Traditional gifts like watches, jewellery, or gadgets are all well and good, but they seldom offer an unforgettable experience. A hot air balloon ride, on the other hand, provides an opportunity to create cherished memories that last a lifetime. Floating several hundred metres above the ground offers a unique perspective on the world, a moment of serenity that is unparalleled. Tailored to Any Occasion Whether it’s an anniversary, a birthday, or simply a “just because” moment, a hot air balloon ride is versatile enough to fit any celebration. The experience can be romantic, adventurous, or medi ..read more

Hot air balloon enthusiasts from across the globe are this month celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious hot air balloon competitions. The World Hot Air Balloon Championships have been taking place every two years at locations around the world since 1973. Albuquerque in New Mexico was chosen to host the first meeting of the balloon extravaganza. In 2022, it was Slovenia who welcomed 103 balloonists from 31 different counties to compete in the event. The hot air balloon competition is organised by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, which is ba ..read more

From the 2023 season your hot air balloon flight will now take place with Virgin Balloon Flights who will be taking on our passengers and flight operations in the Southwest including Bristol, Bath & South Wales. Our Bailey Balloons and other balloons flying for Aerosaurus Balloons and South West Balloon Flights will be retired and instead you will fly in one of the iconic Virgin Balloons who have flown alongside us for many years. Clive and Jo Bailey have decided, after a great deal of thought and deliberation, that after 28 years in passenger ballooning, to take the very difficult decisio ..read more

Visitors to one of the UK’s most elegant cities can add a new experience to their holiday itinerary. This month saw the announcement of a new tourist experience hosted by the luxurious The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa situated in one of the most iconic parts of Bath; the Royal Crescent which adjoins the Royal Victoria Park. During the summer months from April to September, guests will be able to soar above the skyline of the city to experience what Bath has to offer from a bird’s eye vantage point. Bath’s architecture is iconic and well-suited to being explored from the skies. Not only is th ..read more

2022 ended with a bang for a Gloucester-based hot air balloon brand. Last month, the 2022 National Outdoor Events Association awards took place in Bath and awarded the Event of the Year – Private Sector award to the team behind the Sky Safari that wowed crowds at the Isle of Wight Balloon Festival earlier in the summer. These awards recognise the achievements of brands who specialise in outdoor events, something that is particularly appropriate for the hot air ballooning industry. The award is important for the ballooning industry, and it recognises the skills and expertise that is required to ..read more

Last month saw Bath-based aeronautical adventurer Alicia Hempleman-Adams break not one, but two hot air ballooning records during an attempt in the skies over Canada. At just 33, Hempleman-Adams already holds an array of world records, including one for being the youngest person to reach the north pole, thanks to her taste for exploring northernmost parts of the globe alongside her father; the explorer David Hempleman-Adams. A balloonist for the past 10 years, Hempleman-Adams was well placed to attempt to break both a distance and duration world record during her flight over the Calgary provin ..read more

Soaring 35000 meters into the atmosphere might not be everyone’s idea of fun, but thanks to an innovative collaboration between engineers at Expleo and French aeronauts at Stratoflight, thrill-seeking tourists might soon be heading into space abord a balloon assisted space vessel in as little as three years. Engineers are currently working on the endeavour plan to create an eight-meter long craft with a balcony to take up to four space tourists and two pilots into the skies. The craft will be carried by a hydrogen-filled balloon. Once they have reached altitude, passengers will be able to exit ..read more

Starting from today, this weekend will see some of the most impressive hot air balloons descend on the popular Longleat Safari Park in the south west of England. The fiesta, scheduled over three days, is one of the biggest events in the ballooning calendar. Following a few quiet years due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team behind the Sky Safari are hopeful that this event will be bigger than ever. Balloonists are expected to attend the Sky Safari from all over the world. Longleat’s own animal-shaped balloons will make an appearance at the event. This year, visitors can expect to come face to f ..read more

There is no other form of flight that is quite like the experience of drifting in a hot air balloon. It combines the thrills offered by rival types of air travel such as aeroplane or helicopter flights with a serene charm all of its own. Not every day will be suitable for taking a hot air balloon up into the sky though. This is a mode of travel that is particularly dependent on the right sort of weather conditions to make it the safe and pleasurable experience that it should be. So, what weather restrictions are there on hot air balloon flights? Wind Wind is one of the elements that can have t ..read more

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of the highlights of the hot air ballooning calendar. This year was no exception. In order to celebrate 50 years of hot air ballooning in Albuquerque, this year’s gathering was bigger and brighter than ever before. Nearly 120 hot air balloons came to join the 9-day bonanza from across the globe. A particular favourite this year was Steggy the dinosaur-shaped balloon, who made the trip over from Brazil. He was joined by Star Wars-shaped balloons from Belgium, and Dutch balloons in the shape of popular children’s book characters. Unicorns, tige ..read more