Hot Air Ballooning in Bristol & Bath
|
Welcome to the 2026 hot air ballooning season in Bristol and Bath!
Bristol isn’t just home to Europe’s largest free balloon festival - it’s widely regarded as the hot air ballooning capital of Great Britain. The ballooning season typically runs from March through to October, with balloons most commonly launching from the famous UK launch site at Ashton Court Estate.
During the summer months, if the winds are light enough, it’s not unusual to spot balloons drifting across the skies somewhere in the Bristol region on most mornings and nights. In addition to Ashton Court, balloon teams also regularly fly from Royal Victoria Park, Bath Hot Air Balloon Club, Keynsham and the Maize Field.
Currently 90 airworthy hot air balloons are based in the Bristol / Bath area, making it the most active hot air ballooning region in the UK. See below for more information on flight updates, launch sites, which balloons you can spot, ideal weather conditions and our spotter's guide.
|
Flight Updates for 2026
For 2026, we’re introducing a new way to share flight updates. Our Live Flight Updates page is being retired, and all confirmed flights will now be posted directly on our Facebook page. Updates will only be shared when flights are confirmed from Ashton Court, Royal Victoria Park, or Bath Hot Air Balloon Club.
|
The Facebook post will contain:
|
Time until next update
00
HOURS
00
MIN
00
SEC
An update has been posted to Facebook if flights are confirmed.
Visit Facebook to find out. |
🔴 LIVE Updates - Real-time updates to this Facebook post will take place as we get closer to flight time, as additional balloons may join.
See today's live flight status below. If status is yellow or red, there may not be an update when the countdown ends. If green, we're good to go!
Loading status...
If flights are cancelled, there will be no post. If flights are confirmed from alternative launch sites such as Maize Field or Keynsham, there will be no post.
DOWNLOAD - 2026 Spotter's Guide
We have created a new spotter's guide for 2026 with every balloon you can see in the skies around Bristol and Bath. Simply download, print and enjoy!
Your challenge - try and spot as many as you can during this year’s season.
Launch Sites main sites in Bristol and Bath
Ashton Court, Bristol
📍 Address: Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol BS41 9JN
🅿️ Parking: You can easily park in the Ashton Court mansion house car park at the top of the hill, arriving via Kennel Lodge Road (BS3 2JT) past the UWE Bower Ashton Campus. You must pay for parking at the machine.
ℹ️ Once you’ve arrived in the car park, follow the path with the mansion house on your left. Continue walking and you’ll soon see the balloon teams setting up on your right. This area is known as the Bowl, and it’s where the Bristol Balloon Fiesta was originally held until 1988, when the event moved to what is now known as the Fiesta Field on the other side of the trees.
ℹ️ The car park can get very busy during the summer, so it may be best to walk or take public transport at times.
🔍 Passenger rides balloons and privately operated balloons fly from this location.
Royal Victoria Park, Bath
📍 Address: Royal Victoria Park, Marlborough Lane, Bath, BA1 2NQ
🅿️ Parking: You can leave your car anywhere around the edge of the entire park. You must pay for parking at the machines.
ℹ️ The launch field is located adjacent to the allotments on the right hand side and south of the golf course. Look for large green open space and you'll soon spot the balloon teams.
🔍 Passenger rides balloons and privately operated balloons fly from this location.
Bath Hot Air Balloon Club, Saltford
📍 Address: Snake Meadows, 565 Bath Road, Saltford, Bristol BS31 3JS
🅿️ Parking: You can park in the field for free, but please keep to the edge. Strictly no right turn when leaving the field.
ℹ️ To locate Snake Meadows, it's just past the Cash4Cars garage when driving from Saltford towards Bath.
🔍 Privately operated balloons fly from this location.
Wind Direction
Wind direction and speed are the main factors to consider when flying and planning a flight. Pilots will often aim for a particular landing site based on the forecast prior to take off and will use the wind at different levels to 'steer' the balloon as best they can. But ultimately, you never know where you will end up.
For flying from Ashton Court, NE (Bristol Airport) is a bad direction, which will see ride balloons mostly likely divert to Royal Victoria Park to get as far right as possible for their flight. Private balloonists would likely move to maize field in this situation. Anything around 8-15kts gradient (2000ft wind) from Ashton Court and SW-NW direction will allow for a perfect flight across Bristol. Complications may arise if there isn't enough wind to reach the other side of the city!
The trickiest wind direction in our region is a SE, which even from Bath will take the balloon straight over Bristol. Make sure you follow us for updates!
Hot Air Balloons in Bristol and Bath
|
Here are the balloons that you can expect to see flying in Bristol and Bath from all different launch sites. In order from most active at the top to least active.
|
Total active balloons: 91
|
Passenger Balloons
Special Shapes
Round Balloons
|
Name: Able Scaffolding (G-CMAB)
Balloon Team: Bath Hot Air Balloon Club / Able Scaffolding Balloon Team |
Name: Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance (G-CMEX)
Balloon Team: Bath Hot Air Balloon Club / Able Scaffolding Balloon Team |
Name: SM Gauge Company (G-GAGE)
Balloon Team: SM Gauge & Ben's Tiles Model Balloon Team |
Name: BWS Standfast (G-CJRO)
Balloon Team: Spirit Operations |
Hoppers