Hot Air Balloon Rides Oxfordshire

Incorporating parts of the Cotswolds, Chilterns and North Wessex Downs, all Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Oxfordshire boasts a great diversity of landscape.

View the facinating scenery from the comfort of a hot air balloon flight. Within its boundaries you will also find ancient forests, areas of wilderness, ironstone uplands, peaceful vales and a host of delightful villages. All are well watered by the tranquil Thames and its charming tributaries: Cherwell, Evenlode and Windrush.

Traditionally Oxford has been a favoured location for balloon flights. James Sadler flew from Christchurch Meadows on the 4th October 1784, becoming the first Englishman to fly. There had been an earlier and “first” balloon flight over London . by an Italian, Vincenzo Lunardi just over two weeks before. Because Oxfordshire is in the centre of the south of the country, it often has winds better suited to flights in hot air balloons during the summer months but can equally suffer from misty conditions on autumn mornings.

Standing at the confluence of the Thames and the Cherwell the city of Oxford has a long history as a centre of learning. A hot air balloon flight from Oxford with Adventure Balloons takes off from the Oxford city parks so that passengers can view the dreaming spires and the countryside around during their flight. See the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, and the many Musuems and Oxford Colleges built in the distinctive stone. Further a field Didcot Power Station, Farmoor Reservoir and Port Meadow are distinctive landmarks you may see.

Further south of Oxford you may find yourself looking down upon Wallingford, lying serenely against the banks of the Thames as it flows onwards to London.

To the North West by about 10 miles lies Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and one of the areas biggest visitor attractions. North of the city of Oxford you can take a balloon flight from the market town of Banbury with The Ballooning Business.