The short answer
The Fat Duck has no helicopter landing site, so we fly you to a licensed airfield near Maidenhead, usually White Waltham or Denham, and a chauffeur car covers the short road to Bray. We have flown clients to Bray from Goodwood, Biggin Hill and Blackbushe. London to White Waltham takes about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter.
Quote this event Tell us the date and the number of guests; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Venue
- The Fat Duck, High Street, Bray, Maidenhead SL6 2AQ; three Michelin stars
- Landing at the restaurant
- No helicopter landing site at the restaurant
- Nearest licensed sites
- White Waltham Airfield (near Maidenhead), Denham Aerodrome, Farnborough Airport, Heathrow by arrangement
- White Waltham to Denham
- 11.1 nautical miles
- London to White Waltham
- About 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter, around 53 minutes by road
- Goodwood to White Waltham
- About 25 to 30 minutes by helicopter, around 1 hour 34 minutes by road
- Whole-restaurant hire
- Advertised by the restaurant for private and corporate events; capacity to be confirmed with the restaurant
- Good for
- Client dinners, hosted corporate occasions
Can a helicopter land at The Fat Duck?
No. The restaurant is in a village high street beside the Thames, with no landing site of its own, and we do not offer a landing there. That is the honest answer, and the useful one: the village is a few minutes by car from airfields that can take a helicopter, so the plan is a flight, a short drive and a table.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. For helicopter charter Fat Duck clients, the previous version of this page recorded flights from Goodwood, Biggin Hill and Blackbushe to Bray, and we plan the same shape of day now: land at the right airfield, meet the car and arrive for your booking. Our guide to UK landing sites explains why a licensed site matters.
Which airfields serve Bray?
White Waltham Airfield, near Maidenhead, opens at 08:00 every day, needs prior permission and accepts turbine helicopters; it closes at 17:30 on winter weekdays and up to 20:00 in summer, and being grass it is weather dependent. London Denham Aerodrome is 11.1 nautical miles away, open 08:00 to 20:00 in summer and 08:00 to 18:00 in winter; see Denham. Farnborough is 13.5 nautical miles from White Waltham, open until 22:00 on weekdays; see Farnborough, which suits an evening return. Heathrow is possible only with a slot and permission.
Blackbushe, where we have flown from, is not in our site library, so we verify its details from the airport's own site before we plan a departure there; see Blackbushe. Biggin Hill is on our Biggin Hill page.
How long does the flight take?
London to White Waltham takes about 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter and around 53 minutes by road; see Battersea for the central London departure. Goodwood to White Waltham takes about 25 to 30 minutes against around 1 hour 34 minutes by road; see Goodwood. Oxford takes about 20 to 25 minutes against around 57 minutes, and Birmingham about 35 to 45 minutes against around 1 hour 52 minutes.
A dinner is the tricky case. A grass airfield may close before the meal ends, so a late return can mean Farnborough or an overnight stay. We plan the return first. Arrive 10 minutes before take-off, give us a weight for each passenger and use soft bags.
What corporate use suits The Fat Duck?
A client dinner for a small group, a hosted occasion for a senior team, or an exclusive-hire evening. The restaurant's official site advertises hire of the entire restaurant for private and corporate events; see its experiences page for the details, since capacity, menus and availability are the restaurant's to confirm. We do not book the table.
For similar venues see Cliveden and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. For the wider idea see dining by helicopter and corporate days out. For the car, we use Executive Global Travel. For price guidance see the price guides. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a helicopter land at The Fat Duck?
No. We land at an airfield such as White Waltham or Denham and arrange a car to Bray.
Which airfield is nearest to Bray?
White Waltham, near Maidenhead, is among the closest. It is a grass airfield, so it closes early and is weather dependent.
Can we fly home after a late dinner?
Sometimes. Small airfields close early, so we may use Farnborough, which runs later, or suggest an overnight stay.
Do you book the restaurant?
No. The restaurant takes the booking; we arrange the flight and the car.
What if weather stops the flight?
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
