Hot Air Ballooning in Bristol & Bath

Bristol isn't only home to Europe's largest, free annual balloon fiesta - it's the ballooning capital of Great Britain! The hot air ballooning season runs from March to October with balloons mainly flying from well-known UK launch site Ashton Court Estate. You can spot a balloon flying somewhere in our region on most days in the summer, that is if the wind is light enough, of course! Balloon teams also fly from Keynsham as well as Royal Victoria Park and Maize Field nearby in Bath. We have 100 airworthy hot air balloons based around Bristol, which you can find more about below. 
Have a look through this page to see which balloons you can expect to see in the skies and info about our flight updates. 

Flight Updates for 2025

STATUS: ACTIVE
Go to LIVE FLIGHT UPDATES
You can access this via our MJ Ballooning Live Flight Updates page, which will be updated every day AM and PM with flight status, number of balloons expected and meeting times. Of course, it won't always be flyable. Info will be available for Ashton Court, Royal Victoria Park and Snake Meadows only - Maize Field and Keynsham flights are not available. This will be active from 1st April to 31st October 2025.
For these updates and much more, follow MJ Ballooning on Facebook and X. Follow on Instagram for our best ballooning photos. 

DOWNLOAD - 2025 Bristol & Bath Hot Air Balloon Guide 

We have created a new guide for 2025 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: Park in the car park via the Bower Ashton entrance (festival way). Walk around keeping the mansion house on your left and you will see the balloon teams setting up on the right. This is called the Ashton Court bowl and you can watch many different balloon teams fly from here.
Royal Victoria Park: You can park in Charlotte St car park or in the park itself. Mainly ride balloons fly from Bath Park, known as RVP, taking off from the large open area in the centre. It's a beautiful setting on a fine summers evening for a flight!
Maize Field:
Flight updates not available for maize field
Keynsham Rugby Football Club: 
Flight updates not available for Keynsham
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. 
Total active balloons: 95
Passenger Balloons
Name: Virgin G-VBBF
Balloon Team: Virgin Balloon Flights
Name: Virgin G-VBAU
Balloon Team: Virgin Balloon Flights
Name: Virgin G-VBBB
Balloon Team: Virgin Balloon Flights
Name: Thatchers Cider G-CMTW
Balloon Team: First Flight
​Name: Thatchers Cider G-CMKM
Balloon Team: First Flight
Name: Thatchers Cider G-CKEG
Balloon Team: First Flight
Name: Bradfords
Balloon Team: First Flight
Name: Huboo
Balloon Team: Bailey Exclusive
Name: Royal Crescent Hotel
Balloon Team: Bailey Exclusive
Name: Sabio
Balloon Team: Bailey Exclusive
Name: Poplar Insulation
Balloon Team: Sky High Ballooning
Name: Xplosive Events / Illusion Fireworks
Balloon Team: Sky High Ballooning
Name: Blu
Balloon Team: Sky High Ballooning
Name: G-CMNN
Balloon Team: The Hot Air Balloon Company
Name: The Hot Air Balloon Company (G-CMYD)
Balloon Team: The Hot Air Balloon Company
Name: Bateman Skips
Balloon Team: The Hot Air Balloon Company
Name: Pump Wright
Balloon Team: The Hot Air Balloon Company
Name: G-CMNF
Balloon Team: Fly Away Ballooning
Name: G-OGIN
Balloon Team: Fly Away Ballooning
Name: Bath Gin
Balloon Team: Fly Away Ballooning
Name: G-CGPD
Balloon Team: Fly Away Ballooning
Special Shapes
Name: Joycam Lips 
Balloon Team: MJ Ballooning
Name: J&B Whisky Bottle
Balloon Team: MJ Ballooning
Name: Orange
Balloon Team: MJ Ballooning
Name: Slick the Dragon
Balloon Team: MJ Ballooning
Name: Astro the Alien
Balloon Team: Fly Alien
Round Balloons
Name: Able Scaffolding
Balloon Team: Able Scaffolding Balloon Team
Name: SP UK
Balloon Team: Able Scaffolding Balloon Team
Name: Ben's Tiles
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: SM Gauge Company
Balloon Team: SM Gauge & Ben's Tiles Model Balloon Team
Name: Southern Plasticlad
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: ETS Group
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Prestige Grounds
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: V12 Footwear
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Bristol Blue
Balloon Team: Bristol Blue Balloon Team
Name: Slither the Snake
Balloon Team: Able Scaffolding Balloon Team
Name: Iris G-CCJH
Balloon Team: Iris Balloon Team
Name: B&A Group
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Corsham Patios & Fencing
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Red Box
Balloon Team: Red Box Balloon Team
Name: Belmont Estate
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Ginger Ninja
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BVEN
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-OMDD
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CLPD
Balloon Team: Gone with the Wind
Name: G-CGVY
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Novia 
Balloon Team: n/a 
Name: G-CBVD
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Bristol University
Balloon Team: BUHABS
Name: G-CLPC
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Betty P
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: cj Hole
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CGFY
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-MILE
Balloon Team: Miles Architectural Ironmongery Ltd Balloon Team
Name: Bristol University
Balloon Team: BUHABS
Name: Rotork
Balloon Team: n/a
​Name: G-CIND
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CLNX
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CKTG
Balloon Team: Kubicek Balloons UK
Name: Up / Down G-BZYY
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Silver Lining
Balloon Team: Gone with the Wind
Name: Stairway to Heaven
Balloon Team: Gone with the Wind
Name: Zycomm G-BXUW
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Tik Tak G-CLTT
Balloon Team: Phoenix Balloons
Name: G-CIOU
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CKXA
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BYHU
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BWEE
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Cameron Balloons G-CKWW
Balloon Team: Cameron Balloons
Name: Cameron Balloons G-CLMM
Balloon Team: Cameron Balloons
Name: Taittinger
Balloon Team: Phoenix Balloons
Name: Silverline
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Creative Developments
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BWIP
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-PYRO
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: JLL
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Clutton Car & Van
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: RVS
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Fly Alien (G-CMLH)
Balloon Team: Fly Alien
Name: Skymonkeys
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BTHF
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BRMU
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-BYNU
Balloon Team: n/a
Hoppers
Name: Beat Hopper
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CIJJ Hopper
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-HEXE Hopper
Balloon Team: Gone with the Wind
Name: BWS Standfast G-CJRK
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CMRO Hopper
Balloon Team: Phoenix Balloons
Name: G-CBLN
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Daisy the Cow
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: Virgin G-BROJ Hopper
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-LELE Hopper
Balloon Team: n/a
Name: G-CIPD Hopper
Balloon Team: Gone with the Wind
Name: Kubicek UK Hopper (G-CLAF)
Balloon Team: Kubicek Balloons UK
Name: G-CKSW Hopper
Balloon Team: n/a