Launch site · Bristol
Hot air balloon rides from Langford & Churchill
At the foot of the Mendips – our home patch, a few miles south of Bristol Airport.
Langford is where First Flight is based, so these two sites are our home ground. They sit side by side at the western end of the Chew Valley, where the Mendip Hills rise steeply from the vale – a dramatic backdrop for a balloon flight.
Flights from here can take in Blagdon Lake, the wooded combes of the Mendips and the orchards around Sandford, home of Thatchers Cider. To the west the land opens out towards the Bristol Channel, and on a clear day you can see Weston-super-Mare, the islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm and the hills of South Wales.
What you’ll see from Langford & Churchill
- The Mendip escarpment – Wooded combes and the hill fort at Dolebury Warren
- Blagdon Lake – Just a short flight east
- Somerset orchards – The cider orchards around Sandford
- The Bristol Channel – Out to Weston, Steep Holm and Flat Holm
- South Wales – The Welsh hills across the water on a clear day
Balloons fly with the wind, so no two flights follow the same path – your pilot will point out the landmarks as you go.
Where we meet
Our Langford & Churchill launch sites
Havyatt Green Common, Langford
Straddling the A38 at the western end of the Chew Valley, 3 miles south of Bristol Airport.
///overt.curtail.smugChurchill Parish playing fields
On Ladymead Lane, next to the Churchill crossroads.
///decently.hero.defectorsWe fly around sunrise and in the evening a few hours before sunset, when the air is calm. We’ll text you the exact meeting time and confirm the weather the day before. Allow three to four hours for the whole experience.
Questions
Flying from Langford & Churchill
Which site will we use – Langford or Churchill?
They’re a mile or so apart and we choose on the day depending on the wind. We’ll text you the meeting point the day before: ///overt.curtail.smug for Langford or ///decently.hero.defectors for Churchill.
Is this close to Bristol Airport?
Yes – around 3 miles south along the A38, so it’s an easy drive from Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and the M5.
More answers on our FAQs page. Making a day of it? See where to eat and stay near our launch sites.
Reviews
What our customers say
“We had an absolutely fantastic afternoon. The balloon flight exceeded our expectations and we would definitely recommend First flight. Nick and his team were great, informative and very friendly.”
“An Amazing Experience - NOT TO BE MISSED - and I'm not keen on heights! Great prior communication. Clarity of set up, flight and landing instructions were hugely reassuring. Nick & the team are clearly hugely experienced and we were all put at ease with their friendly engaging style.”
“A perfect balloon experience A beautiful experience flying over the city of Bath. There was nothing that could make it better.A professional and informative pilot who turned the basket during the flight to ensure everyone had the same opportunity to see the iconic sights of Bath. Simply a perfect experience which I would do again in a heart beat. Excellent communication before the flight”
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