GLIDING above the earth in a hot-air balloon gives you a whole new perspective, not to mention excellent views as far as the eye can see.
The best hot air balloon rides fulfil your desire to experience life as a bird, pulled along by air currents, soaring and descending in complete safety and freedom, without a care in the world – at least for an hour or so.
Whether you buy the experience for yourself or a friend – they make a great gift option for any occasion – it’s an opportunity to feel the sun and wind on your face, to escape everyday life and to feel the thrill of flying.
They’re not as expensive as you might think either, with relatively cheap hot air balloon rides for two costing around £350, which is surprisingly affordable for such a unique adventure. And the fun doesn’t just start when you take off as some providers let you help with preparing the balloon for flight and there’s usually a glass of fizz on landing to celebrate your experience.
Read on and discover more in our round-up of the best hot air balloon rides available in the UK.
Where to buy hot air balloon experiences
Hot air balloon experiences are available from a variety of companies, such as gift experience companies, and those that focus solely on balloon flights.
They include:
We looked at hot air balloon experiences from a range of providers so read on to find out more.
Virgin Balloon Flights
- Weekday Morning, £169pp – buy here
- Weekday Morning or Evening, £189pp – buy here
- Any Day Morning or Evening, £209pp – buy here
You can really get hands-on with a Virgin balloon flight and this adds to the excitement, helping inflate and deflate the balloon before and after your ride.
It’s best to allow four hours for the trip, which includes an introduction and pilot briefing, pre-flight prep, an hour in the air and a celebratory glass of fizz afterwards, as well as transport back to your launch site.
The balloon baskets hold up to 16 people so prepare to share your excitement with a group of like-minded flying devotees and you can choose your take-off from around 140 launch sites across England, Wales and Scotland.
Once you’ve purchased your voucher, you have 18 months to book your flight and balloons fly between March and October.
Number of launch sites: around 140, Time in the air: 1 hour;,Voucher validity: 18 months; Price: from £169 per person
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Red Letter Days
- Weekday Morning Hot Air Balloon Flight For Two, £358 – buy here
With the Red Letter Days Hot Air Balloon Flight For Two, you’ll experience a morning like no other, high above the ground. Remember to take a camera with you to capture the stunning views of the countryside below you, with twisting rivers, patches of dark forest and toy-town villages.
You’ll share your trip with others eager to experience life as the birds do, floating in the air, free from the cares of daily life.
The trip takes around one hour, but the whole event lasts around four hours, and you can book to take part any time on weekdays between March and October.
Choose from almost a hundred locations in Great Britain, including two in Wales and two in Scotland.
Number of launch sites: 98; Time in the air: 1 hour; Voucher validity: 12 months; Price: £358
Wonder Days
- Hot Air Balloon Ride For Two, from £298 – buy here
- Engagement Hot Air Balloon Ride For Two With Champagne & 360 Video Footage, £925 – buy here
- Exclusive Glass Bottom Hot Air Balloon Ride For Two, £900 – buy here
Wonder Days offers a choice of flights: weekday mornings or evenings, or weekend mornings or evenings, so you’re not limited and can choose whatever time best suits you.
They even offer an engagement experience if you’re looking for somewhere out of this world to pop the question!
Their weekday morning flight for two starts from under £300 and includes a glass of fizz on landing, Wonder Days offers more than 100 launch locations throughout England, Wales and Scotland, with flights taking place from March to October.
Number of launch sites: 100+; Time in the air: 1 hour; Voucher validity: 12 months; Price: From £298 for two
Into The Blue
- Weekday Hot Air Ballooning With Champagne For Two (Oxfordshire), £378 – buy here
- Somerset Cider & Cheese Private Ballooning For Two, £849 – buy here
- Romantic Champagne Balloon Flight For Two (South West locations), £899 – buy here
Float away on this balloon trip from Into The Blue and feel the freedom of moving with the wind, high above the countryside – you probably won’t even realise you’ve left the ground.
Choose from weekday or weekend flights in Oxfordshire and the South West, and get hands-on from when you arrive. Help your pilot prep the balloon and help pack it away afterwards, knowing you have really contributed to making your day a success.
Enjoy a glass of Champagne (gin or cider brandy at some locations) once you’re back on terra firma and reflect on a day well spent.
For that extra special occasion, you can also book private flights for two with Into The Blue.
Number of launch sites: 17; Time in the air: 1 hour; Voucher validity: 12 months; Price: From £378 for two
Experience Days
- Hot air balloon experience for two, £344 from Experience Days – buy here
Experience Days offers hot air balloon experiences for two around the UK for £344.
As the rides are hosted through different providers, the availability and timings vary. Some will include a glass of bubbly at the end and some will offer extra time in the air for example.
You should allow three to four hours for the experience, plus an hour in the air.
The vouchers are currently valid for 18 months and the season runs from March to October. It’s advised that you book your flight at least three to four weeks in advance.
Number of launch sites: 23; Time in the air: 1 hour; Voucher validity: 12 months; Price: £344 for two people
How much is a hot air balloon ride?
Hot air balloon rides can vary in price depending on which company you use, what time of the day, what day of the week you travel and what’s included in the experience.
In the UK, they typically start from around £200 but increase in price depending on what’s included and exclusivity, with private flights costing from around £1,000 for two.
How long is a hot air balloon ride?
The length of the hot air balloon ride will vary from company to company but typically you’re in the air for around 60 minutes, though that can change depending on the weather.
The whole experience lasts around four hours, including the safety briefing on arrival, prepping the balloon (which often you can help with), time to take photos and a celebratory glass of fizz when you land.
How do hot air balloons work?
Hot air balloons are essentially just wicker baskets attached to a parachute (balloon) with burners inside it. Hot air rises, and by heating the air inside the balloon with burners, it becomes lighter than the cool air on the outside and the balloon then floats upwards.
To steer and land the balloon, the pilot has to manipulate the temperature of the air and catch different air streams and different heights.
Are hot air balloon flights safe?
Like all modes of transport, you’ll always hear horror stories about accidents and safety concerns. However, according to the Aviation Accident Database put out by the FAA, hot air ballooning is the safest form of air travel. There are rarely any aviation crashes involving hot air balloons.
This is partly down to the fact that all hot air balloon flights in the UK are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, so there are regulations to do with safety, insurance, training and licensing. All equipment must be regularly checked and maintained, and all pilots must be thoroughly trained.
The main safety concern regarding hot air ballooning is weather. However, your flight will be cancelled if the conditions are unsafe and pilots will only fly if winds are below 10mph and there’s good visibility. If your flight is cancelled, you should be able to rebook for another date.
How high do hot air balloons go?
The highest a hot air balloon has flown is 22,000 feet. However, to fly this high, you’d need oxygen and special gear.
On regular hot air balloon flights and experience days, your hot air balloon will go anywhere between 2,000 and 5,000 feet.
Specifically how high you’ll fly depends on where you are, the weather conditions, and the time of year.
What to wear for hot air balloon rides
Wrap up warm! The hot air balloon season runs from March to October in the UK and most rides are either morning or evening, which means it can get cold, especially up in the air.
Make sure you have warm, comfortable clothes that are suitable for the outdoors, even if it rains or gets muddy.
You may also want to bring a hat as well, but make sure it will not be easily blown away.
As for shoes, anything flat, sturdy and comfortable is good, like trainers you don’t mind getting muddy. No high heels.
How many people can ride in a hot air balloon?
The number of people on a commercial hot air balloon ride will depend on the size of the balloon and the size of the baskets, as well as how many people have booked that particular experience.
You may find yourself sharing your flight with just half a dozen other enthusiasts, but on a busy experience, you could be one of up to 20 people in the basket.
Who invented the hot air balloon?
The hot air balloon was invented in 1783 by two brothers, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier from Annonay in France.
Their first version, which they demonstrated in public in June of that year, was made using cloth and paper, with heat coming from a straw fire to lift the balloon. It, like several versions that came after it, was unmanned.
But in just a few months, they created a version that was big and strong enough to carry people.
Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, Marquis d’Arlandes, then became the first people to go on a manned hot air balloon in November of that year.