Thousands rushed to get tickets Wednesday for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum in London, where the 11th‑century artwork depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England will be displayed for the first time in the UK.
The delicate tapestry will be transported from its usual home in northern France, but the precise arrangements are being kept secret as heritage experts and artists have expressed concern that it could be damaged in transit.
British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said the institution was “expecting huge demand” for the exhibition, likening the ticket rush to the annual scramble for Glastonbury music festival tickets.
Top‑tier tickets for the show, which will run from September this year to July next year, are priced up to £33 (€43).
AFP journalists joined the queue when the online ticket system opened at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, finding tens of thousands of users already waiting.
French officials have said the 70‑metre tapestry will travel from Bayeux in a specially designed crate to cushion vibrations, though few other details have been disclosed.
The exhibition will present the monumental tapestry in a single, continuous display within a bespoke case.
“We believe it is the world’s longest showcase,” Cullinan said of the glass case manufactured in Belgium for the exhibition.
The loan follows a promise by French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2025 to allow the tapestry to be moved to the British Museum for 18 months, celebrating the relationship between France and Britain.
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