This summer, I finally ticked a major item off my bucket list: I went on a hot-air balloon ride!!! This has been something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and of course I wanted to see my beautiful city of York from above. After several re-bookings, I finally got to go on my spectacular hot-air balloon flight with Virgin Balloon Flights!
Booking With Virgin Balloon Flights
The hot-air balloon rides are booked by a voucher. The cost will depend on your flexibility – whether you want morning or afternoon/evening, weekday or weekend. Once you have your voucher, you can then select the day/time of your hot-air balloon ride. Please know that hot-air balloon rides are (obviously) very weather dependent. Even on a clear morning with no rain or cloud, high winds can mean it’s unsafe. It is very likely that your hot-air balloon flight will be canceled and you’ll need to rebook at least once.
As I booked a morning hot-air balloon ride, I needed to call the pilot hotline at 11pm the night before my flight. The pilot records a message advising if your flight is going ahead, and where to meet the group and at what time. Or, if your flight is canceled, they will let you know and advise you to rebook your flight. I had my flight canceled and rebooked several times – but fifth times the charm, and I finally got in the air!
A Hot-Air Balloon Flight Over York
My hot-air balloon flight in July started from York Racecourse, where our group met at 6am. There were 16 of us in total for this flight, and most of us helped in some way to get the balloon ready – from unfurling the balloon to holding the sides as it filled with hot air. By 6:30am we were in the basket and taking off!
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The experience of seeing York from the sky was simply incredible. Unfortunately, we had quite a misty/foggy morning (I was actually really surprised that the flight went ahead) and my photos weren’t quite as clear, sharp, and colorful as I would have liked. That slight negative aside, WOW! What a way to start the day!
I’ve lived in York for 6 years now – so I know this city and its landmarks like the back of my hand. It was just so cool getting to see them all from a different perspective: the big Askham Bryan Tesco, York Designer Outlet, York Racecourse itself, the River Ouse, Bishopthorpe Palace, and of course my beloved Minster, the city’s crown jewel.
There’s no way to really steer a hot-air balloon – you really just let the wind take you where you want to go. So it’s up to your pilot to make sure you can land safely!
Landing in the Hot-Air Balloon
About 1 hour and 15 minutes after initially setting off from York Racecourse, our pilot (Dave) landed safely in a field outside Naburn. We practiced the brace position, and after a few thumps we were able to safely exit the balloon basket.
Next, we all worked together as a team to fold the balloon back up, and get it put away in its bag.
After, we were treated to a glass of prosecco to celebrate! This was such a special moment and toasting the hot-air balloon ride was the perfect way to close out the morning. We also got our signed certificates, saying that we’d all completed the flight. We also had the chance to purchase some of the GoPro photos from Virgin Balloon Flights – it was about £20 if I remember correctly. Then, we were transported in a minibus back to York Racecourse. The whole experience was just under 3 hours in total.
Planning Your Trip
I live in York, so this was very convenient for me. The hot-air balloon flights aren’t confirmed until the night before, so it may be tricky if you’re visiting York only for this reason. I always think a visit to York is a good idea, though 😉
Planning on staying overnight in York? I’d recommend the following places:
- Budget: Safestay York or the Fort Boutique Hostel
- Mid-range: Hotel Indigo or Galtres Lodge
- Luxury: The Grand
You can book hostels in York here, and check out hotels in York here!
The closest airport to York is Leeds Bradford airport – although you have a much better selection of flights from Manchester airport. I use Skyscanner to book flights. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
This was such a wonderful experience, and absolutely something I want to do again – if only so I can get some better photos from the sky, particularly of the Minster! Getting to see the city I love from above was amazing, and I can’t recommend doing this enough.
This is not a sponsored post, however Virgin Balloon Flights asked for my permission to use one of my photos in their winter marketing campaign. As a gesture of goodwill, they offered me a voucher for a hot-air balloon flight. I would absolutely pay for this experience!
Have you ever taken a hot-air balloon flight? What was your experience like?
You might also like my posts:
20 Things to Do in York That Are Absolutely FREE!
The Best Walks in and Around York, England
The Complete Guide to the Best Instagram Spots in York
All of my York posts!
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[…] of my bucket list goals living in York is to see the city from a hot air balloon – I finally made it happen in July 2023!. There is a hot air balloon festival in York every year, […]