London, United Kingdom. The British Museum said it expects strong demand for its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition as tickets went on sale on Wednesday for the 11th-century artwork’s return to England from France for the first time in nearly 1,000 years. Tens of thousands of people joined a virtual queue to buy tickets online, according to museum director Nicholas Cullinan.
Ticket sales open
Cullinan told BBC Radio that people across Britain were taking the opportunity to see the tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England in Britain. He said the work would arrive “fairly soon.”
Artwork and origins
The Bayeux Tapestry is about 70 metres long. While its precise origins remain unclear, it is believed to have been made by English embroiderers, but it has been in France for the past 950 years.
Transport and display
The British Museum said details of how the fragile wool and linen tapestry will be transported from its home in Bayeux in northwestern France to central London are being kept secret. Cullinan said it would travel via the Channel tunnel.
A special glass container has been made to display and protect the tapestry. The British Museum said it believes this will be the world’s longest showcase. Visitors will be able to view the full length from above and also examine it up close, Cullinan said.
Loan agreement
France confirmed last July that the British Museum could borrow the tapestry during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Britain as the guest of King Charles. The loan of the work has been seen as a sign of closer ties between the two countries after tensions following the 2016 Brexit vote.
Historical significance
The tapestry depicts an earlier period of Anglo-French conflict. It was created in the years after William the Conqueror, supported by a Norman-French army, took the English throne.
Its detailed scenes show the events leading up to William’s invasion at Hastings and the battle against the army of Anglo-Saxon ruler King Harold, including the scene showing an arrow striking Harold in the eye.
Exhibition dates
Usually displayed at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, the tapestry will be shown at the British Museum from September until July 2027.
