History enthusiasts eager to see the Bayeux Tapestry will have to wait until next year as this year’s tickets have quickly sold out, drawing comparisons to the rapid sales of Glastonbury Festival tickets. The priceless 11th-century artifact, depicting the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings, will be exhibited at the British Museum for 10 months starting in September following an agreement between the British and French governments. Over 100,000 individuals attempted to secure tickets online when they became available at 10 am on Wednesday, leading to a surge in demand.
Despite the high interest, many potential visitors may have to postpone their plans to view the 224-foot medieval masterpiece until next year. The museum’s official portal indicated “very limited” ticket availability until the end of December, with a second release of tickets for 2027 anticipated in the coming months. Some disappointed applicants were informed that tickets had sold out once they reached the front of the online queue.
Ticket prices have been set at £33 for peak times and £27 for off-peak hours, while children under 16 can enter for free when accompanied by a paying adult. The online ticketing process experienced significant delays, with wait times of up to nine hours and no guarantees of securing a ticket, prompting frustrations expressed on social media.
Following a lengthy wait in the queue, one Twitter user mentioned having 80,000 people ahead of them and speculated about the future ticket releases. Another individual shared their disappointment after spending over four hours in the queue without certainty of obtaining a ticket. However, some fortunate museum members successfully secured tickets after enduring a six-hour wait, likening the experience to acquiring Glastonbury tickets.
The Bayeux Tapestry, believed to have been crafted by Anglo-Saxon women in England under the commission of Bishop Odo of Bayeux in the 11th century, portrays the events of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, including the pivotal moment of King Harold’s demise and the onset of the Norman conquest. The tapestry, which has been housed in France for over 900 years, is set to return to British soil for the first time through an agreement between Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.