Welcome to our customer testimonial page. Please take the time to read what other people think about us and ballooning in general!

*****

Dear John,

Just a quick email to thank you and all the team for our fantastic flight yesterday afternoon.

Joanne (Charlton) and I really enjoyed it and it was well worth the wait, it has been a while since we enjoyed ourselves so much.

We have told all our friends about it and have said we would love to do it again next year.

Thanks again

Steve and Jo - Flew 01/12/11 – PM

*****

Just a quick note to say very many thanks for a great afternoon on Thursday.

You really made it so very enjoyable.  It was clear that you were enjoying yourself as well as being ‘at work’.  Thanks for being so open and chatty with us all, almost as if it was a novel experience for you too – which it clearly WASN’T !

Val and I both enjoyed the flight very much and are glad that we chose to come with Wickers World and had the pleasure of flying with you.  The fact that Adam was able to join in at the last minute added a special bonus.

Thanks again.  We shall have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who wants to know about ballooning.

Best wishes,

Dave and Val Taylor – Flew 01/12/11 – PM

*****

Thank you for such a wonderful experience! An experience that we will cherish forever. We arrived at Shugborough Hall and were immediately put at ease by the professionalism that the team conveyed. The flight was truly breathtaking, words cannot begin to explain how beautiful the world looks whilst silently floating above it. A big thank you to the team and hope to see you all again soon.

Chris McDonald

*****

WOW! (Wonder of Wickers!)

Thank you so much for a fab flight yesterday morning. The professionalism, passion and knowledge of everyone in the team that we encountered was unsurpassed. You made it a truly memorable event, that we have still haven’t stopped telling others about!

Look forward to taking a further flight with yourselves in the near future.

Mr G Turner

*****

Thank you all very very much for a fantastic balloon flight last Sunday morning at Dearnford Lakes. My wife Sally actually had a brandy and lemonade at 5am last Sunday and another as we arrived at the location because she was that worried.

No need at all with Kevin the pilot and the two guys who were with him putting her at ease straight away. I was drafted in at the last minute to replace my wife’s friend Melanie who could not make it and was not totally convinced i wanted to do this myself.

But it was a remarkable experience that was enjoyed by Sally, her mother Josie and myself on an absolutely stunning morning over Shropshire. Thank you all again so much for making our day certainly one to remember for the rest of our lives. Absolutely Brilliant.

Mr & Mrs Bebbington

*****

Thank you for a wonderful flight, and absolutely superb experience, from Shugborough this morning. We were delighted by every aspect of our adventure!

Mr Steer

*****

Just wanted to send a quick note of thanks to all the Derbyshire team that made our balloon flight on the morning of the 1st september so fantastic.
The flight was a birthday present for my mum for her 60th & both of us had an amazing time.

L Gardener

*****

My daughter, Paige, and I flew with you last evening. We both would like to thank you for the experience. The take off and landing were smooth and we felt absolutely secure the whole time. The views from the sky were stunning and the commentary from our Pilot, Graham, were really helpful.
All in all a wonderful experience, even down to repacking the balloon etc on landing! We’d certainly recommend you to others

Mr Edwards

*****

I just wanted to drop you a little line to say a big “THANK YOU” for making my auntie’s (Beryl Blood) flight yesterday afternoon the most wonderful experience she has ever had in her 80 years! She was so worried about so many things, but the pilot and groundsmen put her at ease straight away and she had the most thrilling time.

Mr Sketchley

*****

I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful  experience my mum and daughters loved every moment, it was perfect a very professional service  from begining to end.

N Harris

*****

At first I was apprenhensive due to my fear heights but it was absolutely fabulous. I can’t wait to do it again, it exceeded all expectations. Flying in the Autumn was great, the colours and the context of the landscape were fantastic.

I can’t wait to do it again and I think i’m going to go for a cold frosty morning. I would highly recommend the company and the experience to anyone.

Mr Wilcox

*****

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, we would not know where to start to tell you how happy you made him, He well never forget the experience. You are all very kind, once more, many thanks.

Mr and Mrs Stafford

*****

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for yesterday, the flight was fantastic. Even though we had one flight cancelled due to the weather it turned out that a winter flight was worth waiting for.

Mr Parsons

*****

It had always been an ambition for my husband to do a balloon flight. I have to admit that I was very nervous as I don’t like heights. I can honestly say that I never had a moment of fear from the time we set off.

Mrs Talbot

*****

Hi I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who was working with the balloon flight yesterday morning from Pitchcroft Worcester, my Dad and I had an amazing time! The text message I received from you on Friday afternoon saying great weather and spaces available is a great service and brilliant reminder.

Miss Martin

*****

A truly memorable experience for both of us and will always be part of the memory bank.

Mrs Edgington

*****

What a fantastic flight. (Still waiting to come back down to earth!)

Mr and Mrs Bain

*****

I would like to thank you for a wonderful experience on that day and the photograph is simply amazing.

Mr and Mrs Branington

*****

Thank you so much for a really enjoyable experience this morning.
Both my friend, Ruth and I had a terrific time and the pilot and the crew were such nice people, it made it all the more fun.

Mrs Hannasford

*****

We were most impressed with the whole professional operation of the team, and will certainly recommend you to others.

Mr and Mrs Hemming

*****

Being a nervous passenger the friendly and professional way in which Wickers World handled the flight was very reassuring.

Mr Stephens

*****

Season’s Greetings! Mince pies have been spotted in the shops since late September, and now Sir Cliff Richard is to be heard on the high street – Christmas is most definitely on the way.

We have a superb offer to help your Christmas cheer stretch a little further this year!
Quite simply, for telephone orders only, we can offer you the opportunity of paying for your vouchers in two easy, interest free, installments.

Only pay 50% of the order value at the time of purchase, and the other half will not become payable until March 1st 2012!

How great is that? No interest, no gimmicks or funny business with the pricing, just a straightforward deal.

Please note that this offer is available for telephone orders only, but payment can be by card, cheque or cash.
We are  open from 9am until at least 5pm, Monday to Friday, and at variable hours at weekends too – give us a call.

Visitors are always welcome at our office for a coffee - but please do call first so that we can expect you.

Buying a balloon flight is easy – there are loads of web sites selling them! However, choosing between different companies may be a little more tricky, and so here we offer you some useful impartial advice so that you can make an educated decision before you part with your money!

1. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, check how often the company flies its balloons in your area!

You see, there are some big balloon operators out there that advertise dozens and dozens of launch sites, but fail to mention that they seldom, if ever, fly from some of these venues. They don’t have nearly as many balloons as they have venues to fly from, and the result is that customers get a limited service. Furthermore, they sell large volumes of cheap vouchers but don’t fly anything like the number of passengers that they book! Many of their passengers never get to fly.

Notice that these companies do not allow you to see their flight schedule until AFTER you’ve bought your voucher! That’s pretty tricky! With us, you can see what we have booked for the next month or two by clicking on the ‘book date’ button.

To make it simple, let us stress the following: Wickers World makes more flights, and carries more passengers, than any other operator in this region. In the last 12 months, our balloons have made hundreds of flights from our venues across Staffordshire, Cheshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire – just like the year before, and the year before that, and the…well, you get the idea!

2. Ask how many balloons the company operates at the same time.

If a company has to cover eighty launch sites with just a dozen balloons, customers may find it difficult to get their flight when they want it! Again, it’s a question of “buyer beware”: if you don’t ask these questions, nobody is going to tell you the answers! Here at Wickers World we have flights scheduled every day (except Christmas!) from our areas of Derbyshire, Cheshire/Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire/Herefordshire and Warwickshire/Gloucestershire – that’s outstanding service for you. We were out flying in December and January last winter (when many operators don’t even bother to fly at all), and had some spectacular flights on those frosty days in the snow! That’s how we fly almost 6000 passengers each year!

3. Do you want to deal with an impersonal call centre, or a local family business?

We’re a family business, offering that extra personal contact. Call our office and you are as likely to speak to one of the pilots as you are to one of our reservations girls! If you need first hand information, or local advice, our team are experienced and expert at everything we do – we’ve been doing it for over 21 years!

4. You want value for money, don’t you?

Well, check out our competitors’ advertised flight durations, and you’ll find most of them are offering flights of about (or ‘approximately’) one hour. Does that mean 40 minutes? 50 minutes? Who knows! Our flights are GUARANTEED to be AT LEAST one hour in duration, and are regularly closer to an hour and a half! How much has that free gift or glass of  cheap ‘bubbly’ cost you, if you only get 40 minutes in the air?

5. Finally, don’t forget our price promise!

If you find an equivalent flight service for less, from a company based within 50 miles, we’ll beat the price by £5! It’s that simple! Just call us on (01889) 88 22 22.

So be careful out there – there are some traps you need to be aware of. Some companies are very good at selling you a voucher, but definitely not so good at providing your balloon flight!

So here at Wickers World we’re all getting ready for the forthcoming Spring weather!
Historically March, April and May have provided fantastic flying conditions so if you received a voucher for Christmas then don’t hesitate, call us and get your hot air balloon flight booked in!

Last year we had the coldest Winter since 1963! Here at Wickers World a bit of snow and frost wasn’t about to stop us from flying, quite the opposite. The frosty mornings and cold temperatures provided breathtaking and spectacular views for everybody who came with us for their hot air balloon flight.

Summer’s here at last, and what better way to enjoy the beauty of the English countryside than with a flight in a hot air balloon. Wickers World is the longest established and most popular balloon flights operator in the midlands, offering flights from Cheshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire & Warwickshire.

Our flight vouchers are valid for a full 12 months, giving you freedom of choice over your flight date. We fly twice daily, throughout the year, subject only to the British climate! Prices begin at £99 per person, for an hour to an hour and a half’s flight.

A great way to celebrate almost any occasion, a flight in one of our hot air balloons will provide memories to cherish for years to come. Exciting yet tranquil, thrilling yet serene, a flight in a balloon is unlike any other experience on Earth (or off it!) – so come and join us and experience the spirit of adventure!

Despite what can only be described as a moderate summer, as far as the weather was concerned, we are pleased to announce that we’ve already (by mid-November), had our most successful year ever.

The late ‘Indian Summer’ certainly helped us to achieve our target of 5500 passengers flown this year. By conentrating our service into what we might broadly call the middle of the UK (from Cheshire & Derbyshire in the north, down to Gloucestershire and Herefordshire in the south), we have been proud to offer our customers an unrivalled service in this area, with more flights on more days than ANY of our competitors!!

It was more than 21 years ago that we began our operation from Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, and have now expanded through the years into Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. From modest beginnings with just 2 balloons, we now have a fleet of more than 10 aircraft, and a highly motivated team to fly them.

So, thanks to all customers, past and present for bringing us to where we are today – the region’s most popular balloon flights company! We look forward to serving you all in the future.

Happy Landings.

Wickers World.

Wickers World was formed back in the late eighties by current directors, Andy Rawson and Jon Rudoni. Already flying balloons commercially (most notably the National Garden Festival and Maltesers balloons), Andy and Jon identified a growing interest in the pleasure flights market. Says Jon, “wherever we landed, people would come out to see the balloons, and the first question on everybody’s lips was ‘how can I get a ride?’ So we soon realised that there was a market for commercial pleasure flights, but what we didn’t expect was just how popular they would become!”

After qualifying as unrestricted group B commercial pilots, Andy and Jon were able to expand the business into the public transport category, where previously they had only been involved with flying advertising balloons. Demand soon outstripped supply, and the company’s fleet of balloons began to grow, along with the fleet of recovery vehicles, staff, pilots and premises!

Andy Rawson, still the company Chief Pilot recalls, ‘this was one of the few occasions when we had managed to get on the band-wagon as it set off! Balloon flights were a rapidly growing industry, and we were in at the beginning. I was asked to become a director of our newly formed trade body, the British Association of Balloon Operators, and our business was growing at an extraordinary rate….’

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority, who control all non-military aviation in the UK, were also on a steep learning curve as far as ballooning was concerned. Not quite sure of how to handle this small but determined group of aviators, the CAA quickly took control and set extremely high standards for both pilots and operating companies. As a result, our commercial pilots are treated in much the same way as any other airline pilot, with regular flying tests, CAA aircrew medical examinations, flight time limitations (restricting the hours flown in a given period, thus ensuring that the pilot is ‘fit’ to fly), type ratings on specific balloon sizes, and all manner of other hoops to jump through!

Hot Air Ballooning was was the earliest form of manned flight. In essence it has changed little in over 200 years, with the same principles of lift still derived from a big envelope of hot air. Obviously, safety and materials have improved a thousand-fold, with modern hot air ballooning now proving to be a very popular pastime and sport for tens of thousands of people. Its safety record is unmatched in any other form of aviation.

The first balloons were made of paper, and the heat was provided by burning straw and paper in an open fire beneath the balloon. You can imagine the hazards of sparks flying up into the paper envelope! Many early pioneers were lost to accidents of this nature, but modern fabrics and burners have all but eliminated such risks today. Modern balloons are manufactured from nylon and flame retardant fabrics, whilst the heat is provided by highly efficient and safe propane burners.

One aspect of construction that has changed the least, is the continued use of wickers and cane in the construction of the baskets. Although modern day baskets are built around a stainless steel frame, the space within the frame is still filled with woven cane panels. Immensely strong, flexible and light, it is a tribute to these natural materials that they can still satisfy modern demands for strength, durability and appearance.

Timeline of ballooning history:
1783, November 21st. First manned flight, Paris, France. Brothers Joeseph and Etienne Montgolfier.
1785, first crossing of the English Channel. Pilots, Jean Pierre Blanchard (FR) & John Jefferies (USA).
1793, first flight in USA. Pilot Jean Pierre Blanchard flew in front of George Washington.
1932, Auguste Piccard flies to Stratosphere, reaching 52498 feet.
1960, Joe Kittinger reaches 102000 feet, then parachutes to Earth, falling at speed of sound!
1978, Double Eagle II becomes the first balloon to cross the Atlantic – no it wasn’t Richard Branson!
1981, Double Eagle V crosses Pacific – no it still wasn’t Mr B! He comes along much later!
1987, Per Linstrand & Richard Branson cross Atlantic in a hot air balloon.
1999, Brian Jones & Bertrand Piccard (grandson of Auguste) fly round the world in 22 days!

Well, it’s that time of year again and we’ve already had our first frosty morning!

We’ve always been excited by Christmas, and for many years have put together a range of special customer offers to help with this expensive time of year. This year is better than ever, so please read on….

For this Christmas we are pleased to be able to offer all customers a discount of up to £30 per passenger! Instead of £159 for our Premium voucher, we’ve agreed to sell a limited number at just £129! Likewise, the Early Riser voucher is now available at an amazing £99, rather than the usual price of £117! These are limited offers, and when the vouchers are gone, they’re gone!! So, don’t delay, and get your bookings in early.

As a final gesture of goodwill (’tis the Season, you know?), we are offering all purchasers the opportunity to pay by two equal installments. In other words, when you buy your voucher(s), you need only pay half the cost at that time. The other half needn’t be paid until March of next year! Wow! No interest, no extra charges, just a straightforward 50/50 split on payment.

See our price page and booking form for more details.
Bye for now..