British Museum releases second batch of Bayeux Tapestry tickets amid heavy demand
Tickets for visits from January through March 2027 went on general sale on 21 October, as visitors again faced an online queue for the exhibition.
The British Museum put a second batch of Bayeux Tapestry exhibition tickets on general sale in London at 10am on 21 October 2026, opening bookings for visits from 1 January to 31 March 2027. The release gives visitors another chance to see the work after the first batch sold out, while a large online queue points to continued demand.
The Evening Standard reported that 269,000 people were waiting in the online queue before lunchtime. AFP described thousands joining the queue but did not give a comparable figure for that point in the sale. The Standard's number is a reported snapshot, rather than a final count of buyers or tickets sold.
When are Bayeux Tapestry tickets available?
The new tickets cover visits through 31 March. A final release is planned for early 2027 for later dates, according to AFP; the Evening Standard said that release is expected in January for visits from April to July. Tickets for the current release cost £25 to £33, depending on the date and time, the Standard reported. The exhibition is scheduled to run until 11 July 2027.
Bookings for the first, September-to-December period sold out in July, according to the Evening Standard, which reported that 100,000 tickets went in the first day. AFP said about 80,000 users joined the queue when that earlier batch went on sale, citing the museum. The figures describe different things: tickets sold and users in a queue.
How the museum is responding to visitor complaints
The exhibition opened in September, and visitors have complained about long waits to enter and some cancellations, AFP reported. Museum director Nicholas Cullinan said he was ‘really sorry’ if visitors had a bad experience. The museum says it is extending opening hours and adding an audio guide, more seating and clearer signs to improve visits.
The 70-metre work, on loan from France, depicts the Battle of Hastings and events leading to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It is displayed flat in a raised glass cabinet, rather than hung vertically as it normally is in France. Photography is banned to help keep crowds moving, and visitors are encouraged to view it within a 40-minute slot, AFP reported.
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Sources and context
- Bayeux Tapestry tickets 'chaos' as hundreds of thousands join online queueEvening Standard
- British Museum sells second set of Bayeux exhibition ticketsFrance 24 (AFP report)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.