Worth getting up at 4.15 for. Flying from Welford Christmas Tree farm at 6.30 AM, on a sunny Sunday morning. The team were great. Friendly and helpful, giving us a pre-flight safety talk, and p... See more
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Had a virgin balloon ride on Friday 7/8/26 with my best friends as a belated birthday present. Took off in Northamptonshire. The pilot was very informative and friendly. We had a perfect landin... See more
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The weather was perfect. Blue sky not a cloud in sight , and absolutely no wind ! It was truly magical , we floated upwards effortlessly and drifted majestically through the Sussex / Kent countrysi... See more
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Great experience. Pilot very friendly and informative, didn't go above 500 feet, so had a fantastic view. Downside. Would be better if the directions to the field were more accurate as the given p... See more
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Company details
Written by the company
Virgin Balloon Flights is the largest commercial hot air balloon rides company in the UK and has been taking passengers up, up and away on the airborne experience of a lifetime since 1994.
Contact info
Jesson House, TF3 3BD, Telford, Shropshire, United Kingdom
- 01952 212750
- customerservice@virginballoonflights.co.uk
- www.virginballoonflights.co.uk
4.6
Excellent
6K reviews
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Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Thank you so much for the positive review! We're glad you enjoyed flight!
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Has an amazing time made extra special…
Has an amazing time made extra special by the team, Chris, Rachel and Mike.
An exceptional experience
12 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Marion,
This is lovely to read! We're glad you had such an incredible flight with us and that the whole crew made it even more special! They really are a great bunch!
Thanks for flying with us!
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Amazing balloon flight with Nobby in South Wales
What an amazing experience. Flew with Nobby from Llanarth last night. Every step of the trip was amazing. Nobby as well as the ground team of Glyn and Joe were so welcoming and friendly. We all felt really involved from helping to get the balloon inflated, through the flight, and to packing everything down at the end.
Nobby was really knowledgeable and shared really interesting facts about the experience as well as the history and origins of ballooning in France. His sense of humour and ability to put everybody at ease was also phenomenal.
Thank you so much all.
11 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi,
Thank you so much for your lovely review!
It sounds like Nobby, Glyn and Joe had you working for your flight- we promise that wasn’t just free labour! 😂
We’re so pleased you enjoyed the whole experience and that Nobby kept you entertained with his incredible knowledge and legendary sense of humour.
A huge thank you for the fantastic review, and we’ll make sure your lovely comments are passed on to the Llanarth crew. Here’s hoping we see you back in a basket again someday! 🎈
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Amazing experience
Amazing experience, Chris was great fun and he and his team did an excellent job from start to finish - highly recommend taking this flight.
10 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Matt,
Thank you so much for the lovely review. Chris really is hilarious and a real character isn't which certainly adds to the experience! :)
Thank you for the recommendation, we really appreciate it and you're welcome back anytime!
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Thank you Lorna! We're so glad you enjoyed flying with us and had an amazing time!
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Balloon Swindle Uk
After FOUR YEARS IN WAITING of repeated cancellations by Virgin - even on perfectly nice sunny days with no wind, we finally moved the take off from York to Oxford, where my daughter was graduating. Virgin moved the flight to Henley on the day, which meant we couldn't go on it and lost our 4 tickets. Virgin claimed it was the weather, however the met office confirmed the balloon flight conditions were better on Oxford than Henley. When I pointed this out to them, The staff were thoroughly unhelpful and switched to the next excuse, lacking empathy, clearly trained to con people, dismissing all reasoning and logic. That's over £500.- lost - this does not end here! HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET YO FLY, from the millions clicking Daily to buy an experience that hardly ever materialises if at all?!
9 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi,
We’re sorry that, after such a long time trying to fly, your experience has ended with you feeling this strongly.
We do, however, want to clarify one important point. Balloon flights are not cancelled or moved unnecessarily. Decisions are made by experienced commercial balloon pilots using the conditions and forecasts relevant to balloon operations, including wind speeds and direction at different altitudes, not simply whether the weather appears calm or sunny at ground level.
On the day of a flight, wind direction can also determine which launch site can safely be used. This is why backup launch sites form part of our operation and why a flight may move even when conditions at the original location appear pleasant. Such information is naturally provided to you in writing each and every time you book, so we are sorry this appears to have come as a surprise.
We appreciate that this does not change your disappointment at being unable to attend the revised launch location, particularly after waiting so long to fly. We have already corresponded with you directly regarding your concerns and are sorry we have been unable to reach the resolution you were hoping for.
Thanks,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Ahhh thanks Mag! And we love you for this fabulous review!
Thanks for flying with us - want to join us again? :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
This was a present for my partners 60th…
This was a present for my partners 60th birthday which he enjoyed .
All round good flight as the conditions were just right and the crew were great.
Thank you all for a wonderful and memorable journey.
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi,
Thank you so much for the positive review and we're glad you enjoyed your flight with us.
Thank you to you too for flying with us :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Great adventure
The event itself was excellent. The organisation was good and the pilot, both entertaining and informative. Its only a 4 star as you have to accept that the conditions have to be right for the flight to go ahead, and so expect( many) cancellations.
10 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Paul,
Ahhh we're so glad you had such a fab time flying with us and it's nice to read how the pilot's sense of humour and charisma added to the experience. It really makes it extra special doesn't it!
We're so sorry that we only earned 4 stars on this occasion and fully appreciate the honesty here. Like you say, the weather conditions to have to be spot on for a safe flight.
Fancy another one so that we can earn the extra star? :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Absolutely unforgettable
Absolutely unforgettable!
We celebrated my fiancée’s birthday with our first hot air balloon flight, but I had something much more special planned.
High above the ground, surrounded by the most incredible views, I asked her to marry me… and she said YES!
Our amazing pilot was incredibly kind, funny and professional, and helped me make the proposal even more special.
An unforgettable experience, an unforgettable birthday, and the moment she became my fiancée.
10 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Daniel!
Wow! Now THIS is how you do a balloon flight! 🎈💍❤️
A birthday, your first hot air balloon flight AND a proposal thousands of feet in the air… talk about setting the bar high! 😄
We’re absolutely thrilled she said YES! Huge congratulations to you both from everyone here at Virgin Balloon Flights. It’s wonderful to hear that your pilot was able to help make such a special moment even more memorable.
Thank you for choosing to share such a massive milestone with us. We hope every time you look up and see a balloon in the sky, it brings back some very happy memories.
Wishing the future Mr & Mrs Penchev a lifetime of happiness together, although we’re not sure you’ll ever top that proposal! 🎈💍🥂
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
The experience was amazing and the…
The experience was amazing and the pilot and team made it even more enjoyable.
8 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for flying with us - we're glad you enjoyed it and that the pilot and ground crew added to the experience! :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
A necessarily very early 5.30 meet up…
A necessarily very early 5.30 meet up due to the forecast, at a different location due to the wind.
A friendly professional welcome from the pilot, it was fun being involved in the inflation and launch preparation.
The support crew were very professional and we realised how lucky we were to be flying on our first booking attempt.
A lengthy very enjoyable flight as the sun rose higher in the sky.
An uneventful landing and subsequent recovery back to base.
Recommended.
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Chris,
Oh bless you, the early starts are not fun but it's oh so worth it! And wow to go up on the first booking is incredibly lucky! Here's a virtual high five!
We're so glad you enjoyed every minute of your experience...no mention of the complimentary post flight bubbles though? Or was it too early for that? ;)
Thank you again Chris and you're welcome back for another flight anytime!
The Virgin Balloon Flight Team
Fabulous loved it…
10 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Thank you Mark! You must have really loved it to leave us not just one but two positive reviews! Thank you again, we really appreciate it :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Amazing experience would definitely…
Amazing experience would definitely recommend. From start to finish the pilot and his team were professional courteous and made the day fun .
8 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Thanks so much Claire - we're glad you had a wonderful time flying with us! :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
A dream come true
A dream come true. So calming and still. Beautiful views. Would recommend and encourage anyone thinking about to book.
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much - sounds like it was the perfect flight and we're glad you thoroughly enjoyed it.....how many times did you have to pinch yourself? ;)
You're welcome back anytime!
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
It was our 15th attempt over three…
It was our 15th attempt over three years but the experience last night was perfect.
As Nobby said to us we are rubbish at picking good weather.
I was disappointed that we had to use the back up site as I wanted to fly out of Bristol but it turned out to be a perfect flight.
The booking process isn't the easiest to navigate and sometimes the team answering the phones haven't been overly helpful but some have gone the extra mile.
On one occasion we had a flight booked and confirmed with all the appropriate correspondence but on the actual day it transpired that you were not running flights anywhere that day.
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hey Maggie,
Wow! 15th time lucky! 🎈😄
We’re so pleased you finally got airborne after three years of trying. It sounds like Nobby may have a point about your weather-picking skills! We might have to take charge of the forecast for attempt number 16... 😉
It’s great to hear that, despite not launching from Bristol as you’d hoped, the backup site delivered a perfect flight and made all those previous attempts worthwhile.
We really appreciate your honest feedback about the booking process and your experiences with our team too. We know that after so many attempts, the journey to getting in the basket hasn’t always been as smooth as the eventual flight, and we’ll certainly take those comments on board.
Most importantly, you made it! Thanks for sticking with us for an incredible 15 attempts. We think that deserves a certificate of its own! 🎈
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
the pilot was informative and friendly
the pilot was informative and friendly, also knowledgable with experience of flying, which gave me confididence of him being in control at all times.
the landing was as perfect as can be in a local field.
6 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi,
Thank you so much for this lovely review! We're glad you fully enjoyed your flight experience with us!
You're welcome back anytime! :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
No communication at all
Shocking communication we had booked the lakes as that was the closest to us which is a 3 hour drive away. We got told to ring the flight number at 11pm the night before we did and it still had the information for 9th morning and not the 10th we kept trying every half an hour same message for the morning of the 9th. We decided to get there for 5am as we had no communication from pilot and stated on website it can be an hour each way from 6am. We tried every half an hour and same message was occurring.
We pulled up at the gates at 5am and we tried to call the emergency number as still no communication the emergency number just rang so we decided to try the flight number once more which then the pilot decided to update the phone line to say it has been cancelled 1 hour before we fly when it should have been updated at 11pm. We drove all the way to the lakes for nothing getting told an hour before the flight is not good enough. We understand balloons have to have perfect weather but informing us an hour before hand isn't on we lost a full day as it was an 6 hour round trip. We called the customer service team and a lady answered and he attitude was awful as well. Do better virgin balloon rides
10 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Emily,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We’re incredibly sorry to hear about your experience, particularly after you had travelled such a long distance to reach the launch site.
We completely understand your frustration with the communication around the cancellation.
We’re also sorry to hear about your experience when speaking with a member of our Customer Service team, as this isn’t the level of service we aim to provide.
We have now been able to locate your account and understand that your vouchers were extended by the same member of our Customer Services Team for 12 months free of charge as a way of an apology. The Flight Line hadn't been updated due to a technical glitch which we fully understand is not ideal. We would like to re-assure you that this is a very rare occurrence and shouldn't happen again.
Once again we sincerely apologise for the error and inconvenience caused. If there is anything further you would like to discuss with us then please don't hesitate to contact us on 01952 212750 or email us at customerservice@virginballoonflights.co.uk and we'll always do our best to help.
Thank you again for taking the time to leave a review.
Kind regards,
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
An experience well worth the wait
An experience well worth the wait. I felt safe and reassured by our pilot Robert, taking off from Mattishall. Smooth take off and even smoother landing. Very knowledgeable of the area. Relaxing and peaceful journey, wish we could've stayed up longer. Finished off with a nice glass of bubbly. Would highly recommend
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi,
We're so glad to read that you thoroughly enjoyed your experience! Sounds like everything went without a hitch! The glass of fizz at the end is certainly a nice way to top it all off!
Thank you for this lovely review and recommendation, we really appreciate it :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
Weather was perfect after 3.5 years of…
Weather was perfect after 3.5 years of waiting!!
11 August 2026
Reply from Virgin Balloon Flights
Hi Abi & Will,
Thank you both so much for sticking with us through think and thin! We're really pleased that after such a long time you finally got to get up there and enjoy the experience!
We hope it was worth the wait :)
The Virgin Balloon Flights Team
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