Central London is set to be filled with an array of hot air balloons this weekend, as the 2018 edition of the RICOH Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta is scheduled to get underway.
The annual event has been taking place for many years and is designed to be a fundraiser for various charities, with all funds being donated to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
Hot air balloons taking part in this edition will get to fly over Central London, giving pilots and passengers a unique opportunity to take their balloons over some of London’s most iconic landmarks, including Big Ben, the Shard, the London Eye, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
Not only will this be something to savour for the pilots, but it will also be a sight to behold for London residents on the ground, as it is rare to see a set of hot air balloons gracing the skyline of the English capital city.
Last year’s event saw around 50 hot air balloons take off from one of the runways at London City Airport to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the regatta.
This year, the event is scheduled to begin at 5:30am on Sunday, June 17, assuming there are no drastic changes to the weather that would affect ballooning. So avid spectators will need to set their alarm clocks for an early start.
For those wishing to experience their own balloon ride, companies do offer hot air balloon flights in Bristol, Bath and many other locations across the country.
