Nestled in the hills of South West England, the former industrial city of Bristol is wonderful to explore from the skies. Your Christmas gift flight will take off from Ashton Court Estate – a vast country park boasting 850 acres of woodland – and as you ascend above the trees, the red deer park and the gothic Tyntesfield house come into view. Further afield, you start to be able to sneak a peek at the rocky ridges of the Avon Gorge.
The city of Bristol straddles the mighty River Avon and wears its history as a seat of engineering prowess with pride. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who is associated with contributing to the progress of Victorian rail travel, was the engineer who also designed the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1864. Today, you can travel over it by hot air balloon and marvel at this Grade I listed building.
Travelling over the bridge, you will see the Leigh Woods National Nature reserve to one side, and the Clifton Down with its Observatory to the other. The Clifton Observatory is a charming building that used to be a mill, but now attracts visitors keen to see the views from its tower. Of course, from the vantage point of your air balloon, you can see far further afield along the Avon Gorge to the Leigh Woods national forest. See if you can spot the three Iron Age forts overlooking the majestic limestone gorge.
Towards the city centre there is much to appreciate from your bird’s eye view. Bristol’s own city museum and art gallery is an impressive example of Edwardian Baroque architecture. From the comfort of the balloon basket, you can admire this Grade II listed building. Brunel’s SS Great Britain steam ship sits next to the harbor, which teems with nightlife, bars, and restaurants. The regeneration of the dockyards area is impressive to witness from the skies.
Bristol Cathedral dates from the 12th Century and is a stone’s throw from the vibrant dockside. As you pass over it, admire the towers which were completed in 1888. Further afield, Cabot Tower sits in Brandon Hill Park. Commemorating overseas exploration in Canada, it is 32 meters high and over 100 years old.
Beyond the city boundaries, as your adventure continues, you can see the Mendip Hills to the south of the city and the picturesque Cotswolds to the east. To the north and west you encounter the River Severn and South Wales.
Giving the gift of a voucher at Christmas means your loved ones can explore the skies above Bristol and the surrounding countryside at a convenient time in the following 12 months. Upon landing, you can enjoy a glass of champagne or juice as the balloon gets packed up.
The flight experience takes between 3-4 hours. We cater for parties of between 2 to 16 so the whole family can join you. Contact us to find out more about how to book your Bristolian Christmas flight.
