LONDON’S SKYLINE WILL BE FILLED WITH HOT AIR BALLOONS NEXT WEEKEND
The Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta will Take Flight for the first time since 2019
If Blighty’s pesky weather doesn’t cause another, short notice cancellation, Sunday 21 May will see more than 50 hot air balloons taking off from Battersea Park and gliding over Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and London Eye.
Each year, at silly o’clock (5.20am) early birds are rewarded with the stunning sight of the capital’s sky filled with a flotilla of colourful balloons, led by the official Lord Mayor’s Appeal balloon, carrying the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
The past three years have seen the event cancelled due to lockdowns and unsavoury weather.
But we are crossing all limbs and appendages that the remaining, possible dates - 21 May and 2 July - aren’t scuppered by Mother Nature.
The event is organised by Exclusive Ballooning and raises funds for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which works to make the capital more inclusive, healthy, skilled and fair.
The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Vincent Keaveny, says: “The regatta – one of the most unique, fun, and colourful events of any mayoralty – is not only raising money to help improve lives, but helping to save them, too.”
While the regatta isn’t fully open to the public, Londoners can look to the skies to enjoy the experience across the capital.
Keep your peepers fixed on this updates page for details on whether this year’s event will finally go ahead, and maybe use pencil rather than biro to add it to the diary…
Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, 21 May or 2 July, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ
