Let The Wind
Decide The Way
See the Peak District from above with a balloon ride launching from Buxton, a handsome spa town surrounded by some of the area’s most striking scenery.
This part of the Peaks brings together rolling hills, open moorland and sweeping dales. One flight might take you across the green patchwork around Tideswell or down towards the wooded ridges of the Goyt Valley. Another might drift over limestone plateaus, with views that stretch for miles on a clear day.
Wherever the wind takes you, it’s a calm, unhurried way to take in the landscape. Whether you’re booking for a special occasion or simply fancy doing something different, ballooning from Buxton is a great way to experience the stunning Peak District from a new perspective.
Choose Your
Buxton Flight
The experience is the same unforgettable balloon adventure. What changes is when you can fly and how much flexibility your voucher gives you.
Weekday Morning
Let the morning Peak District breeze enliven your day on a balloon flight from the beauty of Buxton. You also get a champagne toast, a 3 to 4 hour experience, a luxury gift wallet and a personalised flight certificate.
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Weekday Morning
Or Evening
Watch the changing colours creep across the Peak District on either a morning or evening flight. This glorious 3 to 4 hour experience with champagne toast, luxury wallet and personalised flight certificate will bring a smile to any face!
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Any Day Morning Or Evening
Your choice of sunrise or sunset, during the week and weekends. This awesome champagne balloon ride comes with a luxury gift wallet, a personalised flight certificate and a 3 to 4 hour experience enjoying the best of Peak District ballooning.
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Compare All
Three Flights
See the three voucher choices side by side and choose the balance of price and flexibility that works best for you.
Compare Buxton vouchers Vouchers are valid nationwide at more than 100 launch locations.
A Little Closer
To Buxton
Buxton feels like a town with layers. You’ve got Georgian crescents, mineral-rich springs, wide open spaces, and moorland rising up in almost every direction. It’s often called the gateway to the Peaks, and once you’re in the air, you can see why.
The launch site sits just beyond the town, and from the moment the balloon leaves the ground, the land opens up. Some flights drift over quiet farmland or wooded valleys, others follow the high ridges of Axe Edge or head out towards the open moors. Where you go depends on the wind, but wherever it leads, the views never disappoint.
Morning flights tend to be calm and clear, especially in the cooler months. Evening flights bring a warmer glow to the hills, with the light catching stone walls and field edges in ways you don’t notice from the ground.
There’s also history here. Buxton’s thermal springs were a draw for the Romans, and later, a favourite of Georgian high society. The recently restored Crescent once welcomed those who came to “take the waters” and rest in the clean air. That sense of escape is still very much part of the place.
And while the town below has its charms, it’s the skies above Buxton that really let you take it all in. Quietly, gently, and with a view that stays with you long after the burner goes quiet.
Parkhouse Hill, Glutton Bridge
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 0EW
Head south from Buxton on the A515, then turn onto the B5053 for Longnor. In Glutton Bridge, turn right by the phone box and continue for around a third of a mile. Parking is on the right after the cattle grid, with the launch field opposite.
Ballooning is wind-led and nearby alternative launch sites may occasionally be used when conditions make that the better option.
Before You
Take Off
A few quick answers to the questions that tend to matter most before a Buxton balloon flight.
Where do Buxton balloon flights take off from?
The main Buxton launch point is Parkhouse Hill at Glutton Bridge, just south of the town. Ballooning is weather and wind dependent, so a nearby alternative launch site may occasionally be used when conditions make that the better option.
How long does the ballooning experience last?
Allow around three to four hours for the complete experience. That includes arrival and briefing, balloon preparation, around an hour in the air, landing, the post-flight celebration and transport back towards the launch area.
Can I choose where the balloon flies?
The wind decides the route. Your pilot controls the balloon’s altitude and chooses a suitable landing site, but the direction of travel depends on the conditions on the day. That unpredictability is part of what makes every flight different.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Balloon flights only operate when conditions are suitable. If your flight is cancelled because of the weather, you can rebook for another date rather than losing the experience.
Can friends or family come to watch?
Yes, spectators are welcome at the launch site. Facilities can vary, though, and spectators should not try to follow the balloon by road. Passengers are transported back after the flight.
Can I use my voucher somewhere other than Buxton?
Yes. Virgin Balloon Flights vouchers can be used nationwide, with more than 100 launch locations available. That gives you plenty of flexibility if another location or date suits you better.
