You will find Surrey located in the South East of England; the county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. Divided into eleven districts, the county of Surrey is divided in two by the chalk ridge of the North Downs which has contributed to the wonderful variety in its landscape.
The border between the county and Greater London has been altered on a number of occasions in the past; with places such as Richmond, Croydon and Kingston Upon Thames all formerly being part of Surrey. A balloon tour over Surrey provides the perfect opportunity to take in the sensational sights on view from a completely unique perspective.
A balloon flight over Surrey will start from a launch site set in the historical county town of Guildford. From the sky, perhaps one of the most interesting sights on your tour would be the ancient Guildford Castle, believed to have been built shortly after the 1066 invasion of England by William the Conquerer. Being used as a military fortress in the past, it is now a popular tourist destination with its spectacular gardens, local museum and life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass, which acts as a fitting tribute to Lewis Carroll who used to live nearby.
A relatively recent addition to the towns skyline is Guildford Cathedral that can be found on Stag Hill. The cathedral was not consecrated until May 1961, but has now become an important part of the local community and was built from bricks made from the clay hill on which it stands. Other notable views of Guildford from the air include The Hospital of the Holy Trinity and the Royal Grammar School, which is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as the first recorded instance of cricket in the English speaking world.
As your balloon tour takes you away from Guidford, you will get the opportunity to take in some of the beautiful mature woodland that can be seen throughout the county. If you head north you may encounter the brilliant RHS Garden Wisley or Loseley Park, a spectacular Manor House and grounds that was built in the reign of Elizabeth I.
Your balloon flight may take you towards the county border with Greater London, where you may catch a glimpse of Hampton Court Palace and the infamous gardens and maze. Originally built for Cardinal Wolsey (a favourite of King Henry VIII) in 1514, the palace is renowned throughout the world and looks even more spectacular from the air.
Wherever your balloon flight takes you, ensure you have a fully-charged camera as there will be plenty of opportunities to take some fantastic photos of your experience.
