Slide 1
The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
JOIN NOW
MAKE A DONATION
Slide 2
The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
JOIN NOW
MAKE A DONATION
Slide 3
The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
JOIN NOW
MAKE A DONATION

Welcome to the British Balloon Museum and Library

The British Balloon Museum and Library (BBM&L) is the official museum of the British Balloon and Airship Club. A small group of balloonists formed the BBM&L in 1979; we are a registered charity with the objective of preserving the many different items associated with, and used in, hot air and gas ballooning, and other forms of lighter-than-air flight. We have no physical museum to house our collection but, thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, you can now explore many items in our collection for the first time online. The process of adding collection items to the website will be a gradual one, as more items are catalogued and photographed.

Explore the Collection

The BBM&L holds a large collection of artefacts from the sport of ballooning, both hot air and gas, plus a good number of items from the world of airships. Click on the links below to navigate to the category you want, where you can view images of these items along with their descriptions.

Search the Collection

Use the search box below to find a particular item, person or event.

Featured Object from the Collection

One of the favourite books in our library is ‘Record of an Aeronaut’. By Gertrude Bacon. It is a biography of Rev. John M. Bacon written mostly by his daughter Gertrude. Published in 1907, three years after her father’s death, the book describes his many balloon flights whilst pursuing his scientific interests in acoustics, astronomy, bell ringing and making fireworks. His first flight was in 1888 with Captain William Dale where they flew from Crystal Palace across London to Hatfield.

Latest News and Events

We will post news items of interest here concerning people, balloons and airships. There will also be details of events as they become available.

View a selection of articles from our member magazine
As a thank you, we are offering you the chance to peak inside our quarterly membership magazine, Trailrope, to get a taste of the fascinating history of ballooning.

The Small World
  In 1958 the Atlantic Ocean had yet to be conquered by balloon so it was big news
AGM, lunch, speaker, auction and raffle.
The annual BBM&L AGM lunch was a great success with a healthy number of people joining us at
BBM&L AGM and Annual Luncheon 27 October 2024
The British Balloon Museum & Library are holding their AGM and Annual Luncheon on Sunday 27 October 2024, 12.00 for
Dr. Jenner’s balloon flight replicated 240 years on
The county’s first hydrogen balloon flight has been recreated by aviation enthusiasts on its 240th anniversary. Father of immunology Edward
Northampton Balloon Festival
A busy period came to an end for the BBM&L crews over the weekend of 17 August, with the most

Will you help preserve the history of ballooning?

Become a friend of the BBM&L now.

UK Friends of the British Balloon Museum & Library pay an annual subscription of £15, and it is £18 for Friends overseas. You will receive regular issues of our journal, Trailrope, and one of the much-prized BBM&L lapel badges. There are Inflation Days when historic balloons are given an airing and a great Annual Luncheon. Most important is the knowledge that you are helping to save what could so easily be lost.

This Day in History

14 December 1903
Wilbur Wright attempted the first powered flight

Educational resources for everyone

How does a balloon work?
How do you land?

Hot air balloons are colourful and inspiring, great to fire the imagination and create an enthusiasm for learning. Visit our Education section to learn more about them and to access teacher resources.

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