Hot air balloons will be swaying to the music from across eight decades next week as Longleat celebrates 75 years of the Wiltshire stately home being open to the public.

The balloons will take part in a series of spectacular musical night glows as part of Longleat’s Icons of the Sky Spectacular which runs from Friday to Sunday, September 13 to 15.

Guests will be invited to rock through time from 1940s icon Glenn Miller through to Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Benson Boone’s 21st century classics.

The night glows have been choreographed to a specially selected soundtrack which also include Satisfaction from the Rolling Stones who rocked the estate in 1964 and I’m Still Standing from Sir Elton John who appeared in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Safari Park opening.

Icons of the Sky is bringing together an aviation spectacular with the Spitfire a key highlight as well as a host of hot air balloons of different shapes and sizes.

A daily night glow from dozens of hot air balloons will feature during the Icons of the Sky Spectacular at Longleat.A daily night glow from dozens of hot air balloons will feature during the Icons of the Sky Spectacular at Longleat. (Image: Lloyd Winters)

Scott Ashman, Longleat’s head of operations, said: “Our 2024 event will be a 21st century celebration of our heritage and pay homage to the history of flight.

“Part of this will be a fantastic show with music from across the decades. Tickets are flying out fast, so we’d urge people to pre-book online.

“We will be opening from 7am each day of the event so people can marvel at a sunrise mass balloon launch, and we will be closing at 8.30pm after the air display, pyrotechnic air display, night glow and more.

“There’s more than 12 hours of action-packed fun in one day ticket as all our attractions will be open throughout,” he added.

The 6th Marquess of Bath, Henry Thynne, opened Longleat House as a tourist attraction on April 1, 1949 and Longleat is now the home of the 8th Marquess, Ceawlin and his family.

Icons of the Sky takes place two centuries after an early hot air balloon flight ended at Longleat.

In 1824 pioneering balloonist George Graham - who was married to Margaret, the country’s first female balloonist - landed a balloon in Longleat after taking off from Sydney Gardens in Bath.

Flights are weather dependent and Longleat’s website and social media will keep visitors up-to-date as well as smoke signals on the ground and regular announcements.

Tickets are available at longleat.co.uk.

The full details and timings of the day can be found below:

  • 7.15am - 9am Mass Ascent
  • 9.15am - 10.15am Model Balloon Display
  • 10.30am - 2pm Tethering & Meet the Teams
  • 2.30pm - 4.45pm Air Display
  • 5pm - 7pm Mass Ascent7.45pm- 8pm Pyrotechnic Air Display
  • 8pm - 8.20pm Night Glow
  • 8.25pm - 8.30pm Firework Finale