The best campsites for hot air balloon views in Britain
· Updated
The best way to see hot air balloons in Britain is to camp near a balloon festival and be on the field for the dawn launch. The headline event is the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court, widely regarded as the largest hot air balloon festival in Europe. It is free to attend, runs over several days each August, and puts more than 100 balloons into the sky in mass ascents at dawn and dusk, followed by the famous evening night glow (bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk).
Balloons only fly when the air is calm, which means early morning and early evening. Sleeping nearby is the whole point: you wake to the roar of burners, walk to the field in minutes, and watch the sky fill before most day visitors have left the car park. It is a brilliant, low-cost family trip, and the balloons themselves cost nothing to watch.
Ballooning is weather-dependent, so plan around it. Read our guide to camping in British weather, season by season before you book, and use Camping Sites in Britain to find and compare sites near any of the events below.
Britain's main hot air balloon festivals
Five or six events carry the bulk of British ballooning, spread from late spring to early autumn plus one winter meet. Dates move every year and always depend on the weather, so treat the months below as a guide and confirm on each official site before you travel.
| Event | Where | Typical time of year | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol International Balloon Fiesta | Ashton Court, Bristol | August | Free (paid parking) |
| Midlands Air Festival | Ragley Hall, Warwickshire | Late May | Ticketed |
| Longleat Sky Safari | Longleat, Wiltshire | September | Ticketed (with estate entry) |
| Northampton Balloon Festival | Northampton Racecourse | August | Free |
| Sywell Balloon Festival | Sywell, Northamptonshire | Summer | Ticketed |
| Icicle winter balloon meet | Wiltshire | January | Viewing free |
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
This is the big one, held at the Ashton Court Estate on the edge of Bristol and free to get in. Mass ascents take place at roughly 6am and 6pm on the main days, with over 100 balloons lifting off together, and each evening ends with the night glow, when tethered balloons light up in time to music. Special-shape balloons are a favourite with children, so it suits families well.
The fiesta is run by a not-for-profit team and has been going since 1979. Entry is free but you pay to park, and the site gets very busy, so arrive early for the dawn slot. The event has offered its own on-site camping in some years, though it is not guaranteed from year to year, so check the official site and book any festival camping the moment it opens.
Midlands Air Festival, Ragley Hall
The Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire pairs balloon ascents with daytime air displays over a late May weekend. Balloons launch at sunrise and sunset, and the evening Nightfire show combines glowing balloons with pyrotechnics. It is ticketed, camping is usually available on site, and the bank holiday timing makes it an easy long weekend.
Longleat Sky Safari
Longleat's balloon weekend in Wiltshire, long known as the Sky Safari, sends dozens of balloons up over the estate and safari park, usually in September. Entry is part of a day or weekend ticket to Longleat rather than a free field, so it works best combined with the wider attraction. Camp nearby and you can catch the early launches before the gates get busy.
Northampton, Sywell and the Icicle meet
The Northampton Balloon Festival at the racecourse and the Sywell Balloon Festival at Sywell Aerodrome, both in and around Northamptonshire, give the East Midlands two summer fixtures with dawn and dusk flights and evening glows. For something different, the Icicle is a winter balloon meet in Wiltshire, usually in January, where pilots gather in the cold, clear air. If you fancy that one, our notes on top winter camping destinations will help you stay comfortable.
Camping near Bristol for the fiesta
For the Bristol fiesta, base yourself within a short drive or walk of Ashton Court and travel in for the dawn ascent. There is no city-centre campsite at Ashton Court itself in most years, so the practical options are the established sites around Bristol and North Somerset, plus any official festival camping the organisers release for that year.
Book early. Fiesta weekend is one of the busiest of the year for local sites, and the good ones near Bristol fill months ahead. Look for a pitch with easy access back to the estate for the 6am launch, check whether the site allows early departures, and confirm gate times so you are not locked in when the balloons go up. You can compare nearby options through the Camping Sites in Britain directory.
How to see the balloons at their best
Aim for the dawn and dusk ascents, because balloons fly only when the wind is light. The air is calmest around sunrise and again in the couple of hours before sunset, which is when pilots inflate and launch. Midday flights are rare, so a lie-in usually means a missed ascent.
Get there early and pick your spot. A slight rise with an open view to the launch field beats being in the thick of the crowd, and it gives children room to watch the balloons inflate. Bring a picnic blanket, folding chairs and a flask, because dawn is chilly even in August.
Accept that ascents can be cancelled. If it is too windy, wet or gusty, pilots will not fly, and a mass ascent can be scrubbed at short notice. Festivals still run the ground show, but the flying is never guaranteed, so treat a full sky as a bonus rather than a certainty and keep an eye on the event's social channels on the morning.
What to bring
Pack for early starts, changeable weather and a lot of standing about. The essentials below cover a family day at any of the festivals above.
- Warm layers and a waterproof: dawn on an open field is cold and often damp, whatever the forecast says.
- Wellies or sturdy boots: launch fields get muddy and dewy first thing.
- Camera or phone with space free: the night glow and mass ascents are the shots you will want.
- Picnic, snacks and a flask: queues for food are long at peak times, and a hot drink at 6am is worth its weight.
- Ear defenders for small children: the burners are loud close up.
- A torch or head torch: useful for the walk back after the evening glow.
Bristol in August can be warm by day even when dawn is cold, so pack for both ends of the range. Our tips on staying cool in summer are handy if you are pitching in a heatwave.
Why camping beats a day trip
Camping puts you on the spot for the launch that day visitors miss. The best flying is at first light, long before most people have set off, and staying over turns a rushed early drive into a short walk from the tent. You also get both ends of the day, the dawn ascent and the evening glow, without a long journey in between.
There is a wider season to enjoy too. If a balloon weekend gives you the taste for events-based trips, festive camping works the same way in winter. See our guide to festive camping near Christmas markets for the cold-weather version of the same idea.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Bristol Balloon Fiesta?
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is held at Ashton Court over several days each August. The exact dates change every year, so check bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk before booking a campsite.
Is the Bristol Balloon Fiesta free?
Yes. Entry to the fiesta is free, as the organisers are a not-for-profit. You pay only for parking, so walking or getting a lift from a nearby campsite saves money and avoids the queues.
What time do the balloons launch?
Mass ascents usually happen at around 6am and 6pm, when the wind is lightest. Get to the field early for the dawn slot, and remember that a launch can be cancelled if it is too windy.
Can you camp at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta?
Some years the fiesta runs its own camping, but it is not guaranteed, so most people stay at established campsites around Bristol and North Somerset. Book early, as fiesta weekend is one of the busiest of the year.
What should I do if the ascent is cancelled?
Enjoy the ground displays and the night glow, which usually go ahead even when flying is off. Check the event's social media on the morning, as pilots decide close to launch time based on the wind.
Are balloon festivals good for children?
Yes. The special-shape balloons, the burners and the night glow are a big hit with children, and the free events in particular make an easy family day. Bring ear defenders for little ones near the burners.
The short version
Camp near a festival, be on the field for the dawn or dusk ascent, and pack warm layers and a flask. The free Bristol fiesta at Ashton Court is the one to start with, with Ragley Hall, Longleat and the Northamptonshire events close behind. Compare sites near any of them through the Camping Sites in Britain directory and book early.
