History enthusiasts hoping to see the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum are facing waits of up to nine hours for tickets, with many now told they must wait until next year after this year's allocation sold out 'like Glastonbury'.
Ticket Frenzy Draws Over 100,000 in Online Queue
The 11th-century artefact, which tells the story of the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings, will be on display at the British Museum for 10 months starting September. The loan was agreed between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron last year. Since tickets went on sale at 10am on Wednesday, over 100,000 people have attempted to secure their place in the online queue.
By Thursday morning, the museum's official portal warned of 'very limited' availability until the end of December, with a second batch of tickets for 2027 expected in the coming months. A notice added: 'Tickets may have sold out when you reach the front of the queue.'
Pricing and Availability
Museum bosses set prices at £33 during peak times and £27 off-peak, while children aged 16 and under can see the tapestry for free with a paying adult. The rush led to waits of up to nine hours to enter the online portal, with no guarantee of ticket availability upon entry, prompting frustration on social media.
One X (formerly Twitter) user, finding 80,000 people ahead of them, wrote: 'Looks like we'll have to wait for January to July ticket release - but suspect that'll be equally in demand.' Another penned: 'I have been in the Bayeux Tapestry ticket queue for over four hours now. I am not as optimistic that I will get a ticket to see it anymore.' A lucky museum member who secured a ticket after a six-hour wait commented: 'This must be what getting tickets to Glastonbury feels like!'
Historical Significance of the Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is believed to have been stitched in England by Anglo-Saxon women, commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror, in the 11th century to decorate his cathedral. It depicts the events of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the infamous moment King Harold was slain, marking the beginning of the Norman conquest. The tapestry has been kept in France for over 900 years, and this loan marks the first time it has returned to British soil.
