Bayeux Tapestry conquers audiences as the hottest show in London

The artefact, depicting events leading up to the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings, is back in Britain for the first time since it was made nearly 1000 years ago 

The Bayeux Tapestry.

If you thought that getting tickets for Glastonbury was difficult, then try getting to see one of the wonders of the medieval world. The 70-metre-long Bayeux Tapestry depicting events leading up to the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is the hottest ticket in London town. 

The tapestry has returned to England for the first time since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago. Historians believe it was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, half-brother to William the Conqueror.

Stitched in wool on linen fabric — so not actually a tapestry — it was made by women in England, possibly nuns, before being taken across the Channel. It offers a vision of life in 11th-century England before and after the Conquest, from castles, warfare and ships to clothing, food and furniture. 

The Bayeux Tapestry.

It will be on display laid flat and in one long line at the British Museum from next September until July 2027. Demand has been unprecedented, with almost 100,000 tickets sold on the first day. Around 7.5 million visitors are expected to see it in England, with tickets being released in phases by the British Museum.