With an abundance of phone calls, emails and even messages to our Facebook page, it is with great displeasure that we must remind our excitable customers that alas, there will be no London flights this year. As popular as they are, and as must as we enjoy the London flights ourselves, we cannot take any bookings for 2012 over our capital. We understand the demand; with the upcoming London Olympics 2012 and the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, many of you are thinking along the same lines…’let’s see it all from a balloon!’. Whilst your enthusiasm is much the same as our own and whilst we would love to see the celebrations from this completely unique perspective, The Department of Transport have deemed it a breach in security.

Important 2012 Olympic Ballooning Update

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. Vouchers for London balloon flights in 2013 will go on sale in November 2012. Please note that during 2012 the only way you will see London from a balloon is from a long way away, whatever anyone else may tell you!

We apologise for any disappointment this has caused and can assure you that we feel the same. With the loss of excitement, time and energy put into London flights this year, we will of course be directing this surplus passion in the direction of our other locations making them even more thrilling than ever before! So if you’d like to consider taking a flight with is over any of our other popular spots, including Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex, then please get in touch!

You can use our online facilities to check date availability, read up on what you can expect to see from our various locations, make bookings and learn more about us. However if you’d prefer to speak to a member of our team, we are always on hand for you to do so. Please contact us on 01252 844222 where you will find lines are open during normal office hours.

You could be lucky enough to take a flight in one of our new Lindstrand balloons, now that we have two new 16 passenger, 330 cubic feet hot air balloons featuring our house colours and design! Each balloon can lift nearly two tonnes each! Imagine this for your next birthday celebration; what a way to celebrate in style!

A couple of friends of mine decided they were going to book a big balloon trip for their parents 30^th Wedding Anniversary and what a great idea this was. They got in touch with the most immediate family, other siblings, aunties, uncles and grandparents, as well as their parents four closest friends. They managed to pack out the balloon completely and described impeccably the excitement they all felt as they piled on board the giant hot air balloon. They explained about how as it took off into the sky, their parents had felt so special at the thought of the organisation that had gone into the day, the thought to come up with such a special and unique idea. They loved it and were thrilled to share it with their most special people. A basket full of loved ones toasting to the couples happiness 2’000 feet up in the air, surrounded by the most breathtaking views. It doesn’t get better than this.

If you’d also like the opportunity to plan such an event for the special people in your life, then get in touch with us at Adventure Balloons. We offer you plenty of different experiences. If you’d simply like the opportunity to fly in a hot air balloon, just let us know the date and location and we’ll reserve you a space on one of our flights. If you’d like to celebrate a birthday, let us know how many of you will be travelling and again the date and location, then we’ll book you one of our HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloons! Alternatively maybe you’d like a balloon ride for two, to celebrate your anniversary intimately, or could it be that you have a special question you’d like to ask your loved one? Whatever your situation, your plan or your intentions, here at Adventure Balloons we’re sure to be able to offer you a magical balloon flight tailored to your requirements.

Visit us online at www.adventureballoons.co.uk where you can check date availability, locations and even make bookings, or call us on 01252 844222 where a member of our friendly team will be more than happy to assist you with advise, information and bookings. Don’t leave it until the last minute; get in touch now so we can ensure you get precisely what you’re after from your ballooning experience! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

It’s another beautiful sunny day,

Maybe it’s time to swap work for play?

Holiday abroad or mini break,

A day of fun, the choice is yours to make.

Have you thought about fulfilling dreams?

Life isn’t as boring as it seems.

Maybe it’s time you take an expedition,

We can help you with this transition.

Up, up, up and away,

Take to the skies in a balloon today!

Butterflies tickling at your tummy

What a way to spend your money!

Panoramic Birds-Eye views,

A camera you’ll never over use!

Feel the balloon begin to descend,

A memory that will never end.

Enjoy spring offers at Adventure Balloons now and enjoy prices from as little as £89! You can check our available dates, our flight locations and our FAQ’s all online. What’s more, you can even take advantage of our last minute booking facilities which enable you to choose your voucher in seconds, 24 hours a day! You then have the choice to have your voucher posted to you, or emailed in moments, however if you’re after more of a personal touch, then feel free to call us on 01252 844222 where one of our team will be happy to help you with any questions you may have and with bookings.

“What can we expect when we take a flight with Adventure Balloon’s?” many of our customers ask when they call our office; and it’s not hard to find the answer with us! Our website has all the information you could need from our company history, details on our balloons, customer comments, flight videos and photographs, an explanation as to what weather conditions we need, the history of balloons and how a hot air balloon works, an FAQ and even a News facility. In fact not only will our website allow you to find all the information you need and want to know about us and ballooning, but it will also allow you to check date availability against the location you have chosen, and then book the flight‼ That’s not to say however that you cannot phone us for information and bookings, as of course we’re always happy to take your calls – 01252 844222.

So what can you expect from you flight? Let me tell you…

Well, after joining in fully with the real sense of ballooning by helping to inflate the balloon, you will of course embark upon a truly magical adventure! In fact, there really is no other experience quite like it! You’ll find there’s no sensation of movement, no sensation of rising at all, you’ll just look down and see the world dropping away, it’s quite surreal! You’ll look up and see the inside of the balloons envelope, the burners and feel the heat on your face, then look across in any direction and enjoy panoramic 360 degree views of the world around you! The fields will appear like a patchwork quilt and buildings and famous monuments will look like toys on the ground below. You’ll be flying with the birds, no movement of air, as you’ll be moving with the wind.

During your hours flight you could see heights of up to 3’000 feet! The exact height will depend on the wind however as the balloon rises and falls to find the appropriate wind path. During morning flights you’ll be lucky enough to see the world untouched by human hands, wildlife enjoying the world all to themselves. With the use of rotation vents, the pilot can rotate the balloon to provide you with a complete (and quite literal) birds-eye view, which in turns enables you to take the best possible photographs! Having said this however, the pilot will take an in flight photograph of you in the balloon which you can purchase after the flight.

After your flight and when you’re likely to be quiet speechless (and even feeling a little euphoric some have described), you can enjoy the experience to its max by seeing it through to its real end and helping your pilot to pack the balloon away. The pilot will then present you with a flight certificate which of course is followed by the mandatory (and celebratory!) glass of champagne (or orange juice if you prefer) to toast your very own magical mystery balloon tour.

It really is all that you’ve dreamed of and more and at the cost of just £89 per person, it’s a treat you might just be able to justify! Enjoy and Bon Voyage!

Do you or someone close to you have a birthday coming up? Are you looking for an idea that will sweep them off their feet, fill them with glee, impress them or surprise them beyond words? Sometimes choosing an appropriate birthday gift can be real hard work! You can’t settle for DVD’s or music every year, and you’ve already bought the special watch. Jewellery is getting predictable and a meal just doesn’t express what it is you want to say. But what would?

Three words; hot air ballooning! Giving the gift of a hot air balloon ride voucher for a birthday present is quite an epic surprise and is sure to stun even the most spoilt recipient! In fact, being as it’s on most people’s ‘things to do before I die’ list, it may even cause the lucky birthday girl or boy to shed a tear of joy! However, it gets even better; here at Adventure Balloons we can make the gift even more memorable by flying you in the UK’s only “Happy Birthday” balloon! How’s about that then?! Carrying 16 passengers, we have balloons that will cater for a party of you, toasted with champagne, imagine the day you could give! Alternatively, we have a more intimate birthday balloon which carries between 2-4 passengers, so you can celebrate the day in your own special way.

If you’re looking at booking a specific date, remember to check with our staff for available dates to fly in these balloons at no extra charge. Just call 01252 844222 where you will also be able to book your flights. Our birthday balloon flights are available on most of our standard balloon flight destinations in Berkshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and York in 2012.

Bump the surprise up even more by including our Gift Box, DVD or Video & surprise gift! Our Balloon Flight Gift Box, with DVD or video and surprise gift is also designed to contain your Balloon Flight Gift Voucher, brochure and 20 page map pack! This way, you’re not just handing over an envelope. Gift include mugs, baseball caps and t-shirts in various sizes.

“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.

I can’t wait to see the slides of the bird’s eye view of the broccoli trees; the patchwork in greens; the glorious colours of the balloon.”

— PK – Herts

Have you decided to resist the urge no longer and are just thinking of the perfect way to propose to your special someone? So many people rush into these things and the amount of questions popped over a drunken evening is really quite staggering. Proposing, or being proposed to is meant to be a day you remember for every, for the right reasons. My own parents for example remember the first flake of snow falling that year as my dad asked the question. My own experience, well, over a drunken game of Balderdash, so no surprises when I tell you that one didn’t make it to the wedding day! To ask someone to marry you should involve a great deal of thought; consider how you can make it special, a memory that will stay with your partner forever.

One of the greatest ways to propose is during a hot air balloon ride. Imagine getting down on one knee, 2’000 feet in the air, floating through the clouds and over the beautiful horizon. Alternatively, spell out the question on the ground below so that your loved one will read it from the balloon as you drift on over! Can you picture their face?! Speaking for myself, this is enough to turn a person jelly kneed! If this is how you plan to do it, you have my upmost respect!

One of our passengers was lucky enough to experience this for herself and here’s what she had to say:

“Hi! My boyfriend (now fiancé) surprised me with a hot air balloon last Saturday for Valentine’s day! I had no idea what we were doing until we got there, and when we reached the highest point in the air he proposed! It was a magical ride and I would like to thank everyone at Adventure Balloons for making it so special. My fiancé had filled them on with the plan beforehand and they did very well to not give away. They were all very friendly and without them I don’t think Kunal could have pulled it off. The balloon ride in itself was amazing with the pilot entertainment throughout the ride whilst still respecting our privacy at times. If you are looking for a truly memorable ballooning experience, Adventure Balloons is the way to go! Thanks guys.”

If you’d like to know more, would like to book, or maybe you’d like to check out our locations and available dates, then why not come on over to the Adventure Balloons website where you’ll find plenty of information and the facilities to make quick and easy bookings. Alternatively, you can call us on 01252 844222 for information and bookings.

GOOD LUCK and don’t for get to invite us to the wedding!

With so many Balloon Flights companies to choose from, how are you supposed to choose?! Well first of all you need to decide on the location that would please you the most; many people like to fly over areas familiar to them, I guess to get a birds-eye perspective over the land – see it from another angle…ballooning will certainly give you that! If you’re interested in any of the following locations, you may just be in luck: Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex. Adventure Balloons cover all these areas and offer you an hour’s idyllic flight including a champagne toast and even the experience of setting up and dismantling the balloon!

If you choose to fly over Oxfordshire, one of our most popular locations (aside from London!), you will find that you’re not disappointed! Did you know that back in 1995, we were in fact the first hot air balloon flights company to work with Oxford City Council to enable the public to take balloon flights from the City Parks? Thanks to the co-operation of everyone involved, we can offer you flights with views over the dreaming spires and the countryside around Oxford and the surrounding villages! Look out for the various colleges, the Radcliffe Camera, Carfax Tower and the many Musuems built in the distinctive and historical stone. You may even catch a glimpse of Didcot Power Station, Farmoor Reservoir and Port Meadow, landmarks you certainly can’t miss!

You’re next step is to simply pick your date and the number of people who will be flying. Our website’s date checker will allow you to immediately see if you can have a flight at the location of your choice on the date that you select. You can even go ahead and book your tickets online once you’ve confirmed availability! Alternatively, you can of course call us for more information and bookings on 01252 844222. We look forward to welcoming you aboard Adventure Balloons!

Adventure Balloons sister company Balloon Rides Ltd are offering balloon rides across York and Lincolnshire from just £89! As York’s longest running balloon rides operator, Balloon Rides Ltd have earned themselves a reputation for unparalleled and excellent experience together with a true passion for the sport. The founder Tom Donnelly’s unbounded enthusiasm for the sport has meant that he has gained 30 plus years of experience in flying and also in manufacturing hot air balloons. Now at the forefront of modern hot air ballooning, it’s clear to see why they’re number one choice for the area!  As part of Adventure Balloons, another founding member of hot air balloon rides in the UK, you now have more choice of where you can fly!

At Balloon Rides Ltd we can offer you the peace of mind which comes with having won national, international and world ballooning awards! In fact, we’ve even flown television and film celebrities, secured several national flight records, and made a number of ‘adventure’ flights crossing the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the Alps. With this knowledge you can feel confident that you’ll be getting unmatched expertise, an unblemished safety record, unbeatable service and above all else, an enthusiasm that you won’t find anywhere else!

So if you’re looking to create a memory that will stay with you for life, or likewise, one that will stay with your loved one for eternity, ballooning is the way forward. Hot air ballooning couldn’t be more magical and unique so why not purchase a hot air balloon ride ticket as that special surprise, or book it in place of a holiday this year! Giving this as a gift couldn’t be more wonderful or memorable, a gift idea that is less expensive than you might think! Our balloons are operated from launch sites in Yorkshire around the county’s ancient Capital City of York and over the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside near Grantham, Stoke Rochford and Rutland Water. You can book your flight online where you can also check date availability or alternatively you can call us on 01757 288888 where we will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have and with bookings.

The rest of March and into April are set to be very pleasant indeed for the time of year, with no weather warnings and low rainfall set for the month ahead (which isn’t great given the current drought in large parts of England and the impending hose pipe ban) making for perfect flying conditions! In fact temperatures have been several degrees above the average for the time of year, which the climate being more like June than March. Weather findings have suggested that the all time March temperature record in Scotland has been broken with a heat of 22.8°C beating the 22.2°C recorded on 13th March 1957!

All this considered could this be the perfect time for you to embark upon your hot air balloon dream? At Adventure Balloons we believe in making the most of the now; for all we know, we could be set for a fifth year running of summer ending by June; what we’re seeing now could in fact be the beginning of our summer as we’ve come to know these past few years! Let embrace it, accept it and enjoy it!

Spring hot air balloon offers –

You may be happy to hear that we are holding our special offers for a little longer this year with prices for our balloon flight vouchers on line from as little as £89 per person! This could be the perfect birthday surprise, romantic anniversary escapade, an unbeatable congratulations reward, or even an incentive or moral booster for your staff or clientele. We even have specialist HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloons so that you can draw that little bit more attention to your loved one!

It couldn’t be easier to book; simply visit us online to check date availability and to order through our fast bookings feature, or call us on 01252 844222 to speak to a member of our friendly team. You can choose from the following flight locations;

Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Micheldever, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex.

Don’t ponder it with a mind filled with questions; get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

Adventure Balloons fly from many locations; however one of the most popular is South Hampshire. We are told this is likely to be our most beautiful locations covering some of Britain’s finest countryside, towns and villages. We fly from Anstey Park in Alton, West Meon, Micheldever near the railway station and from the City of Winchester. Where the balloon will take you is completely dependent on which site we take off from and of course the direction of the wind on the day. Possible sightings include the glorious Winchester Cathedral, the rolling Hampshire countryside, the post card picture River Test, small idyllic villages such as Laverstoke, Whitchurch, and the Candovers. Other possibilities include larger 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 very lucky, you may even see a glider circling around Lasham airfield!

Of course there are considerations that need to be made; flying from South Hampshire means that we have to keep clear of Southampton Airport at Eastleigh, and we must also keep our passengers out of the Solent! So as you can imagine, in order to provide you with a safe and enjoyable flight, the chosen site will depend entirely on the wind direction and speed on the day of your flight.

If a flight over South Hampshire sounds like your dream ballooning experience, then come on over to Adventure Balloons! You can book online 24 hours a day where you will be emailed your flight vouchers, or where you can select the option for your vouchers to be sent to you via Royal Mail. You can even check our available dates online and see where you’re most likely to get a flight on your chosen date. Alternatively you can call us on 01252 844222 where we will answer all of your questions and even place your booking for you! We look forward to welcoming you aboad!