Balloon Rides Ltd are a Balloons Over Britain members company who offer passenger balloon rides in locations around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. To be specific, in Yorkshire we fly from York Racecourse or from the banks of the River Ouse at Naburn Lock and in Lincolnshire we have sites near Grantham, Rutland Water and Stamford, however the site we fly from on the day depends entirely on wind direction.

Wind direction isn’t the only factor which must be taken into consideration on the day; for a successful flight not only must the winds be light, but the forecast should be clear of rain and the visibility good. For this reason we recommend that passengers call us at the time specified in your map pack to confirm if the weather permits us to fly. If the weather is bad, don’t panic; simply call to reschedule your flight as soon as possible at a time that suits you.

Depending on the flying conditions, we fly early morning and early evening when the wind is generally calmer and our flying season is from April to October. The time of your flight will depend on the time of year as it will always be in accordance with sunrise and sunset. Typically in May we meet you at 6am for morning flights and 6pm for evening flights, however in later months you will find that the morning flights will be a little later and the evening flights a little earlier.

Many passengers ask us how far we’ll fly, however as we travel at the same speed as the wind, it’s difficult to give an accurate answer. Having said this, if you consider that the balloon can only safely be flown in winds up to 10 mph, we normally cover approximately 7-10 miles. You will experience views from up to 1000 feet up, but we sometimes climb to 5000 feet (around a mile high) in order to find the right wind speed at which to travel.

We are often asked whether there are any age restrictions in terms of ballooning, but what’s more important is the passenger’s health and agility. All passengers must be medically fit to fly, and as our balloon baskets are about 1.1 metres (42 inches) high, passengers will need to be able to climb into the basket. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on the flight and must be over 8 years old, and their height must exceed 1.4 metres (4′6″). In the interests of safety and operational requirements we cannot undertake the carriage of passengers whose declared weight exceeds 18 stone (114kg).

If you’d like to book a hot air ballooning date with Balloon Rides Ltd, simply log into our date page on the web site where you can see date availability and follow our quick ordering process, or call our office during weekday office hours on 01757 288 888.

Are you looking to grab a bargain this Christmas? Maybe you’re searching for the perfect festive gift and are after something unique and guaranteed to get an explosive reaction? Alternatively you have your bargain head on and are buying ‘Christmas offers’ now, that are not necessarily for Christmas at all, just to save pennies (and who can blame you?). Everyone wishes to fly in a hot air balloon, so whether you’re buying for the merry season’s gift or you’re simply strategically buying to save pennies on the adventure of a lifetime, Wickers World are the place to come.

With 22 years unrivalled experience in passenger balloon flights covering the Midlands and North West, Wickers World are proud to declare that we fly more passengers on more flights than any other operator in the region! We can give you the reassurance of viewing our date availability, something which many of our competitors fail to do which can often be down to their poor coverage of certain areas. With us, you can view how often we schedule flights in all of our locations so you know precisely what to expect.

Choose from launch sites in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire or Gloucestershire where you’re guaranteed to experience some of the UK’s most beautiful pastures from a unique perspective.

Right now at Wickers World we’re pleased to offer you a great Christmas perk with our 50% deposit deal. With our current economic state, peoples budgets are being stretched beyond belief so we’ve come up with an offer which will help take away the pinch. For telephone orders only, we are for a limited time able to offer you the opportunity of paying for your vouchers in two easy, interest free, instalments. We are offering you the chance to pay just 50% of the order value at the time of purchase, and the other half will not become payable until March 1st 2012! There’s no catch, no interest and no ‘small print’, just our way of expressing our gratitude for choosing us.

Call us on 01889 882 222 to book or for more information.

Many people like to choose a specific date for their hot air ballooning adventure. This could be for a loved ones birthday present, an anniversary surprise, or maybe purely because you have a hectic work schedule and you’ll be booking a holiday day in advance. At Alba Balloons we understand this and the importance of sticking to schedules and so do everything we can to help our customers get exactly what they need and want from the experience.

In order to request a particular flight date, you will firstly need either an Alba Ballooning voucher (take a look at our variety of Flight Vouchers) or an affiliated Agency voucher (e.g. Balloons over Britain, Acorne Sports, Virgin Experience Days, Buy a Gift, Exhilaration, LastMinute.com, Flights4All etc.). When registering your voucher with us, you will then be able to book a flight date.

You will find a list of available dates on our flight bookings page where you can select the appropriate date and book direct from there. However please be aware that flights can be cancelled due to poor weather conditions, unfortunately this is out of our control! Always check flight online, if your date is ‘cancelled’ you will need to rebook as soon as possible. However it is imperative that you call the office to check even where bookings are NOT listed as cancelled, better to be on the safe side.

Alba Ballooning covers areas across Scotland’s including its capital city of Edinburgh and the surrounding picturesque Lothian and Peeblesshire countryside. Alba also covers the scenic region of Perth & Kinrosshire and Fife, plus from 2011, Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders and also over Northumberland from near Morpeth have been added to the list!

For more information visit our website www.albaballooning.co.uk, or alternatively call us on 01875 830709.

Considering hot air ballooning as a Christmas present for your loved one? Maybe you’ve decided to present your best friend, your partner, your parent or sibling with a magical hot air balloon ride voucher for their Christmas present this year, an original idea with sentiment! The joy of giving a hot air balloon ride as a present is the knowing the great reaction it will receive. Just imagine yourself on the receiving end, opening your gift box to reveal a helium balloon gently raising out of the box with colourful vouchers tied to the ribbon. Can you imagine the pure excitement you would feel knowing that at a date of your choice during the following 12 months, you would be floating 3,000 feet in the air, gracefully drifting over the rolling countryside, panoramic 360 degree views with a glass of champagne? It doesn’t get more blissful, yet more exhilarating than this!

Many people question whether ballooning is suitable for them, or the recipient; this is fairly simple. Our FAQ’s should give you a clear idea of whether hot air ballooning is the right choice. Also, our member facts may help;

• The youngest passenger was just 7 years old.
• 50% of their passengers bought the flight as a 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday present.
• 17% of their passengers were over 70 years old.
• The oldest passenger was 100 years and 4 days old.
• 22% of the business came from personal recommendation.
• The most frequent passenger has flown with them 12 times!!

So if you’re concerned that you or your intended recipient are too large, small, old, young or immobile, think again; read our FAQ’s, you may be pleasantly surprised! For enquiries, get in touch with us a Balloons Over Britain on 0845 071 6388, or alternatively take a look at our locations, select the appropriate member company and then e-mail them or call them direct.

Are you shopping around for that perfect Christmas gift? Many people are struggling this year to come up with something original, something for the person who has it all, it’s not an easy task at all! If you’re looking for a ‘wow’ reaction, an emotional reaction even, we have just the thing for you. Hot air ballooning is just a dream for most, in fact some of us dare not to even dream. Its right there top of the list, a goal which must be achieved before our last days, so you can only imagine the reaction you’d get as your loved one opens the box and out floats a helium balloon with those magical hot air ballooning tickets attached!

At Wickers World we make this spectacular gift even more momentous by attaching the voucher on a ribbon to an 18” (45cm) metallic foil helium balloon. It is then packed into a candy striped box and posted first class or Royal Mail Special Delivery (as requested). When it comes to the day itself and the recipients is handed they’re big box gift, they’re mind can only wonder as to what’s inside?! When the box is opened, out will float the colourful helium-filled balloon and voucher reading either;

• “Happy Birthday”
• “Congratulations!”
• “Happy Anniversary”
• “Happy 21^st” (or 30^th, 40^th, 50^th, 60^th, 70^th, or even 80^th!)

There is of course the alternative method of acquiring your hot air ballooning ticket; online purchasing is quick and easy, plus your vouchers can be delivered by post, or sent instantly by email! Simply select which voucher you’d like to go for (early bird, weekday am or pm, premium voucher or exclusive for 2) and then choose the form of your voucher at checkout. All vouchers delivered by post will be sent to you in plain brown envelope and come with a glossy colour brochure, maps and all of the details about the flight arrangements.

Maybe it’s about time you saw the world from a different perspective. At Balloons Over Britain we specialise at giving you just that! Since 1991 we have been the UK’s largest and longest established balloon flight operators and have provided a nationwide ballooning network covering areas across Scotland, England and Wales. In fact, we have over 70 different launch site locations across the UK! With over 40 balloons spread out across our member companies, we are able to offer a continuous service right across the season which is normally from March to the end of October. However some companies offer flights over extended periods. With dawn and dusk flights, seven days a week, Balloons Over Britain proudly fly over one-third of all balloon flight passengers across the United Kingdom.

All of our member companies offer a breathtaking experience and each holds Civil Aviation Authority licensing. Our member companies include the following:

Adventure Balloons – Adventure balloons covers areas across Berkshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, South Oxfordshire, London and Surrey and have been operating since 1985! Adventure Balloons even offer a dedicated birthday balloon service which is complemented with its own ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ birthday!

Aerosaurus Balloons – Aerosaurus Balloons offer flights across locations Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, South Somerset and Wiltshire. The company have been operating for 23 years!

Airborne Balloon Flights – Airborne Balloon Flights cover the Kent and Sussex areas and have been in flight for 18 years.

Alba Ballooning – Alba Ballooning covers Edinburgh, Kinross, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland and have been flying since 2000.

Anglian Countryside Balloons – Anglian Countryside Balloons proudly covers the Essex area and began ballooning in the early 1990’s.

Balloon Rides – Balloon Rides fly over the beautiful Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, their founder having over 30 years experience in flying and manufacturing balloons.

Bailey Balloons – Bailey Balloons has locations across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South Wales and offer a wealth of experience, untouchable safety record and clear passion for ballooning.

The Ballooning Business – The Ballooning Business has launch sites in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and began flying in 1989.

Broadland Balloons – Broadland Balloons cover Norfolk and Suffolk and have nearly 20 years experience in passenger ballooning.

Wickers World – Wickers World have sites in Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire and have been a passenger balloons flights company for 22 years!

To book a flight with one of the above balloon flights operators, simply call on 0845 071 6388 or book online.

Countryside Balloons – one of the Balloons Over Britain member companies – are Essex and Suffolk’s longest flying balloon operator and have been in operation since the early 90’s. Fully licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority we carry liability insurance for all our passengers. One of the first thoughts of our passengers is, ‘who will be flying me?’ Well here at Countryside Balloons we think it’s important that our passengers understand as much about us and what to expect as possible. Tim Parker is our principle pilot and is one of only a few highly qualified group C chief pilots in Britain! This is Tim’s 16th season with us and in addition to working full time with us; Tim has been involved in safety projects with the Civil Aviation Authority and has consulted with Cameron Balloons, the world’s largest balloon manufacturer, to have manufactured a purpose-built balloon basket to increase space and safety for our passengers!

Since the mid 1990s numerous experience companies have approached us to fly all their hot air ballooning experience passengers for Essex. In fact over 40 experience companies have approached us, as members of the Balloons Over Britain group, and have chosen us due to our unrivalled safety record and wealth of experience!

A balloon flight voucher makes the perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary or any celebration. But what makes Countryside Balloons so special is our dedication to detail. Our vouchers can be given to individuals, couples or even groups, and whether it’s for one person or a big party, we will tailor the day to suit you. The gift voucher arrives in an attractive presentation card and envelope complete with ballooning cap and is valid for 12 months! What’s more, you can make the occasion extra special by attaching your gift voucher to a helium filled foil balloon in a box, which will arrive, bearing your message, in a robust gift box! When your friend or loved one opens the box, out will float the helium balloon carrying the experience voucher and your message. Now there’s a special touch that is sure to go down well!

Remember, your flight can be chosen at the time of purchase or even by the recipient at a later date simply review our scheduled flight dates to book your slot!

It’s only four weeks until Christmas and many of us are hitting the high steets to locate the perfect Christmas present or sitting in the comfort of our homes, shopping online.  But what is the perfect Christmas present?  You may already have a good idea of what to buy for your loved ones but have you thought about offering them a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they will never forget?  Balloons over Britain offers this very thing.  That’s right, a hot air balloon flight!

With Balloons over Britain, your loved ones have a fantastic choice of locations where they can experience their very own hot air balloon ride.  As ballooning season runs from mid March until late October, there will not be any flights on Christmas Day but you will receive a full colour flight voucher that is valid for 12 months which you can present to your loved ones on Christmas Day.  Just imagine the look on their faces when they receive this absolutely spectacular Christmas gift!

Balloons over Britain are currently offering fantastic Christmas discounts on their flight vouchers!  A Weekday Morning Flight Voucher is now an amazing £89, saving an incredible £30!  Balloon flights can be experienced by just about anyone, yet there are some restrictions that apply in the interests of health and safety.  Take a look at our FAQ’s or contact us on 0845 071 6388 if you have any questions. 

So what are you waiting for?  Give your loved ones a memorable gift this Christmas in the form of a hot air balloon flight!

With Christmas fast approaching, you may already be pondering over the perfect present for a loved one.  With Balloons over Britain, you can give the gift of a lifetime in the form of a hot air balloon flight.  With flights available across the majority of the UK mainland, you can be sure that your loved one will get to fly over a beautiful, spectacular location that has meaning to them.  What must be emphasised is that the ballooning season runs from mid March until the end of October and therefore, flights will not actually occur at Christmas time.  However, flight vouchers have a validity period of 12 or 18 months so you can give your loved one their voucher on Christmas day and watch their face light up with joy at receiving such a wonderful gift.  

If you are unsure of whether a loved one can fly or not, here are some facts and figures that may help reassure you:

• The youngest passenger was just 7 years old.
• 50% of their passengers bought the flight as a 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday present.
• 17% of their passengers were over 70 years old.
• The oldest passenger was 100 years and 4 days old.
• 22% of the business came from personal recommendation.
• The most frequent passenger has flown with them 12 times!!

So what are you waiting for?  Purchase a flight voucher today and give the gift of flight this Christmas.

If you would like more information regarding flights and restrictions, take a look at our FAQ’s page or contact us.