The British Museum will release a new batch of general admission tickets for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition on Wednesday, October 21, at 10am, covering visits between January and March 2027. The release follows unprecedented demand that saw previous ticket allocations sell out quickly.
Ticket prices and availability details
Adult tickets are priced at £33 during peak periods and £27 off-peak. Students, 16 to 18-year-olds, and jobseekers can purchase tickets for £25. Disabled visitors also pay £25, with a free ticket provided for an accompanying assistant. National Art Pass holders are charged £16.50, while under-16s go free when booked with an adult ticket, with a maximum of four children per adult.
A final batch of tickets, covering visits from April to July 2027, will go on sale in January. The exhibition runs until July 11, 2027. Tickets will be available through the British Museum's official website.
Record-breaking demand and visitor feedback
The ticket release follows record-breaking demand for the exhibition, with the British Museum selling more than £2.4 million worth of tickets in the first 24 hours of general admission sales in July. The museum has faced criticism over lengthy queues, including reports of visitors being turned away when the gallery closed despite having paid for tickets. Refunds and priority booking slots have been offered to affected visitors.
Photography has been banned inside the exhibition to help keep people moving, while the museum has introduced plans for an audio guide, clearer signage, additional seating, and extended opening hours to improve the experience. The exhibition has also prompted accessibility concerns, with a blind man from Croydon seeking damages over alleged discrimination relating to the lack of audio-described tours. Many visitors have nonetheless enjoyed seeing this historical artefact for the first time up close.
Historical significance and loan details
The Bayeux Tapestry returned to Britain for the first time in almost 1,000 years when it went on display at the British Museum on September 10. The embroidered work tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and offers a glimpse into 11th-century life, depicting everything from battles and ships to clothing and food.
It is believed to have been commissioned by a Norman patron and made by English embroiderers. The tapestry is usually housed in Bayeux, Normandy, and is expected to return to France following the exhibition.
