South West Hot Air Balloon Experiences

Discover the UK’s Hot Air Ballooning Hotspot

Welcome, budding balloonist, to the South West of England. This beautiful corner of the UK is home to some of the most well known areas of outstanding natural beauty. There are plenty of things to do in the South West and a lot of culture to absorb in this lively corner of the country.

With many breathtaking locations to fly from you'll be sure to have an unforgettable experience with a friend, loved one or even as a treat for yourself! Popular locations to take off on a hot air balloon adventure include Ashton Court near Bristol, Launceston in Cornwall and Glastonbury in Somerset.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in The South West of England

The South West is a vibrant hub of hot air ballooning activity, including hosting the UKs largest Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which attracts crowds of over 100,000 people per day. The Bristol skyline is often associated with hot air ballooning, with large passenger operators, such as your very own Virgin Balloon Flights and many local enthusiasts taking flight over this beautiful port city.

There is, however, a lot more beauty to discover from up on high throughout the South West of England. Let’s explore the many options for your hot air balloon experience that this region has to offer.

Ashton Court (Bristol)

Home to the world famous Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Ashton Court could well lay claim to the title of ‘hot air ballooning capital of the world’ and is the perfect place to embark on a Bristol hot air balloon ride over this iconic city. Go up, up and away and experience breath-taking views across this vibrant and history city from the basket of our iconic big red balloon. Nestled in the beautiful county of Somerset, the Bristol boasts some… read more

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Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is back for 2024 and set to be bigger and better than ever before! This year Virgin Balloon Flights has two balloons flying from the event, so we have twice as many spaces as before! Available to book for the unforgettable mass ascents, where you launch with a hundred or more other hot air balloons. We have flights scheduled on the evening of Thursday the 8th of August and both morning and evening on Friday the 9th, Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th of August. Take… read more

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Bath

Take flight over one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the UK when you go up, up and away on a magnificent Bath hot air balloon ride. Experience this breath-taking city like never before when you soar majestically overhead in our iconic big red balloon. Go wherever the wind takes you on a truly unforgettable balloon ride experience that you will talk about for years to come. See if you can the Roman remains, historic buildings… read more

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Swindon

A sky-high adventure awaits on a stunning Swindon hot air balloon ride from the beautiful Lydiard Park. Go up, up and away in our big red balloon and experience breath-taking views you will never forget. Watch acres of glorious parkland get further and further away beneath the basket as you head wherever the wind takes you across breath-taking Wiltshire countryside. Swindon itself stretches away to the east while to the west lies Bristol and the border with Somerset. With the right south-east wind on a clear day,… read more

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Glastonbury

Take life higher with a stunning Somerset hot air balloon ride and experience breath-taking views of this glorious county. Hop on board our iconic big red Virgin balloon for the airborne adventure of a lifetime. Watch the world pass by beneath your feet as you go up, up and away on a truly majestic flying experience. Keep an eye out for the famous Glastonbury Tor, topped with the Grade I listed St Michael’s Tower, of… read more

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Shaftesbury

Experience the airborne adventure of a lifetime on a spectacular Dorset hot air balloon ride with Virgin Balloon Flights. Go up, up and away from our beautiful launch site near Shaftesbury and enjoy stunning views of this glorious and idyllic landscape. Appreciate first-hand the breath-taking countryside so vividly described in the books of Thomas Hardy, who re-named his fictional version of the town ‘Shaston’. If the wind takes you… read more

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Gillingham Rugby Club Dorset

The history of Gillingham dates back to ancient times, with evidence of a stone age barrow and Roman settlement in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. However, the town was established by the Saxons. The notable church of St Mary the Virgin features a Saxon cross shaft dating from the 9th century. The name "Gillingham" was used in the town's 10th-century Saxon charter and is mentioned in historical annals for a battle between Edmund Ironside and the Vikings in 1016. The name derives from a personal name combined with the Old English "inga"… read more

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Dorset (Folke)

Stunning views over delightful Dorset await when you take to the skies with Virgin Balloon Flights over this beautiful county. Unforgettable vistas await as you go up, up and away from the picturesque Folke Golf Centre, near Sherborne for the ultimate Dorset hot air balloon flight experience. Take life higher in the heart of Blackmore Vale, with Sherborne Castle and Gardens to the north and beautiful patchwork countryside to the south, west and east. The scenic Lenthay Common lies to the north west, while further… read more

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Exeter (Cullompton)

Experience the skies over the land of cream teas with a spectacular Exeter hot air balloon ride. Go up, up and away over beautiful Devon when you hop on board our iconic big red Virgin balloon. The flying experience of a lifetime, nothing else compares to the feelings of exhilaration and tranquillity that come from a majestic balloon flight. An Exeter hot air balloon ride gives the best of both worlds, with ancient and modern complementing one another perfectly to ensure a memorable experience you’ll cherish for many… read more

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Tiverton

Adventure awaits when you go up, up and away for an unforgettable Devon hot air balloon experience. Take to the skies from the beautiful market down of Tiverton and enjoy breath-takingly beautiful views in every direction. Leave the stresses of everyday life behind as you float majestically and silently, except for the occasional roar of the burners, up into the Devon skies. Keep an eye out for Tiverton Castle and the winding Rivers Exe and Lowman as you climb higher. To the north lies the stunning read more

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Okehampton

Go up, up and away on an unforgettable Devon hot air balloon ride for an airborne adventure like no other. Marvel at the beautiful and dramatic landscape of Dartmoor as our iconic big red balloon launches majestically from Okehampton, on the edge of the world famous moorland. Whichever way the wind takes you, a breath-taking airborne adventure awaits aboard our iconic big red balloon. The dramatic and ancient heart of Devon, Dartmoor… read more

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Launceston

Join us for a spectacular Cornwall hot air balloon ride experience of a lifetime. Take to the skies in our majestic big red balloon from Launceston, the ancient capital of Cornwall. Spectacular sights such as the dramatic Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor await as you go up, up and away for an unforgettable airborne adventure. On a clear day with the right wind, you might even spot the Atlantic coast in the far… read more

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South West Hot Air Balloon Experiences

Hot Air Balloon Rides in The South West of England

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