Slide 1
The British Balloon Museum & Library
G-AVTL balloon
Help save the past for the future
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Large balloon
Unipart balloon
IKEA balloon
Bowler hat balloon
Slide 2
The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
JOIN NOW
MAKE A DONATION
Montage of items from the BBM&L collection
Slide 3
The British Balloon Museum & Library
Help save the past for the future
JOIN NOW
MAKE A DONATION
Montage of items from the BBM&L collection

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.

Below is a carousel of categories in the BBM&L collection.

Search the Collection

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

Featured Object from the Collection

Back in the late 1960s when this modern era of hot air ballooning was in its infancy, pilots all wore helmets whilst flying and you would be forgiven for assuming they were for protection when landing. But it wasn't from coming into contact with solid objects on the ground, it was to prevent injury from the burner hitting you on the head. When the basket hits the ground it stops, but the balloon (and burner) continues downwards until something stops it, and the first thing the burner hits is your head!

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.

Sand bag from 1930s Gordon Bennett balloon race.
  We have recently been donated a sand bag from Jasper Tomlinson via Giles Camplin both of whom
New Atlantic attempt
A new attempt to fly a balloon across the Atlantic Ocean is being prepared in Presque Isle, Maine.
Richard D'Alton presents a trophy to Robin Batchelor
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 a new
Montgolfier balloon 1783
Who was the first to fly?
The Courier d’Avignon, dated October 28, confirms these facts: "From Paris, October 18: Here are the details announced last week
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

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

22 May 1968
Lakehurst Naval Air Station was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in the USA. Hangar No. One at Lakehurst is based on the typical designs of World War I. It resembles many of the rigid airship hangars built in Great Britain which used counter-balanced doors in lieu of the steel supporting framework generally found in German hangar design.

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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