Last month, the beloved Bayeux Tapestry landed in London for the first time in almost a millennium. And its eagerly-anticipated arrival had people – both physically and digitally – queuing around the block. Hundreds of thousands of people attempted to snap up a ticket in the first release, flocking to the British Museum’s website in the hope of being one of the first to feast their eyes on the medieval masterpiece in London. But with the demand being as outrageously high as it has been, the exhibition has run into a couple of teething problems. So, the British Museum has introduced some changes ahead of the next batch of tickets being released – and here’s what you need to know.
The Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum
In case you weren’t already aware, this elaborately-embroidered tapestry tells the tale of the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings. It spans a rather impressive 70 metres and has found itself inside London’s legendary British Museum, courtesy of a loan agreement made with the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.
Made up of 58 intricately-illustrated scenes, featuring 626 characters, 202 horses, and 41 ships, there’s certainly plenty to gawp at on a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry has lived in France for over 900 years despite many historians believe that the ancient artwork was created here in the UK – and so the tapestry’s ‘homecoming’ has sparked a fair bit of excitement, to say the least.
When are the next load of tickets being released?
Possibly the most colossal event in the capital’s current cultural calendar, getting your hands on a ticket to see the Bayeux Tapestry is certainly no mean feat. The tickets are being released in batches, with the first chunk of tickets (for visits between September and December) having been snapped up in an instant when they went live in August. But feat not, folks – two further ticket releases are still to come, one of which is on Wednesday.
Tickets for visits between January and March are mere moments away from being released. In fact, they’re already bookable for members of the British Museum, but they go on general sale on October 21. As I’m sure you can imagine, anticipation to see one of the world’s most culturally and historically significant works of art is pretty darn high, and so tickets are expected to fly of the shelves.
What changes have the British Museum made?
Upon securing a ticket, visitors are allocated a 40-minute slot to view the tapestry. But over the past few weeks, some visitors have somewhat overstayed their welcome, causing a bit of a backlog and a rather hefty queue because of it. It was even reported that hundreds of ticketholders were turned away due to the backlog and the fact that the museum had to close early for a private event.
So, to make the whole experience a bit more manageable and a whole lot more enjoyable, the British Museum has implemented some changes. Visitors are no longer allowed to take photos of the tapestry so as to keep people moving whilst viewing the artwork. A new audio guide will be available alongside clearer signage – and to improve the queueing experience, additional seating has been set up. Opening hours are also set to be extended, but the British Museum is yet to release the specific details around this.
A spokesperson from the British Museum reportedly told The Independent: “The response to the Bayeux Tapestry has been extraordinary, and we are delighted by the excitement and interest it has generated.
“We also know that some visitors have faced longer queues than we would have wanted, so we are introducing a series of measures – including an audio guide, clearer signage, additional seating and longer opening hours – to make the experience smoother and give more people the time they need to enjoy the Tapestry.”
The next ticket release (for visits between January 1 and March 31) opens to the general public on October 21. Find out more about the Bayeux Tapestry and attempt to snap up a ticket to see it here.
