LONDON WEEKEND BREAKS - Aerial Tours of London

Aerial Tours of London are becoming increasingly popular and affordable and there are now a variety of different aerial tours from which you can choose. These tours can be taken by plane, by helicopter or by air balloon (airshop).

Tour prices vary greatly, but the cheapest options do start from around 100 pounds Stirling and provide a rare view of London and its surrounds from the sky. Not surprisingly, London weekend breakers are the most popular vacationers to select this particular tour option.

Helicopter tours of London

A helicopter flight over London is possibly the best way to experience the extent of the city from above. Helicopters fly over the city at around 100mph but have the ability to slow down dramatically over interesting points. Most flights tend to be at an altitude of about 1,500 feet and last for something in the region of 30 minutes. Typical London tour helicopters take up to a maximum of five or six passengers.

If you want something for a very tight budget, some air tour companies offer flights of only five or ten minutes for less than 50 pounds Stirling, but these flights are thrill flights rather than genuine sightseeing flights.

Airship tours of London

In 2008 a new airship tour was launched over London for a limited season. The airship tours lasted for either one hour or half an hour and differed from planes and helicopters in that their flight provided something akin to a hovering experience.

With a maximum speed of only 30mph, the airship did not do much in the way of travelling, but it did provide panoramic aerial views of London for up to twelve passengers per flight. The airship, called the Star Over London, travelled to an altitude of 1,000 feet and was hailed as a success by those who experienced it. Flight costs were however considerably more than those of its competitors.

Plane tours of London

Plane tours are presently available around and from London, but we are not sure if any tour company is currently offering a plane tour over London.

Special aerial tours

Some air tour companies offer extras like champagne or special arrangements for groups (large enough to fill the aircraft). Details of this can be found by visiting their websites.