During the 1830s, regular balloon ascents and rides were introduced at the Gardens.
World-famous balloonist Charles Green’s (1785-1870) first flights from Vauxhall took place in July 1826, ascending during the firework displays and marking the first ever night ascents in Britain. Spectators watched as the aeronaut launched rockets from the basket of his balloon. Known for his unusual animal passengers – including a horse and a hippo – Green also broke a world record in 1836 by completing a 480-mile flight from Vauxhall to Weilburg, Germany. Green also had a genuine scientific interest in ballooning, measuring air pressures and carrying out experiments with barometers. He made more than 500 flights by the time he died in 1852, affectionately known as the ‘Columbus of the Skies’.
Guide Green’s balloon through the skies in this soaring AR game. Make sure his animal passenger steers clear of the clouds as you race through the sky.