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!

Would you like to take a balloon flight but can’t decide where? Well you’ve made the first step and have found a ballooning company that you’d like to look into; here at Adventure Balloons you can try our new balloon flight locations page which is full of useful information about the areas that we fly in and around, plus some great aerial photographs and maps to give you an idea of what you can expect to see. Furthermore, in order to provide you with everything you need to know in one place, you’ll even find directions to help you on your way to us on the day.

Did you know that Adventure Balloons are the longest running passenger balloon ride company around London and the Home Counties? Through our years of experience we’ve found that passengers tend to lean towards flying over areas which are familiar too them, possibly as they are intrigued to see what it looks like from another aspect. This has proven to be an important factor in the enjoyment of many of our passenger’s flights as they gaze in awe over countryside they grew up in.

We fly from:

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

You’ll want to wear walking boots or wellingtons as most of our sites are in town parks, unique to Adventure Balloons. All our locations are easy to find and make the perfect environment for friends to come and wave you off, pus give passengers the added interest of both town and countryside views during the flight!

It’s easy to book your flight, simply visit us online and choose from our list of locations and available dates, then go ahead and book the flight. You will have the option of e-mailed vouchers of vouchers sent in the post. Alternatively you can always book your flight by phone on 01252 844222.

Do you or a loved one have a special birthday coming up; a 30^th, 40^th, 50^th or even 100^th!? Is it your child’s 18^th or the big 21? Many people struggle to think of big present ideas to commemorate these special occasions; deciding on an 18^th present for a daughter who has everything, or a 40^th present for a husband that only ever wants DVD’s is not easy! So why not surprise them with something which will not only mark the day in a way that will always be remembered, but that will fulfil a dream for them too. Hot air ballooning remains on Britain’s top ten wish list and things to do before you die list and it’s no wonder really!

What other experience is there quite like it? A hot air balloon ride will take you at flights often as high as 3,000 feet in the air! You will literally float across the skies in an open basket. Unlike a plane, you are not restricted in your vision with just a 10” squared window to peep through. You will be open, with no barrier between you and the sky; you will have a complete 360 degree birds-eye view of the world and have a real opportunity to take in its wondrousness and enjoy true peace and tranquillity. If all this isn’t enough, you’ll even toast the day with a glass of bubbly, courtesy of us!

What makes Adventure Balloons Britain’s No. 1 choice for birthday balloon flights is our exclusive fleet of HAPPY BIRTHDAY balloons. Since 2000 we have been offering passengers balloon rides in our small “Happy Birthday” which is designed to take between 2 and 4 passengers, however due to an overwhelming encouraging response from the British public and our passengers, we have now taken delivery of two 16 person happy birthday balloons for those of you who’d like to party in the sky! Whether you’d like an intimate birthday balloon ride for 2, or a lively one for a party of 16, Adventure Balloons will create your perfect birthday surprise.

If this sounds like what you’re looking for then make sure when booking a date for your flight that you check with our staff for available dates to fly in these balloons – at no extra cost of course! Our Happy Birthday balloon flights are available in Berkshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Oxford, Surrey and York in 2012 – 01252 844222

We couldn’t and wouldn’t ever expect you to choose to fly with Adventure Balloons unless you knew more about us. We’re not talking about taking you on a shopping trip here, this is big stuff, a flight in a giant hot air filled balloon doesn’t get more daunting for some and so it’s important that you do your research for your own peace of mind. So let us tell you a little about our background.

Adventure Balloons offers exclusive flights in and around London and the Home Counties and are proud members of Balloons Over Britain, the UK’s national ballooning network. We first took to the skies in April 1985, when at the time, few other companies offered balloon flights in the UK. As demand for our hot air balloon flights grew, by 1988 we purchased a four passenger balloon, which of course was followed by several others.

We are the largest company in the country who offer UK balloon flights, and now boast a fleet of seven hot air balloons with capacities which range from four to sixteen people! These include the following:

• Our eight passenger balloon, aptly nicknamed the “Stained Glass Window”, and felt by many to be so attractive that we have used its design for the Adventure Balloons emblem and mugs, T-shirts and other balloon flight memorabilia.
• Our two traditionally coloured 16 passenger balloons, perfect for big party groups!
• The “North Sea Flyer”, our sixteen person balloon, has another story to tell. We bought it from two millionaires who flew across the North Sea for fun! It was the first hot air balloon of this carrying capacity the Civil Aviation Authority actually allowed to fly in the UK.
• Our Toucan Travel balloon which is a new aerial promotion tool for the Toucan Travel chain of travel agencies. The balloon carries 10 people plus pilot in the latest state of the art basket designed by manufacturers Lindstrand Balloons of Oswestry.
• Let’s not forget our Happy Birthday Balloons. So many passengers buy balloon flight as a birthday gift, so we thought this would be a great idea to create balloons that say HAPPY BIRTHDAY on them, the perfect birthday surprise!

Adventure Balloons are CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) Certified and members of The British Balloon & Airship Club. For more information you can call us on 01252 844222 where you can also make bookings, alternatively you can easily book online.

Adventure Balloons has been operating since 1985 and as the longest running passenger balloon ride company around London and the Home Counties, we certainly believe we are fully equipped with the knowledge to answer your ballooning questions. We have many FAQ’s and so have decided that from time to time we’ll make your questions the feature of our articles so that you have the answers at your fingers tips.

Age & Health Restrictions

Many people ask us of the age and health requirements expected of them in order to be a passenger in a hot air balloon, in turn many have been surprised at our response; we have no upper age limit but ballooning is an outdoor sport requiring a degree of agility. We require that all passengers are medically fit to fly, able to climb in and out of the basket and to stand for about an hour. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on the flight and must be over 8 years old. Children must exceed 1.4 metres (4′6″) in height. Please also note that in the interests of safety and operational requirements we cannot undertake the carriage of passengers whose declared weight exceeds 18 stone (114kg). If you are at all concerned about any medical conditions you may have, please consult your doctor…if in doubt check it out!

What is the Basket Like?

This may sound like an odd one, but a lot of our passengers ask what the basket is like and if it is indeed a basket! Well yes it is! We use partitioned baskets which have been specially designed to ensure your safety, comfort and a superb view. The baskets are about 1.1 metres (42 inches) high, and all feature foot holes to assist in your entry. You will even find that our balloons have seats for extra safety on landing.

What Should I Wear?

First thing to remember people is that this is not a fashion show. Sure so you’d like photo’s for the album as souvenirs of your wonderful day and you want to look good. But trust us when we tell you that it will take away from your enjoyment of the day. Wear sensible outdoor clothes as if you were going for a walk in the country. Let’s remember that you’re going to be given the opportunity to assemble and dismantle the balloon, this is hands on work, plus you will be travelling at heights of about 3’000, so ladies (and gents), please no skirts! We also suggest that passengers avoid shorts, synthetic fibres such as nylon and loose jewellery. The ideal footwear would be flat shoes, or even better Wellingtons or walking boots, particularly in Spring and Autumn as the fields you’ll be traipsing through are likely to be damp. You may be surprised to know that temperatures in the air are warmer than those on the ground due to the heat of the burners so do take a hat to avoid the heat from the burners, particularly on evening flights!

For more of your most FAQ’s take a look at our site where you will also be able to look at our locations, our date availability and even book online. Alternatively call us on 01252 844 222.

Book with Adventure Balloons now to get your chance to fly over our beloved capital in 2013! With this year’s London flights terminated, we are gathering quite a list of passengers waiting for their chance to fly with us in London in 2013. If you want to be one of those lucky flyers, then get in their quick before we’re booked up over the big smoke!

Thanks to this year’s London events the Department of Transport has made it clear that security arrangements will preclude flights at Adventure Balloons launch sites and will ban the use of London’s airspace for security reasons due to the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. With our growing list of customers thanks to high recommendation rates and general good word of mouth it is becoming evident that we’ll see a full ballooning season for London flights next year, so if this is something which has been on your mind to organise for next year, don’t delay as you may be very disappointed.

Do bear in mind that due to London’s constant building development, there is now just one take-off site remaining where it is possible for us to launch our hot air balloon rides and where special Air Traffic permission enables our dawn flights during the summer months. London ballooning requires very strict weather criteria and so they are often subject to cancellation and re-scheduling at short notice.

Having said this there are about two to three hundred passengers a year who are patient and lucky enough to take these balloon flights over Central London with Adventure Balloons. We ensure that their experiences are unique, exclusive and well worth the wait!

If you’d like this to be you, just get in touch with us on 01252 844222, or alternatively you can easily check date availability and book online for fast e-mail vouchers.

The ballooning season has begun here at Adventure Balloons, and so if you’ve been holding onto a hot air balloon voucher from us, maybe as a birthday present, Christmas present or even a valentines present, then maybe it’s time you give us a call and book that flight! It’s very simple to book with us and here’s how to do it.

1. Before you do anything else, you’ll need to select your location. Take a look at our list of launch sites including Oxford, Reading, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Watford, Tring, London, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Guildford, Farnham, Godalming, West Meon, Micheldever, Alton, Winchester, Kent, Sussex and Essex. Once you have found a location or two to consider, you can move onto the next step.
2. Check out our dates page where you can log in and book yourself onto a flight date, update your details, upgrade your voucher, extend your voucher and more. You will also be able to tell how often we fly from each of the locations so that you have a better idea of the chances of a flight from your chosen location.
3. Now you have you voucher, your location and your date, you simply go ahead and book online or call us on 01252 844222 where we will be happy to do it for you. Remember, on the morning of your flight, if you haven’t already here’d from us, give us a call and we will let you know whether the weather is right for ballooning!
4. Get on board and enjoy your champagne flight over the stunning location of your choice. A couple of this to remember; decent footwear for outdoor conditions, no skirts (obviously), a hat to keep the heat from the burners off your head, and of course a camera to take your own pictures of the events of the day and your fabulous birds-eye-view. Remember also, you will have the opportunity to help set up the balloon prior to flights and pack it away after, so this is a real jam packed day of fun and unique experiences!

If you’re thinking of embarking upon the adventure of hot air ballooning then you will first need to look into the ‘ins and outs’ of what to expect. The art of ballooning is fully dependent upon the weather and as you well know, the weather here in Great Britain has a mind of its own. This is why any good hot air balloon flights company will have specialists who are dedicated to determining the forecast prior to each flight. At Adventure Balloons we highly recommend that our customers call us on the morning of their flight so that we can confirm to them whether the flight will go ahead or not.

Unlike many other balloon flight operators, Adventure Balloons has a unique date check availability page which allows prospective customers and voucher holders to check out our flights schedule in the location(s) of their choice. This way you will gain an insight into how many of our bookings we actually fulfil. Many companies advertise a whole range of different flight locations; however in many cases you will find that they rarely launch flights from most of those sites. With us, you choose your location then browse through each available flight date available from that spot!

Due to the fact that ballooning is weather depending, you’ll find that not all passengers fly on their first attempt, it can often take a few tries, it simply boils down to luck. Rest assured however, the experience is always worth the wait! Light winds, good visibility and no rain are required for a balloon flight to go ahead. When surface winds are calm, hot air balloon ride pilots can control the altitude of the balloon very finely by heating or venting the air inside. This is why flights will take place during sunset or sunrise as the weather is at its calmest then.

If you’d like to understand more about how we ‘balloon’ take a look at our FAQ page or alternatively our ABOUT page where you’re likely to find all the information you need. Alternatively however you may wish to speak to a member of our team. Please feel free to call us on 01252 844222 where you will always find we are happy to help.

At Adventure Balloons our 2012 season kicked off with a rather chilly start which just added to the excitement of the day. The temperatures peaked at a “brrrrrrrrreathtaking” minus 8 degrees, we thought it was mighty brave of Kunal Barai to brave it with his partner so early on a Saturday morning! The pair travelled from London to Winchfield by train with anticipation and excitement of their adventurous day ahead!

However what was unquestionably a rather freezing day was soon warmed by a question from Kunal himself. With the hot air balloon ascended to 2,000 feet over the picturesque village of Hook in Hampshire, it couldn’t have been a more perfect backdrop for Kunal – on bended knee – to pop the question to Tina!

Hot air ballooning is without a doubt the most romantic way to take to the skies, so why not take this perfect opportunity to ask your loved one to spend the rest of their lives with you? It’s certainly one way to knock their socks off, so to speak! Kunal was obviously one of the more romantically minded men of the world and thanks to his thought and deliberation of the best way to propose, he was of course successful! As Tina said yes he slipped a ring on her finger which he had purchased from Tiffany’s earlier in the week. Perfect.

“It was a great way to start our ballooning season and the weather was superb. It was one of those rare crisp winters days with lovely visibility, some snow on the ground and the balloon landed on a field belonging to a lovely farmer” said Chief Pilot Kim Hull. “We wish Tina and Kunal a great future after their flying start!”

For more details of other proposals on our hot air balloon rides click here.

We’ve compiled a list of your most frequently asked questions so that you can easily find the answers to all your queries and hesitations. However please don’t let this stop you! If you find you have any questions at all that you’d like answering and would like to speak to a member of our team you can call Adventure Balloons on 01252 844222 or our sister company Balloon Rides Ltd on 01757 288888.

Many of our customers ask us when we fly, the answer is in fact subject to suitable hot air balloon flying conditions. Normally we fly early morning and early evening when the wind is generally calmer and our flying season is from April to October. The times we fly are fully dependent on sunrise and sunset and so vary throughout the seasons. Based on a typical may, we would meet you at 6am for morning flights and 6pm for evening flights.

Next our customers ask us where we fly. Adventure Balloons cover locations in Berkshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, London, Oxford, Surrey, Sussex and York. Balloon Rides fly in York from York Racecourse or from the banks of the River Ouse at Naburn Lock. They also fly in Lincolnshire where they have sites near Grantham, Rutland Water and Stamford.

Customers ask us how to book. This is simple, you first decide which location you’d like to balloon in and then either call the relevant balloon company on the numbers given above, or alternatively you can check Balloon Rides date availability online, or use their online booking feature. Adventure Balloons also give you both the option to check dates and to book online. Whichever way is easier for you!

Another popular question asked is what weather conditions are expected for a successful flight. In answer to this we require light winds, no rain and good visibility. We strongly advise you to call us at the time specified in your map pack to confirm if the weather permits us to fly, and if so the meeting time and place. In the event that we should have to cancel your flight at short notice, it will simply be for reasons such as bad weather, and we ask you to reschedule your flight as soon as possible at a time to suit you.

If this hasn’t answered your questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on the above numbers or you can easily access our information and more FAQ’s on our websites www.adventureballoons.co.uk and www.balloonridesltd.co.uk.