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

Many people will have heard of the Nimble balloon which featured in the TV adverts for Nimble bread in 1968. The BBM&L are fortunate to have the burner for that balloon, G-AXMD, made by Omega Aerostatics in the collection.

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.

Chairman's Award
BBM&L AGM and Annual Luncheon 2025
It was a splendid event with many balloonists old and young attending. Donnington Valley Hotel provided a great
Inflation Day – 2026. Put it in your diary.
Inflation Day 2026 Time certainly flies quickly, and I find myself already putting the early plans together for
R 34 Airship first to make Atlantic double crossing by air. July 1919.
On a cold and misty night in July, 1919, His Majesty's airship R.34 set out from Scotland on what was
Trailrope Summer 2025
The latest issue of Trailrope is published and on the front cover you see a balloon made in 1937 by
Midlands Air Festival 2025
The BBM&L had a successful Midlands Air Festival event. Sadly, the weather was windy, which restricted the flying slots to

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

30 November 1784
Jean-Pierre Blanchard makes the 1st scientific observations from above the earth in a hydrogen balloon over London. He took off from Rhedarium Gardens near Grosvenor Square.

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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