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.

Background: an image from the Frank Hedges Butler collection. Find out more here.

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.

Hardware Balloons, baskets, burners etc. Non-fiction, fiction, non-english. Books Oral history Audio interviews with key people. Advertising Posters and handbills. Clothing T-shirts, sweatshirts, flying suits etc. Photographs Single photos, bundles and albums. Post/Postal items Flown mail, stamps, envelopes. Art Paintings, prints. Moving films Documentaries, fiction, events. Memorablia China, glass, wood, metal etc. Trophies & plaques Awards, trophies and plaques. Records Logbooks, certificates, stationery etc. Publications Articles, magazines, newspapers etc. 3D models Models of balloons etc. Balloon G-AVTL taking off Book jacket for My Polar Flights Don Cameron in the Cameron Balloons factory Poster for French balloon meet 2001 Yellow flying suit Image from c.1908 of people in balloon basket Signed envelope of balloon launched from HMS Ark Royal Coloured engraving of 18th century balloon VHS video cover for Breitling Orbiter 3 video SAGA 1997 Official participant dish Trophy with two handles Montage of logbook items and image of Renee Thornton Daily Telegraph magazine cover featuring balloons 3D model of balloon

Search the Collection

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

Featured Object from the Collection

Open weave wicker basket made by Thunder Balloons. Early design, c1973, with no burner supports and cow hide around the top. The open weave design is a throw-back from the gas balloon which dominated balloon activity from the late 18th century until the modern hot air balloon was invented in the 1960s.

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.

BBML balloon at the 2024 Inflation Day

Inflation Day 2024

A quote from our secretary ( and hard-working organiser) Tim Turner…. “…What a day – beyond all our beliefs with...

Coloured engraving of Sophie Blanchard balloon

International Women’s Day

On this International Women’s Day we wanted to highlight an extraordinary woman in the world of ballooning. Sophie Blanchard (1778...

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

3 November 1878

Henri Giffard carried 35,000 passengers in his 'Ballon Captif' at Cour du Carrousel in Paris between 10th July and November 3rd. The hydrogen balloon was 882867 cubic feet (25000cub metres). Source: Histoire des Ballons. Histoire de L'Aeronautique. Le Grand Ballon a Vapeur

Educational resources for everyone

How does a hot air balloon work?
What is a crown line?

Visit our Education section to find the answers and to access free resources for everyone, including a glossary of terms and Key Stage 1 teacher resources. Hot air balloons are colourful and inspiring, great to fire the imagination and create an enthusiasm for learning.

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