Let The Wind
Decide The Way
Balloon rides from Sheffield offer something a little different – the edge of the city behind you, and the open sweep of the Peak District just ahead.
Launching from Bowshaw Showground, you’re in a great spot. To the north, there’s the outline of Sheffield’s skyline – a mix of rooftops, towers and tree-lined streets. To the west, the land opens out into hills, fields and wide views that stretch right across the Peaks. Depending on the breeze, you might float out over the city fringe or drift straight into the heart of the countryside.
It’s a flight that gives you contrast – urban and rural, old and new, stillness and movement. And whichever direction you travel, the views are always something to remember. This is ballooning, Sheffield style.
Choose Your
Sheffield 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 Yorkshire breeze enliven your day on a balloon flight from the edge of Sheffield and the Peaks. You also get a champagne toast, 3-4 hour experience, a luxury gift wallet and your own personal flight certificate.
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Weekday Morning
Or Evening
Watch the changing colours creep across Sheffield on either a morning or evening flight. This glorious 3-4 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 flying anytime you like during the week and weekends. This awesome open choice champagne balloon ride comes with a luxury gift wallet, a personalised flight certificate and a 3-4 hour experience enjoying the union of Sheffield and the Peak District.
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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 Sheffield vouchers Vouchers are valid nationwide at more than 100 launch locations.
A Little Closer
To Sheffield
Sheffield might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of hot air ballooning – but that’s exactly what makes it such a surprise. On one side, you’ve got the rooftops and spires of one of England’s greenest cities. On the other, the land rises gently into open fields, wooded hills, and the vast reaches of the Peak District.
Launching from Bowshaw Showground on the southern edge of the city, the shift happens quickly. One moment you’re looking out over the suburbs, the next you’re drifting west, where the skyline gives way to dry stone walls and far-off ridgelines. On clear days, the horizon feels endless.
Each flight is different. The breeze might carry you over quiet farmland, over the folds of the Limb Valley, or out towards the high moors near Hathersage. There’s always something unexpected – a view you’ve never seen, even if you’ve lived here your whole life.
The light plays its part, too. Mornings are often fresh and still, while evening flights catch the glow as the sun sinks low over the hills. Either way, it’s a chance to step out of the everyday and see familiar ground from a whole new angle.
It’s a reminder that even in a city, the skies are never far away – and sometimes, the best way to see the countryside is to lift gently above the edge of it.
Bowshaw Showground
Jackthorpe Parkway
Sheffield
Derbyshire
S18 2GB
Travel south out of Sheffield on the A61 towards Dronfield. At Bowshaw Roundabout take the first exit onto the B6057 Jordanthorpe Parkway. The entrance to Bowshaw Showground is immediately on your right as you leave the roundabout.
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 Sheffield balloon flight.
Where do Sheffield balloon flights take off from?
The main Sheffield launch point is Bowshaw Showground, on the southern edge of the city. 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 Sheffield?
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.
