On Sunday morning, around 50 giant hot air balloons will fly over London for the Mayor’s annual Hot Air Balloon Regatta, a celebration in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
So, just keep that in mind while pulling up the blinders of your bedroom: you’re not witnessing an alien invasion.
Originally meant to take place last June, the event has been postponed twice (a second time in July) due to risky weather conditions.
The 2017 event had its launch from London City’s Airport runway, but this time take off is set for 7.30am from Battersea Park. However, the advice from the organisers is to avoid the area which is going to be restricted for safety reasons.
Instead, you should get the best view from the West bank of the Thames along the northern Embankment. The journey over the capital’s skyline will last for about half an hour, flying over Buckingham Palace, the house of Parliament, the London Eye and the Tower of London.
The event, organised by Exclusive Ballooning, was launched in 2015 and was conceived as a way to increase the awareness around the money that the city consistently raises in support of charities in London and the UK. As in previous years, many causes have been helped throughout the year and this time mental health seems to be the main field for the appeal’s efforts, with the participation of organisations such as Samaritans and Place2be, a charity for children’s mental health support.
As reported by The Independent, the Lord Mayor of London Peter Estlin commented: “ The Lord Mayor’s Balloon Regatta has established itself as one of the City of London’s key cultural highlights”.