Join us for a Hot Air Balloon flight where you and your loved one gently and silently float over the British countryside, you could say just like a leaf in the wind. Balloons over Britain’s member Hot Air Balloon operators have been flying hot air balloons for up to 20 years and have a wealth of experience, so much so that their standards are now incorporated into industry through the Civil Aviation Authority.

A hot Air Balloon ride with Balloons over Britain is a memorable experience, over the towns and cities even over London, you float over the rush-hour traffic it total silence! What better than a spectacular background of the beautiful Lake District or the backdrop of rivers and estuaries that surround the country? Stunning scenery from Scotland from the basket of one of our balloons is something you will remember and talk about for years to come. Join us, we fly with groups of up to 20 and as small as one with thousands of satisfied balloonists experiencing the pleasures of hot air ballooning with Balloons over Britain.

It is only just coming to the need of summer but many of us are already thinking of those gifts fro special people at Christmas time. Balloon ride gift certificates are a popular year-round choice, but giving them as a Christmas gift is popular as these can be used at any time during the year when it suits both you and the recipient of the hot air balloon ride.

The hot air balloon certificate is a unique gift and easy to give, well appreciated and convenient for the user. It is important that you do a little research before you buy a certificate from anyone, but at Balloons over Britain our directory of companies is the easiest way to guarantee you are dealing with a genuine balloon flight company that operates its own balloons, not from a gift certificate company or an intermediary adding their bit of profit. At Balloons over Britain our members have been operating passenger balloon rides for over ten years, some for twice as long giving us an unparalleled wealth of operational experience that we share across the network to ensure the highest operating standards. Call us and we will talk you through the many options available for this unique gift.

Since the early 1960’s hot air balloons for rides and competitions have been on the rise. Companies are increasingly using this exciting medium to publicise their company or one of its products. Many differing types of designs and colours are used and Hot Air Balloons are now in constant use all over the world.

Passengers using one of the local operators at Balloons over Britain will be familiar with the procedures of a hot air balloon flight, but for spectators the launch and landing are spectacular events to watch. Before the launch the balloon crew lays out the envelope and then uses a fan to blow hot air into the envelope of the balloon. Once there is enough air in the balloon, the crew starts the burner to heat the air inside.

The Hot Air Balloon ride itself is a wonderful experience, once tried it will never be forgotten and is one of the ten top things most people wish to do in their lifetime. Our qualified pilots’ always make a note of the wind and weather conditions and will not fly unless it is safe and ideal for that day. If the weather is not suitable on the scheduled day of your flight, our local hot air balloon operators will arrange for a new date and time that is suitable to you.

Have you ever wondered the procedure for filling a hot air balloon before you take off on that magical flight over the beautiful British countryside? Well it is relatively simple and one that has been tried and tested over the years by our Local Balloon Operators.

Firstly the Balloons over Britain operator will remove the envelope from its bag and lay this out in long line, the burners are attached to the uprights and the all important basket in which you will travel is attached to the cables at the bottom of the balloon. A fan driving cold air is then used to inflate the envelope and when this is partially inflated the air is heated with the burners when you will see the hot air balloon rising above the basket.

Continuing to use the burners will enable the balloon to lift and subsequently “fly.” The all important burners are fueled by propane gas, much the same as you probably use in your gas barbecue. The burners do not run continuously; they are only used intermittently to heat the air to maintain the required lift. Enjoy your hot air balloon ride and take a photograph the 100 foot balloon above you.

Firstly you should wear comfortable clothing no need to dress up but depending on the weather on the day of your Hot Air Balloon flight, you  should wear the type of clothing that you would expect to wear if you were going for a walk, with layered clothing much better than a heavy coat. Your shoes should have flat soles, and the majority of top clothing should be made of cotton rather than man-made fibres and tall passengers may find a hat useful because of the radiant heat from the burners.

Take a video or still camera as a hot air balloon makes a perfect camera platform and there is always plenty to photograph prior to, during and after to the flight. Allow for a total of around three hours for the whole experience, including approximately one hour for the actual balloon flight experience, something which you will remember for long time after you have safely landed.

There are very few marketing directors that would not like people to take a photograph of their expensive and well thought out advert, but how many people do you know that have cut one from a newspaper, or taken a picture of a roadside advertising hoarding and then put it into their photographic album? Few if any!

It is the aim of a company’s sales and marketing teams to raise the profile of a company and its corporate message and Balloons over Britain has a unique way in which this can be achieved, raising customer loyalty and brand awareness, while enhancing the organisation’s overall image.

Having a Hot Air Balloon with your company logo or product painted on to the hot air balloon fabric is a sure way of bringing this to the attention of thousands of people, maybe millions if is it is seen at a televised event. Additionally it is almost certain that many people will photograph this and show it to others. Having your own specially shaped balloon, or one painted in your colours is not all that expensive, contact us and we will be delighted to discuss the many options that are open to you.

There is little that can surpass seeing the sunrise from the basket of a Hot Air Balloon, sadly we have not seen much of that this summer, but do not be put off. When taking your Hot Air Balloon Ride through one of the Balloons over Britain local operators, your flight will take place either at dawn or at dusk and both will be remembered for years to come.

An early morning flight will take place before sunrise when you will gently lift off the ground to a height of approximately 10-20m and leisurely float along with the wind. At this height, weather permitting, you are able to have a glorious view of the sunrise as well as keeping on the lookout for land marks on the ground below. The panoramic views that you are privy to from this height are bound to leave many speechless, this is a magnificent experience and will leave you with a warm glow for weeks after. Hot Air Ballooning is incredibly tranquil and is ideal for people of all ages.

You may be aware what is involved when you book a hot air balloon ride UK wide through one of the many operators within the organisation of Balloons over Britain. You will fly high and see the rolling hills and countryside gently float by below you, and we promise we will not spill a drop of that champagne reserved for you on landing, our enthusiastic and experienced chase crew will see to that!

Firstly you will be amazed as the Hot Air Balloon envelope begins to fill and begin to take that traditional tear drop or distinctive corporate shape, helped by cold air fans as well as the hot air burners. You should take lots of film in your camera, or bring along that new digital that you have as you will be sure to want to record as much of this as possible. Of course you will want to be recorded near and in the balloon basket, so ask one of the local operators expert crew, they are good at photography as well. We know you will enjoy your flight with a Balloons over Britain UK operator and you will have the photographic memories to treasure afterwards as well.

We understand that a Hot Air Balloon ride in the UK is not something you will do every weekend, so when you do decide to do it, do it right! At all the Balloons over Britain operators UK wide safety has always been the number one priority, and that’s not just talk! Hot air Ballooning is limited to times of good weather and light winds and if the weather doesn’t co-operate with us on the day of your flight, we’ll reschedule with you at a time convenient for you to fly at another time. The pilot’s decision to fly is always made with our passengers’ safety in mind and all our pilots are officially certified with the CAA with a commercial license.

Naturally all our UK wide Hot Air Balloon operators are fully covered by comprehensive insurance, which includes the chase vehicles employed in your flight. All our balloons are good to look at and with clean fabric and vibrant colours. Our balloons are custom made and we replace or refurbish them at regular intervals. All this of course costs money, but we feel the added margin of safety is well worth it.

Before you take your Hot Air Balloon Ride with a Balloons over Britain UK operator, your fully qualified pilot will call a weather service to find out about climate and wind conditions in an area. Cautious pilots only fly when the weather is close to ideal that is when skies are clear and wind conditions are normal. You will not fly in a storm as these are extremely hazardous for hot air balloons, because of the danger of a lightning strike. Rain can be a problem, because it decreases visibility and damages the balloon material and it’s not much fun to fly around in wet weather anyway.

What we are looking for is a nice gentle wind to have a good flight. Strong winds are not desirable for a number of reasons and damage to the balloon could result. Balloons over Britain pilots also want to know which way the wind is blowing, to give the pilot a rough idea of which way the balloon will travel, and how they should manoeuvre once they’re in the air. Wherever in the UK you decide to fly with us at Balloons over Britain, the same safety procedures take place ensuring you have an enjoyable flight that you will remember for years to come.