THE BEST HELICOPTER FLIGHTS IN THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND

The South East of England is known for its rich cultural attractions such as Windsor Castle and Blenheim Palace, but also for its stunning national parks, rolling countryside and gorgeous coastal towns. Helicopter rides are the ideal way to see each county from a whole new angle. Perfect for people who have a special connection to one of the southern counties, whether it’s from childhood holiday recollections or something more recent, helicopter tours are a great way to make even more special memories! We’ve put together a list of the best helicopter flights by county, so that no matter where you are in the South East, you’ll be able to enjoy the incredible feeling of flying in the unique aircraft.

Isle of Wight

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Okay, so this tour actually departs from Lee-on-Solent, just next to Portsmouth. But it’ll fly you over the sea to the popular UK holiday destination of the Isle of Wight, where you’ll have an incredible helicopter tour of this beautiful British island. You’ll see familiar landmarks like the famous 3 needles, with the 19^th century lighthouse standing guard at the end of the trail. You’ll also get a chance to spot the beaches that you may have enjoyed many relaxing days on, including Ventnor Beach with its cute vintage beach huts. As soon as you arrive back in Lee-on-Solent you’ll be treated to Champagne and chocolates, making this flight an extraordinary experience, and the perfect gift for any special occasion. Or, if you're looking for a shorter thrill, why not try out our 12 Mile Isle of White Helicopter Tour ?

Hampshire

This 15-minute tour of Portsmouth in Hampshire will show you just how stunning the coastal city is. It’ll take you on an adventure across the beautiful port and through the marine city. You’ll of course be able to spot the spinnaker tower. Built in 2005, it is now one of the city’s most recognisable icons. Its unique design was handpicked by residents, meaning the people of Portsmouth were part of making the tower what you see before you today. If you’ve been up the tower before and liked the view, then you’re sure to love this helicopter tour of the whole city. The views are unbeatable! You can also expect to see the rest of the famous dockland, the HMS Victory, the Southsea Castle and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. This is an excellent way to explore the history and beautiful views of Portsmouth in an exciting and unique way. If you're looking for a way to make this bucket-list experience a little more luxurious, why not opt for our Buzz Flight for 2 with Bubbly and Chocolates and make your experience delicious and exciting! 

West Sussex

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This 30-minute Sussex Towers and Tall Ships Helicopter Tour departs from Goodwood Aerodrome, in Chichester, West Sussex. Once you’ve had your safety briefing and taken some windswept professional photos in front of the aircraft, you’ll get to experience the incredible vertical take off before you head toward Chichester and the harbour. There, you’ll get to take in the beautiful marina from above and possibly even do some seal watching! You’ll then head on down to Wittering with its colourful beach huts, before passing over the beautiful Hayling Island. Next, you’ll head towards Portsmouth, where you’ll catch a glimpse of the Spinnaker Tower and the Portsdown Hill Forts, five forts built in the 19^th century to protect the harbour from attacks coming in from the North. You’ll finish the tour with an incredible view of Goodwood Racecourse before returning to the ground to discuss your exciting trip! 

"After hours of looking for a bday present for my wife I found the Sussex Towers and Tall Ships Helicopter Tour. After a short safety briefing our group was escorted out to the helicopter. A professional photographer took our photo before we boarded and then we took off! The views were stunning and the pilot had great knowledge of the area, which he shared with us through our head sets. A personal highlight was seal watching! This experience was truly amazing and we couldn't help but buy our photo at the end as a memento for the day!"

Tommy Clifton - Brighton 24/10/2018 | Verified Experience Days Participant

East Sussex

This Flight Simulator in Brighton unfortunately won’t show you Brighton beach in all its glory from above, but you will be able to experience what it’s really like to fly. You won’t just be flying in the aircraft, though – you’ll take the controls yourself! You’ll even get the chance to choose the location you want to fly and the exact weather you want to fly in (it’s already better than real life). You’ll get 30 minutes training with an expert instructor and state of the art equipment. This is a great first step if you’re interested in learning to fly, or would like to experience what it’s like without actually taking to the skies.

Kent

If you’re keen to learn to fly and flight simulators just don’t make the cut, this 20-minute flying lesson in Kent is the experience for you. You’ll get the chance to fly one of the most famous 2-seater aircrafts of the modern day, the Robinson 22. Taking place at Kent International Airport in Manson, the lesson is conducted by expert pilots, who will share dual control of the aircraft with you throughout the flight. There’s no need to worry, as they’ll have the ability to take over at any point if necessary! Due to this, the experience is even available for teenagers to take part in as well. This experience goes that one step further than a sightseeing tour, and allows you to really learn how to fly the helicopter in practice. You’ll also get to view the stunning Kent countryside below you as you soar through the clouds. If the Robinson 22 isn't quite what you're looking for, we also offer an exhilarating 30 minute flying lesson in The Bell 206 Jet Ranger. Designed specifically for the use of the U.S Army, this helicopter flying lesson is one of kind. 

Surrey

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This helicopter flight departs from Fairoaks Airport in Surrey. After a friendly greeting from your pilot and a safety introduction to the aircraft, you’ll be up in the air in no time. You’ll begin your 30-minute journey passing over Surrey and the Thames Valley. You’ll get to experience stunning views of the Surrey countryside, and your pilot will be sure to point out all the famous landmarks in between! Expect to spot Wellington County Park, and the beautiful quaint village of Henley on Thames. This is a very relaxing and enjoyable helicopter tour, with incomparable views of the southern countryside. For a shorter thrill, the Buzz Flight for Two with Bubbly and Chocolates is a simple and luxurious adventure, perfect for thrill-seekers looking for a quick flight. 

Buckinghamshire

This 10-minute Helicopter Tour of High Wycombe and the surrounding area is a great way to explore Buckinghamshire. During your aerial adventure, you’ll fly over the surrounding countryside as well as the town itself, where you’ll follow the River Wye. If you manage to book your flight on a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday, you’ll even get a chance to spot the famous market in the high street, which has been held in the town since the middle ages. You’ll then be able to spot the Wycombe Wanderers’ football stadium, Adams Park, before returning to the airfield. If you’re more interested in the countryside views than the town, Heli Air also offer a Chiltern Hills Helicopter Tour.

Berkshire

Okay, so we admit we’re cheating a little with this one. If you want a helicopter tour in Berkshire, then your best bet is to travel to the Buckinghamshire location where you can experience not only tours of Wycombe and The Chiltern Hills, but also fantastic tours of London. Our Berkshire offering, however, isn’t a helicopter at all. It’s actually a light winged aircraft - yes, we know they’re very different, but this experience was too exciting to pass shouting about. This 1942 Harvard MK IIB flying experience is something you won’t easily forget. Used in World War II to train pilots to fly in Spitfires and Hurricanes, the aircraft is a classic war plane that history enthusiasts will love. Oh, and this isn’t just a pleasure flight, no, you’ll get the chance to take the controls of this legendary plane yourself. Not to mention, the experience takes part at a real World War II airfield near Maidenhead. Let’s face it, this experience is just as exciting as a helicopter tour and well worth a mention.

Oxfordshire

Located just outside of Oxford in Waterperry, this 30-minute helicopter flight is the best way to see Oxfordshire in all its magnificence from above. You’ll not only explore the remarkable city of Oxford, with its 800-years of interesting history, but the stunning Oxfordshire countryside, villages, rivers and woodlands as well. After flying over Waterperry, you can expect to see such thrilling sights. Oxford is a city of truly incredible architecture and beauty, and your pilot will be there to point out all the sights along the way to make sure you don’t miss a thing. 

Thanks for reading!

The South East of England is a place rich with history and amazing sights to see from above. We hope you were able to find what you were looking for, but if you’re still unsure if you’ve found the helicopter tour for you, you can find all our helicopter tours and flying experiences listed on our website.