Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No… it’s hordes of hot air balloons scattered across the grey skies of the capital.
This weekend, 50 hot air balloons are going to take flight in London as part of the Ricoh Lord Mayor’s Hot Air Balloon Regatta, an annual celebration in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal.
This year’s extravaganza is going to start in Battersea Park.
Once the event has begun, the hot air balloons will then venture over several famous London landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and the Tower of London.
The regatta was originally due to take place in June and July.
However, due to adverse weather conditions, it was postponed until Sunday 25 November and Sunday 2 December.
The regatta is part of the Lord Mayor’s Show, an annual event that’s taken place in the capital since the 16th Century.
It raises awareness of the Lord Mayor's Appeal, which provides support for organisations including Samaritans and children's mental health charity Place2Be.
Sunday's event has been organised by Exclusive Ballooning, a leading aerial marketing specialist.
Over the past three years, the regatta has raised more than £175,000 for charity.
“The Lord Mayor’s Balloon Regatta is quickly establishing itself as one of the cultural highlights associated with the City of London,” says Alderman Charles Bowman, former lord mayor of London.
“It brings together charity, community and commerce, everything that the city - and the lord mayor - is all about."
The official Lord Mayor's Appeal hot air balloon will lead the aerial launch, carrying the lord mayor and lord mayoress of London, and will start at around 5-5.30am.
