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If you don't mind getting up early on a Sunday morning then you can enjoy the spectacular sight of up to 50 hot air balloons floating slowly over London.
The Hot Air Balloon Regatta is an aerial extension of the Lord Mayor's Show, and raises money for the Lord Mayor's Appeal.
Where do the balloons launch from?
The launch site is inside Battersea Park. The launch site is not open to the public and the organisers encourage you to watch the balloons in the sky from the surrounding area instead.
Be aware that the event will only happen on one of the dates. If bad weather scuppers the first date then it will roll over to the next one. They usually have a much firmer idea about whether the event will actually go ahead on the Friday before launch, and you should check their website for confirmation. It is entirely possible that all three dates will be cancelled.
'Bad weather' has more to do with the wind than the rain. You can't steer a hot air balloon so if the wind direction is taking it out to sea then it reduces the chance of a safe landing. They also require sufficient upper winds to clear the built-up area.
If they manage to take off successfully then the Lord Mayor's balloon usually leads the pack, carrying both the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
Where's the best place to view the balloons?
Hot air balloons fly with the wind so it's not possible to predict either their speed or direction - their path is entirely dependent on that morning's weather conditions. If the balloons get away successfully then it's best to check the updates on their website for the most likely track.
Where do the balloons land?
It could be anywhere! If the balloons get away successfully then that means they had the correct weather conditions to clear the built-up part of London. The pilots will always try and land in a large open field free from trees and overhanging obstacles, but they only choose their landing spot once in the air.
We also recommend… If you enjoy Battersea Park then you might like to visit Battersea Park Children’s Zoo (you can walk it in 4 mins). You might like to visit the Lord Mayor's Show in November as well
How to get to Battersea Park
| Fare zone | Cash | Oyster & Contactless | Travelcard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single fare | Single fare | Daily cap | One day | ||||
| Peak | Off-peak | Peak | Off-peak | Anytime | Off-peak | ||
| Bus (all zones) | n/a | £1.75 | £5.25 | £6 | |||
| Train (zone 1) | £7 | £2.90 | £2.80 | £8.90 | £8.90 | £16.60(zone 1-4) | £16.60(zone 1-6) |
| Train (zone 1-2) | £7 | £3.50 | £2.90 | £8.90 | £8.90 | ||
| Train (zone 1-3) | £7 | £3.80 | £3.10 | £10.50 | £10.50 | ||
| Train (zone 1-4) | £7 | £4.60 | £3.40 | £12.80 | £12.80 | ||
| Train (zone 1-5) | £7 | £5.20 | £3.60 | £15.30 | £15.30 | £23.60(zone 1-6) | |
| Train (zone 1-6) | £7 | £5.80* | £3.80* | £16.30 | £16.30 | ||
| * Journeys between zone 1 and Heathrow are always charged at the peak rate. Prices are correct as of | |||||||
You might be interested in…
Search for more free events and sports events in London, or look for things to do in Battersea. Check out all the other events on Sunday 11th May, Sunday 20th July and during July 2025
