Hot air balloons light up Longleat in 75th anniversary festival

A fleet of colourful hot air balloons swayed to music from across eight decades to mark 75 years of Longleat being open to the public.

Ten balloons, some shaped like coffee jars and dragons, used their burners to light up the grounds of the Wiltshire stately home in time to music on Thursday evening.

The “night glow” event was part of Longleat’s first Icons of the Sky festival, which also features a pyrotechnic air display and a fireworks display.

Fireworks are set off during a preview for Icons of the Sky (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

Visitors should be able to witness a mass assent of the hot air balloons twice a day, but it was cancelled on Thursday due to poor weather conditions.

The night glows have been choreographed to a specially-selected soundtrack, with music from Glenn Miller through to Taylor Swift.

Hot air balloons take part in a night glow during a preview for Icons of the Sky (Andrew Matthews/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Matthews

It also includes the Rolling Stones, who played the estate in 1964, and Sir Elton John, who appeared in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Safari Park opening.

The festival runs until Sunday.

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