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

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

Wartime folding wicker gas balloon basket. Designed to take spies behind enemy lines during World War II, the balloons would be launched off trawlers in the North Sea and the baskets were foldable to save space on the boat.

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.

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...

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

28 April 1907
Alberto Santos-Dumont, Aeronaut Extraordinaire. made his last recorded balloon flight. He was the youngest of 10 children, son of a wealthy coffee plantation owner in Brazil. Known as a dilettante, designer and developer of mechanical & aeronautical inventions. He made and flew many successful self-designed airships & airplanes; All of his Balloon & Airship envelopes were made by LACHAMBRE. Co-Founder & co-director of the Federation Aeronautique In'tl. (FAI). Source: Who is Who in Ballooning

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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