The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is undoubtedly one of Britain’s premier balloon festivals. The festival is an aerial enthusiast’s paradise and includes events such as a mass balloon launch, low-level aero acrobatic displays and two breathtaking night glow displays.

Members that operate within the Balloons over Britain will be there and the festival takes place in the Ashton Court Estate during the second week in August each year. This event is regarded as one of the best and largest international hot air balloon events in the UK which attracts hot air balloonists’ pilots and spectators. These events make a wonderful day out for all the family with lots of opportunity to take photographs and also the chance to take a hot air balloon flight through Balloons over Britain. Make a date in your diary and contact Balloons over Britain.

If you are looking for a unique gift to give to your Dad this father’s day why not buy the gift of a life time, a hot air balloon ride from one of the Hot Air Balloon operators under the umbrella of Balloons over Britain. Hot air balloon flights are available from a local launch site that is close to you and this covers just about the whole of the country.

The best way to give Dad the gift of a hot air balloon flight is to go online and buy a balloon voucher. The advantage is that the gift can be used within a time span of one year at a place that is convenient to all. As hot air ballooning is weather dependant, the 21st of June, which is Fathers day this year, might be unsuitable but the gift is still valid. Go online now or telephone 0845 071 6388 for full details of this unique fathers day gift.

Now half term is with us many are turning to the thought of summer holidays, with the Pound losing value against the Euro more of us are turning to holidays at home and including in this a UK hot air balloon ride. Even though we are promised a better summer this year than before hot air balloon rides are very weather dependent.

Should the conditions on your chosen day are rainy, have poor visibility or high wind speeds then your flight is unlikely to go ahead. For safe hot air ballooning in wind speeds at ground level above 10 mph can result in very unpleasant and potentially dangerous landings.  Legal requirements also demand that there should be a required visibility level and cloud ceiling below which the flight cannot take place. Generally speaking we have one day in three when hot air ballooning can take place in the UK, which should be taken into account as it is considered unwise to link your balloon flight to a specific date, birthday, or wedding anniversary as examples, although a gift voucher could be given.

Hot air balloons are controlled not just by your fully qualified pilot, but by the weather too, which is why the Balloons over Britain local operators will fly you in the early morning and during the few hours before sunset. The thermal conditions decrease significantly towards dusk and over night. Many of our returning passengers request early morning flights as these offer really stable conditions and the scenery can change dramatically with the light.

For this reason you should take a camera with you on your hot air balloon flight. It is recommended that you use UV filters on your camera to eliminate possible haziness. Get someone to take a picture of you in the basket before take off and exchange cameras with your fellow passengers if they are unknown to you, so that you all have records of your memorable experience. In the summer your flight can be really early in the morning but in our experience the early start is worth it.

With Balloons over Britain you can experience the sheer delight of flying from a launch site close to the Thames; your hot air balloon flight can only take place during a weekday morning. Naturally in such a busy and congested air space we will be unable to take you anywhere which is near air traffic restriction zones, this will be affected by the weather conditions which have to be favourable, naturally we cannot land you in a built up area,

During your balloon flight over London many historic sites will be seen, such as the Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as modern landmarks like the Millennium Dome, Wembley Stadium and the London 2012 Olympic site. Balloons over Britain have a number of voucher options and a flight over London would make an ideal VIP or corporate event that is different from the ordinary. For full details contact Balloons over Britain either online, or by telephoning 0845 071 6388, for a list of options and launch sites.

A perfect gift for Dad, who may or may not “have everything,” a ride in a Hot Air Balloon. Father’s day for 2009 is June the 21st and this means that you have plenty of time to contact Balloons over Britain to buy a gift voucher, ideal for Dad because this can be used at any time during the year. Balloons over Britain can tailor the gift to your exact requirements and you can be safe in the knowledge that Dad will be in the hands of the oldest and most respectable Hot air Balloon operators in the country.

Uniquely Balloons over Britain will have a launch site close to where Dad will fly; the company covers the whole of Britain and has years of experience operating Hot Air Balloons with a team of local operators and fully qualified pilots. The flight itself with take around an hour, but the total experience of preparing the balloon and recovery is approximately 3 to 4 hours. Inflating and deflating the balloon is all part of the day and passengers are invited to take part. A certificate commemorating the flight together with champagne on landing completes an excellent Father’s Day gift.

Summer seems to have arrived over most of the country and the next bank holiday is soon upon us, the 25th May to be precise. So with all this lovely weather that is promised to us what better way could there be to spend the May bank holiday than through a hot air balloon ride?

Booking a hot air balloon ride from a launch site that is close to you is just about as easy as it gets. The easiest way is to go online to the web pages of Balloons over Britain when all the options that are available are displayed in easy read form and booking can be made using a credit card secure system. Alternatively speak to an advisor on 0845 071 6388 when all the options and launch sites will be discussed with you.

At Balloons over Britain in addition to our regular hot air balloon flights we can offer special VIP balloon rides for 2 or up to 6 passengers, perhaps as a work related bonus, or a family outing. Can you imagine the thrill of a private passenger balloon flight as a vehicle for marriage proposals, wedding anniversaries or simply for you and a special friend? It’s just two passengers plus the pilot and champagne, making it a personal and unforgettable experience.

Balloons over Britain can arrange VIP flights from most locations throughout the UK and there will be a launch site that is close to you, the flight can often include your personal preferences but will normally have a champagne celebration, a light snack, in-flight photograph and a first flight Certificate. Contact us online or telephone 0845 071 6388 to speak to one of our advisors for full information.