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THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY · UK 2026
For the first time in almost 1,000 years

The Conquest ReturnsThe Bayeux Tapestry comes to Britain · 2026

Seventy metres of linen and wool that changed the course of English history — the world's most famous embroidery crosses the Channel to London. This is your complete guide to seeing it.

On loan from France to the British Museum, London  ·  September 2026 – July 2027

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until the doors open · September 2026

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A Thousand-Year Homecoming

The Story Stitched Into History

In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the sea, defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, and was crowned King of England — the last time the country was successfully invaded. Within a few years, that astonishing story was set down not in words but in coloured thread: more than seventy scenes of voyages, oaths, a blazing comet, cavalry charges and a king felled in battle. Made in England, kept for centuries in Normandy, the Bayeux Tapestry has never returned home — until now.

At a Glance

What Makes It Extraordinary

70m

Nearly the length of a city block

About 70 metres long and just 50cm tall — an unbroken visual epic.

1066

The year that changed England

It tells the events leading to the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings.

58

Scenes in wool on linen

Embroidered — not actually woven — in ten shades of woollen yarn.

~950

Years away from England

Believed made in England in the 1070s; this is its first return.

Plan Your Visit

Seeing the Tapestry at the British Museum

Everything you need to know to be there — the questions the official pages don't always answer in one place.

When & Where

  • British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
  • On display September 2026 – July 2027
  • Part of a landmark UK–France cultural exchange

Tickets

  • Expected to require a timed, booked ticket — book early
  • Members typically get priority booking first
  • Always confirm prices & release dates on the official site
  • Check official tickets →

Getting There

  • Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square
  • Mainline: Euston, King's Cross St Pancras nearby
  • Arrive early; expect high demand on weekends

This is an independent guide. Always confirm dates, prices and booking with the British Museum's official website before travelling.

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Explore the Tapestry

Scenes You'll Want to Find

A taste of the moments embroidered across the linen — tap any scene to read the full story.

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Harold's Oath

The fateful promise to William that sits at the heart of the story.
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The Comet

Halley's Comet blazes overhead — an omen the embroiderers could not ignore.
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The Battle of Hastings

Cavalry, archers, falling warriors, and the death of a king.
Read the Full Scene-by-Scene Guide →   What Is the Bayeux Tapestry? →
Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bayeux Tapestry really a tapestry?
No — strictly it's an embroidery: coloured woollen yarn stitched onto linen, rather than woven on a loom. The name has simply stuck for centuries.
Why is it coming to the UK in 2026?
Through a cultural agreement between France and the UK, the tapestry is being loaned to the British Museum while its home museum in Bayeux is renovated — its first time in England in almost a thousand years.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets are expected to be timed and bookable in advance, with members offered priority. Confirm exact dates and prices on the British Museum's official website.
Where can I see it after 2027?
It returns to France for the reopening of the renovated Bayeux Tapestry Museum, expected in late 2027.

Be First Through the Doors

Get an alert the moment tickets are released, plus the story behind the tapestry — and news on the road to the 2066 millennium of the Battle of Hastings.

The Long Game
2066

The Road to the Millennium

October 2066 marks one thousand years since the Battle of Hastings — a once-in-a-millennium global commemoration. We're already telling that story. Follow the countdown →