Our launch sites
Our hot air balloons fly over Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the Thames Valley, easily reachable from London and Birmingham, as well as various other large towns. Click for Directions from London and Directions from Birmingham.
Our hot air balloons take off from launch sites in Thame, Great Missenden, and near Aylesbury, giving us fantastic coverage of our flight area over Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. We regularly see all of these towns from above, giving us a bird’s eye view of the beautiful architecture and history of these ancient settlements.
From your hot air balloon, you will be guaranteed amazing and serene views of some of the most fantastic scenery in central and southern England, along with bustling Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire towns, romantic villages, winding rivers, and some of the most impressive properties and estates in the entire country – our hot air balloons often fly over Waddesdon Manor, which used to be home to the Rothschild family before it was handed over to the National Trust to become one of their most popular properties. It is an extraordinary sight from the basket of a hot air balloon. We regularly also see Chequers, the Prime Minister’s residence, from above, and often see Canary Wharf and Wembley Stadium in London.
We fly in the area where aviation first began in the UK, and you will be following in the footsteps of the very earliest pioneers of flight when you take a ride with us. The first ever manned flight in England took place from Oxford in 1784, when James Sadler flew a “fire balloon” 6 miles from Christchurch Meadows to the village of Woodeaton. There is a plaque commemorating his extraordinary feat in Oxford town centre – a good stop-off after taking a flight with us! Click here for a brief history of ballooning.
‘That was the best 21st Birthday EVER!! Clear night, great views and great company!’
Emma Beretta (from our Comments Book)
We also sometimes fly from local ballooning events in the area, giving passengers lucky enough to have booked those dates the chance to fly with other balloons. Festivals in which our pilots have been involved include the Oxford Balloon festival, the Northampton Balloon festival and the Cornbury festival (held at Cornbury Park in the Cotswolds).
For further information about where we fly please visit the following pages:
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Thame
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Banbury
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Didcot
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Aylesbury
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Oxfordshire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights over Buckinghamshire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights for Warwickshire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights for Gloucestershire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights for Wiltshire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides & Flights for Northamptonshire
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for London
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for Birmingham
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for Reading
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for Swindon
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for Slough
- Hot Air Balloon Rides and Flights for Newbury
