area of your experience, from your researching, your choice of location and date to the booking process itself. Take a look at the features we have available for you.

Running Out Of Time? – Simply choose a voucher design from our range to arrive at the email of your choice in seconds! When you have selected your voucher type and design complete with your personal message. This facility is available 24 hours a day!

Birthday Surprise? – We have just the thing; take a look at our specialist HAPPY BIRTHDAY Balloons available for 2-4 people and for parties of 16! They’re over 100 feet high and we’re the only ballooning company to have them in the country!

Buy & Fly Now! – If you have a voucher, all you have to do is enter your location and the amount of spaces you require and we’ll give you available dates over the next 30 days! However if you do not have an Adventure Balloons Voucher you can find out available dates before you book too! Again, just select the location that you wish to fly from and the number of passenger spaces you require and you will then see all flights matching your requirements over the next 30 plus days.

Easy peasy! If you’d like to discuss the flight, book over the phone, ask questions and generally have some human contact, do feel free to call us, we’re always happy to help – 01252 844222.

It’s just 2 weeks until Valentine’s Day and your time is quickly running out, so let’s make things nice an easy for you. There is still time to book your loved one a paradise hot air balloon ride for February 14^th, but you’ll need to organise this fast. Adventure Balloons take great pleasure in offering romantic balloon rides. We are well aware that it is an experience that is likely to stay with you forever and will certainly make a real impact. We know you want to impress, otherwise you wouldn’t be making a statement with a balloon ride present; that’s why we pull out all the stops to tailor each individual ride to each of our customer’s specific desires. Let us know what you expect from your day with us, whether you’d like to fly in a group or if you’d like it to be a more intimate affair.

We can offer your flights in locations Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Micheldever, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex. There’s no waiting on the postman with us, you can simply book online and we will email you your vouchers to be with you almost instantly! However if you’d prefer us to post them we will.

If you determined to fly on a specific day, call our offices on 01252 844222 to check the date availability and book, or alternatively view our ‘Dates’ page where you can see this information online. Do bear in mind however that due to ballooning being a weather dependant ‘sport’, if the conditions aren’t right on the day, we will have to re-schedule. We advise that you call on the day of your flight to check that the flight will be going ahead.

Next you simply need to choose from our various different voucher options which include the following:

Weekday Morning Champagne Balloon Flight – Just £89 per person! – Valid for flights from Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and Yorkshire. The voucher entitles you to a weekday morning flight during April – October and includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return to the take off site by licensed minibus.

Weekday Champagne Balloon Flight – Just £109 per person! – Valid for flights from Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and York. The voucher entitles you to a weekday flight during April – October at any of our time slots and includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return to the take off site by licensed minibus.

Standard Champagne Balloon Flight – Just £129 per person! – Valid for flights from Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey, Sussex and York. The voucher entitles you to a weekday or weekend flight during April – October at any of our time slots and includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return to the take off site by licensed minibus.

Nationwide Champagne Balloon Flight – Just £139 per person! – Valid for flights from the widest selection of launch sites across the UK (excludes London). Includes full colour gift voucher valid for 12 calendar months, flight in a hot air balloon, passenger insurance, traditional Champagne toast and presentation of flight certificate with return transport to the take off site.

So you’ve decided on Adventure Balloons as the operator to take you up on your first hot air balloon ride, but now you simply cannot decide which of the fabulous locations to opt for! Tricky one; all our locations are wonderful for their own reasons, we cover the fascinating Oxfordshire, York & Lincolnshire, fabulous Hertfordshire, you’ll see plenty in Berkshire, and plenty more in Essex Kent and Sussex, one of our favourites is North Hampshire and Surrey is simply beautiful. London is of course out of the question with this year’s London Olympics and Paralympics and also with the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. The Department of Transport have made it clear that for security reasons our flights will preclude for 2012. You can however book for 2013 is you’d like to see London from 3’000 foot in the air!

One of our favourite balloon flight paths is our South Hampshire location taking off from launch sites in Alton, Micheldever, Popham, West Meon and Winchester.

Depending on which site we take off from (which is determined by the wind direction and weather on the day of the flight), you may see the impressive Winchester Cathedral, the breathtaking rolling Hampshire countryside, the tranquil River Test and various small villages such as Laverstoke, Whitchurch, and the Candovers during the balloon ride. However, this too depends on which direction the wind is blowing. You may also see large estates such as Leckford on the River Test where Waitrose produce a lot of their food, the Mid Hants Steam Railway that runs from Alton to Alresford, and if you’re exceptionally lucky, you may even see a glider circling around Lasham airfield, or microlights flying from Popham airfield!

When flying from our South Hampshire launch sites we have to keep clear of Southampton Airport at Eastleigh, and also keep our passengers out of the Solent! So you can see why in order to provide you with a safe and enjoyable flight, the site chosen will depend entirely on the wind direction and speed on the day.

Why not visit the site where you can easily book now in any of our flight locations, you can even click here to see videos of our flights over Hampshire! However if you’re after a more personal touch, then call one of our team on 01252 844222!

Are you new to hot air ballooning? Have you been looking into taking the hot air balloon ride you’ve always dreamt of? Maybe you’d like to book the dream for somebody else. Well then aren’t you lucky! Many people never get the chance to experience the sensation of flying in a balloon as hot air ballooning remains on Britain’s top ten ‘Things to do before I die’ list and is often something which is left too late in life and a regrettably forgotten wish. However nowadays it needn’t be something which we only dream of; hot air ballooning is now highly affordable and makes a great alternative to that weekend break away which we’ve all done a million times before.

At Adventure Balloons we’re often told how people can be put off by the process of booking. Many people have found that they just cannot get the flight in the location they want, when they want it, and that they simply cannot seem to find the assurance that there will be any flights in their location when they choose. Without this knowledge, prospective customers are put off from buying their vouchers and the whole ordeal just seems too much.

However here at Adventure Balloons we like to make it as easy and straight forward for our customers as possible, that’s why we have features on our site such as ‘Dates’. This means that if you do not yet have an Adventure Balloons Voucher and would like to browse our flight availability before purchase, you can! Simply select the location that you wish to fly from and the number of passengers who will be flying and you will then see all flights matching your requirements over the next 30 plus days. You can then decide which dates best suit your requirements and get in touch to book or for more information. It doesn’t get simpler than that.

We have a long list of locations across Britain and a number of balloon options to suit your individual needs. When booking, you must tell us what it is you’d like from your flight. Is it a birthday celebration and if so, would you like to book a flight on our exclusive HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloon? Are you booking a romantic flight for two? Maybe you’ve a big group all ready and raring to take to the skies or are you a flexible flyer just looking to grab a space or two on the next flight? We’d like to know if you’re looking for an exhilarating experience or a peaceful, tranquil one, we’d also like to know of any individual requirements you have, like for example, do any of the passengers require specialist treatment? The more you can tell us the better we can make your overall experience. We have a real passion for hot air ballooning and strive to pass this passion and enjoyment onto our customers.

So if you’d like to book, simply visit the site to book online or call us on 01252 844222 to make bookings or to ask as many questions as you like.

Does the thought of seeing the earth and the land from another perspective entice you?

Are you eager to look down on the world like a bird with a complete and unhindered view of it all?

Does the thought of hot air ballooning excite you?

Then join the club; here at Adventure Balloons we have a real passion for hot air ballooning which is still very much alive and kicking after 27 years in the business! We are the largest company in the country offering UK balloon flights and now even operate specialist ‘Happy Birthday’ balloons! Our complete fleet has capacities which range from four to sixteen people so that we can create the perfect intimate and romantic affair, or a lively airborne party to celebrate a pivotal day!

We fly from various locations around London and the Home Counties and after many years experience it seems clear that our passengers seem to prefer to fly over a location which is familiar to them. It makes perfect sense when you think about it; say you grew up in the area, worked, or went to school there, you know the place well – on foot – however you want to see it from about and experience its true beauty! So why not take a look at our locations page to see if we cover the location of your choice? If not, why not give us a call and we can point you in the direction of one of the Balloons Over Britain hot air balloon flights member companies who fly in your location. All Balloons Over Britain members must past strict guidelines in order to carry the status and are fully certified with many years of experience and love for ballooning.

To book with us is simple, simple decide where you would like to fly and then whether you’d like to book quickly online or call on 01252 844222 to speak to a member of the team. When ordering online you can choose to have your order sent instantly by e-mail or by post and can even take a look at flight availability to get an idea of when you can take your flight! Flights start from as little as £89 per person and you have the choice of sunset or sunrise flight, weekday or weekend.

We fly people of all ages from as young as 7 to as old as 120! As long as children meet the right height requirements and you are fit and able to stand and climb over the basket, it would be our pleasure to give you this wonderful experience. Take a look at our FAQ for a complete guide to what to expect and what you need to know, along with a list of medical exemptions. However if you have any questions and you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please feel free to call our offices on the already mentioned telephone number.

Bon Voyage!

Are you thinking about booking a hot air balloon flight over our beloved capital city? Well I’m not surprised; with so much to offer in the way of architecture, historical buildings and cutting edge developments, London is sure to offer many surprises from 3’000 feet in the air! Well here at Adventure Balloons we’re proud to include London on our list of balloon flight locations.

However latest discussions with the Department of Transport have made it clear that security arrangements both at our launch sites and in London’s airspace required for the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics will preclude our Central London Hot Air Balloon Rides for all of the 2012 season. Worry not however, you can purchase vouchers for London balloon flights in 2013 from November 2012! What better plan for an extra special Christmas gift! Forward planning is always a good idea for grand gestures such as this, and with plenty of notice you’ll certainly raise the funds in time!

Vouchers start from as little as £89 per person and if a 2013 London hot air balloon flight is what you’re looking for and you need to budget for it now, then why not call our offices to find out exactly how much it would cost on the date/time of your choice? Make sure you give us details of how many people will be flying, whether you’re looking for a sunrise booking or a sunset, and whether you’re after a weekday or weekend flight. With just a little put by each month, you could have Christmas 2012 completely sorted!

However if you just can’t contain your excitement and you’d like to book a flight for this year, then why not consider our other locations; Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Micheldever, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex.

What’s more, you can even book one of our exclusive ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ balloons (available in 2-4 persons or 16 persons for larger party flights) which are available on most of our balloon flights in Berkshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and York in 2012.

For more information simply visit the site or call us on 01252 844222.

Having just promised my own 10 year old a Hot air Balloon flight for her 11^th birthday this year I can safely say, judging by her reaction, that it is simply the best present a person could ever ask for. In fact, did you know that according independent research Hot Air Balloon Flights consistently fall in the “Top Ten Things” people have always wanted to do?

Let’s face it, a balloon isn’t exactly the best mode of transport, so if you actually need to get somewhere, maybe you should look at hiring a car. However, if adventure or an ‘out of this world’ experience is what you’re looking for then Hot Air Ballooning is just the thing! There are few things in life that can compare to the pure thrill and exhilaration of a ride in a balloon, regardless of your age! The unique sensation of being airborne in a balloon, 3’000 feet in the air with a 360° view will please anyone whether you’re 8 or 108 years of age! We have never failed to achieve a ‘gasp’ reaction from our passengers as they gaze down at the earth below, a panoramic, bird’s eye view.

Giving a balloon flight gift voucher for a birthday present would make the most amazing surprise for anyone, young or old and here at Adventure Balloons we have options which can make the whole event even more memorable!

• Have you considered purchasing our Balloon Flight Gift Box? Your loved one can then un-wrap a box containing a DVD or video and surprise gift, along with your Balloon Flight Gift Voucher, brochure and 20 page map pack.
• Book our exclusive “Happy Birthday” balloon, the only flights operator in the UK to have them!

Since 2000 we have operated a 2-4 person balloon for exclusive birthday groups and due to an overwhelming response to customer requests we have now added two new 16 person happy birthday balloons to our fleet so that all our passengers can fly in a happy birthday balloon. These additions mean that you can now book our Happy Birthday balloons for party bookings!

When booking a date for your flight, just check with our staff for available dates to fly in these balloons at no extra charge. (Available on most of our balloon flights in Berkshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and York in 2012). 01252 844222

Welcome back from us all at Adventure Balloons and a Happy New Year. We hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and an exciting New Year. Many of us have begun the year with big plans and a sense of things to come. Many of us have been very vocal about the hard times of the previous year and are looking at 2012 as the year to break the cycle, the year for positivity and great things. And what better way to bring in 2012 that with a magical hot air balloon ride?!

Imagine rising up into the sky, the sense that the world is falling away from you, the feeling it would symbolise to you; leaving the past behind you. Once up, you’ll drift along with the wind, appreciating a 360° view of the world, from a completely different angle. You’ll look at the land and this New Year from a different perspective, with hope, positivity and a wonderful feeling of absolute calm. There’s nothing like being 3’000 foot in the air to give you perspective!

We tailor every balloon flight to the individual and always welcome the knowledge of each flyers occasion and the reason for their flight. This way we can pull out all the stops to enhance your flight, allowing you to enjoy it to the max. So when booking your flight, let us know what made you decide to fly. You could be looking for an exhilarating way to bring in the Year, a fun experience, a thrill with friends. Maybe you’re after a birthday flight with a big group of you and a party atmosphere, but on the other hand, you might be longing for a solo flight of complete peace where you can gather your thoughts and enjoy the beauty of our world. We get our thrill from seeing our customer’s enjoyment and feel a sense of achievement with every happy customer. So help us to help you get the most from your day with us.

Remember, no flight is complete without a celebratory glass of champagne, complements of us, of course!

For more information, to check date availability or to book your flight, simply visit us at www.adventureballoons.co.uk or call us on 01252 844222.