The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
The British Balloon Museum and Library is the official museum of the British Balloon and Airship Club. It was formed in 1979 by a small group of balloonists, with the objective of preserving the many different items associated with and used in hot air and gas ballooning.
2021 Inflation Day
COLLECTIONS

Envelopes, Baskets and Burners
In these pages, you can see a small selection of some of the items we have in store, including Envelopes, Baskets, Burners and Gondolas. Explore the Envelopes gallery, which has a detailed history of each item in the collection.

Our photo collection
A selection of images from our extensive photographic collection. The Museum has an amazing collections of black and white photographs dating back to the 1800s and early 1900s.
Books, magazines and memorabilia
A selection of the books and magazines contained in our collection. The BBM&L is pleased to accept donations of balloon literature of any kind.
NEWS
Icicle Refrozen 2021 – on a screen near you.
Click on link HERE. […]Inflation Day – 24 April 2021.
Well, here we go again, exciting times, as we start the process of preparing for the next BBM&L Inflation Day – here is hoping we actually […]Renee Thornton, 1931-2020
Vice President of the British Balloon Museum & Library. We were saddened to hear that Renee had died in her sleep. She was a friend, a […]Don Piccard. 1926 – 2020.
The sad news has reached us of the death of Don Piccard aged 95. He was our Vice President from the year dot and you can find ‘his page’. […]
This Day In History
- 1871 The 60th balloon to escape from the Siege of Paris. Balloon ‘Le Vaucanson'. Pilot Clariot and 2 passengers. Landed Armenthieres, flight 240kms in 7Hrs 15mins. It was still dark when they landed.