Hot Air Balloon Rides
in Stratford upon Avon

Enjoy Stunning Views Ballooning Over Stratford upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is a name known around the world as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The town has grown far beyond its Elizabethan roots, yet the link to the playwright is still everywhere — from the timber-framed house on Henley Street where he was born, to the thatched cottage of Anne Hathaway on the edge of town, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre by the river. Set on the banks of the Avon, Stratford is both a busy market town and a place of pilgrimage for visitors drawn to its history and theatre.

Balloon flights launch from Stratford Racecourse, just outside the town centre. Take-off is from the wide grass of the course, with the river and rooftops quickly slipping into view as the balloon rises. From the air, the town’s plan becomes clear: winding streets, historic houses, and the curve of the Avon through its heart.

Depending on the breeze, you may drift directly over Stratford itself, where Shakespeare’s landmarks stand out easily, or across the farmland that stretches away on every side. To the south, the first slopes of the Cotswolds appear, their stone villages and wooded ridges distinct in the light. To the north and east, the flat Midlands open out, marked by fields, church towers, and occasional towns.

No two flights are ever the same. Sometimes the balloon keeps low, so you follow the course of the river or notice the details of hedgerows and lanes close beneath you. On other days you rise higher, until Stratford is only a cluster of roofs below and the horizon runs from the Malvern Hills to the heart of Warwickshire. However the journey unfolds, a flight from Stratford-upon-Avon offers a new way to see Shakespeare’s town — quieter, slower, and with a view few ever experience.