The Bayeux tapestry, on loan from France for the first time in its history, will be displayed at the British Museum until July 2027. While the museum's £33 tickets sold out within a day, causing nine-hour online queues, guests at the five-star One Aldwych hotel in Covent Garden can secure tickets through a corporate partnership, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from a local MP.
Ticket Demand and Hotel Privileges
The initial release of tickets for the exhibition, covering slots from September to December, sold out in a single day, marking the British Museum's biggest day of ticket sales ever, with bookings generating over £2.5 million. Two further releases are scheduled for October and January for the remainder of the tapestry's stay in Britain.
In contrast, guests at One Aldwych, where rooms cost more than £1,000 per night, are offered tickets to the exhibition through the hotel's corporate partnership with the museum. The hotel promotes the experience on its website, noting that guests can select any date and time during their stay and are told there are "plenty of tickets," with a limit of one ticket per guest per stay.
MP Condemns Unequal Access
Helena Dollimore, the MP for Hastings and Rye, has condemned the arrangement, calling it "outrageous" that those who can afford expensive hotel rooms get free access while others struggle for tickets. She has been negotiating with the museum to secure free access for children in her constituency, which she refers to as "1066 country."
Dollimore stated: "It is outrageous that one of London's most expensive hotels has been offered this access to the Bayeux tapestry. How can it be right that some are able to pay their way in while others have to scramble for a chance to see this piece of our heritage?"
Museum Defends Partnership and Public Access
A British Museum spokesperson defended the arrangement, stating that as a corporate partner, One Aldwych is entitled to a small quota of tickets. The spokesperson emphasized that the vast majority of tickets are for the public and that the full exhibition run is not sold out. They noted that two further ticket releases are planned for January to July next year, with dates to be announced shortly. Additionally, special views are assigned for schools, and all under-16s tickets are free when attending with an adult.
The tapestry, which depicts William the Conqueror's victory over King Harold II at Hastings in 1066, has been on display at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy since 1983. It will return there after the museum reopens following renovation. French President Emmanuel Macron has faced strong criticism for allowing the loan, with critics arguing he ignored expert advice that the artefact was too fragile to transport. One Aldwych has been contacted for comment.
