The Bayeux Tapestry has left France for the first time in nearly a thousand years, and London cannot get enough of it. When the British Museum released the first batch of tickets for the exhibition, around 80,000 people piled into an online queue and the museum took a record £2.5 million in a single day. A second wave of tickets went on sale this week, covering viewings from January 1 to March 31, 2027, with a final release due early next year.
The 70-metre embroidery tells the story of the 1066 Norman invasion of England, culminating in the Battle of Hastings. It arrived on loan from France this summer despite conservationists warning about the risk of the cross-Channel journey. Two broken threads were spotted during condition checks, but the museum says the artwork remains virtually unchanged. The opening carried real ceremonial weight too: King Charles III and French President Emmanuel Macron previewed it together.
Seeing it is a different experience from viewing it in Bayeux. Instead of hanging vertically as it does in France, the tapestry lies flat inside a raised glass case. Tickets cost up to £33, and entry works on strict 40-minute slots — there's a hard rule against photography to keep the line of visitors moving.
The show hasn't been entirely smooth. Some visitors complained about long waits in the entry queue and cancellations, and the museum agreed to add an audio-described tour after a visually impaired guest flagged the lack of inclusive provisions. Director Nicholas Cullinan has apologised to anyone who had a poor experience, and changes are on the way: extended opening hours, an audio guide, more seating and clearer signage.
The critics, meanwhile, are sold. The Guardian called the display "perfect" and The Times went with "magnificent". The exhibition runs until July 11, 2027, so there's a long window — but if you want a specific date around a trip, booking early matters given the demand.
For travellers, this is a genuine once-only chance. The tapestry has never loaned abroad before, and there's no indication it will again. If you're planning a London visit in 2026 or 2027, it pairs naturally with the museum's other holdings and a day or two around Bloomsbury. Just don't turn up hoping for walk-in entry — the queue history suggests otherwise.
