Thame and Oxford Areas

The area around Oxford is fascinating for its history, culture, architecture, and geography, which includes some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country. The rolling hills of the Cotswolds and the Chilterns flank the River Thames as it runs through the world-famous university town of Oxford, with its numerous architectural gems. Traditional villages dot the landscape, and there is no better way of meeting some of the friendly locals than to yell “hello!” from the basket of a hot-air balloon travelling overhead. More often than not a friendly wave is the best form of communication with those on terra firma!

" Suddenly the wind ceased. The air seemed motionless around us. We were off, going at the speed of the air-current in which we now lived and moved. Infinitely gentle is this unfelt motion forward and upward: it seems not to be the balloon that moves, but the earth that sinks down and away..."
— Alberto Santos-Dumont, 'My Air-Ships,' New York, The Century Company, 1904.

The area around Oxford is overflowing with history – and not just ballooning history. This is the area that produced and shaped some of the world’s most outstanding thinkers. From Sir Walter Raleigh to Dr. Samuel Johnson to Oscar Wilde to C.S. Lewis to JRR Tolkein to Michael Palin, Oxfordshire continues to shape the way we all live today. And the city of Oxford has been the location for numerous films, including Hogwart’s - which is in fact Christchurch College - in the blockbuster Harry Potter movies. Inspector Morse has been seen in the area, and we regularly see John Nettles with TV crews filming the Midsomer Murders in local towns and villages. It’s truly a place worth visiting, and looks breathtaking from the sky!

If you are new to the area, why not combine the excitement of a balloon ride with one of the dozens of other leisure opportunities close to hand. Maybe you would relish a relaxing trip in a punt on the Thames past famous Oxford colleges, a wander around the fantastic Victorian covered market, or a meander around some of Oxford’s beautiful parks and gardens. Or if fashion is more your thing, come and feast your eyes on the amazing bargains to be had at Bicester's renowned retail outlet centre. Or visit historic Thame, with its beautiful architectural High Street lined with small boutiques selling everything under the sun.

See other attractions in Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.