Loco

Whenever you mention airships to people, the first thing they think of is the Hindenburg disaster. So if you've come to this page without thinking about it, and I've just made you think about it, then I curse myself for bringing it to your attention!

The truth is that thousands of airship flights have taken place without any kind of disaster. Just as importantly, the widespread use of airships could bring monumental savings in the amount of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere. Whilst we may be some way away from the level of change required to rival flights, it is possible to ride in an airship today.

Riding in a floating airship is one of the most relaxing and tranquil ways to travel. Nowhere near as fast as a plane, but in future perhaps capable of carrying more people, the lack of a noisy engine gives the most peaceful ride imaginable for those lucky enough to go on one of the few trips that exist.

Booking a trip

Soon it may be possible to ride in an airship over the skies of London and beyond, but until then the only place in Europe from where it's possible is Friedrichshafen, home town of the Zeppelin located on the shores of the magnificent Lake Constance, southern Germany, offering scenic views in an almost Mediterranean climate. Perfect for a long weekend, the train down there takes about nine hours from London, changing at Paris or Brussels.

To book the train, plan your journey using the Deutshce Bahn European rail timetable., and then check prices and book at Rail Europe

As for the ride in the airship itself, you can choose between a 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minute flight over the beautiful Lake Constance and surrounding German, Austrian and Swiss countryside. To find out more details and book, visit Zeppelin Tours.

Looking to the future

As beautiful and serene as a ride over Lake Constance might be, the low carbon qualities of airships won't make a dent in global emissions unless we look at widespread use instead of planes. We've done a bit of investigating in the blog (more soon), and you can also try this typically depressingly-titled George Monbiot article.