Bayeux Tapestry to go on display in London

The Bayeux Tapestry will go on display in London from September 10, in its first exhibition in the city after a loan from the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.

The almost 1,000-year-old embroidered artwork, which depicts William the Conqueror's defeat of England's King Harold in 1066, can be seen at the British Museum until July 11, 2027.

The museum says most scholars think the 68-metre tapestry was made in England, probably in or around Canterbury. Some historians say Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William's half-brother, commissioned it in 1077 to decorate the new cathedral in Bayeux.

The tapestry records the Norman Conquest in words and images, including the Battle of Hastings, Harold's death, hundreds of figures and horses, and an image of Halley's comet. The Bayeux Museum says it features 626 figures and 202 horses.

The London exhibition will show the tapestry flat for the first time, rather than hanging on a wall. Around 7.5 million people are expected to visit the British Museum during the exhibition, and the first tickets through the end of December sold out on July 1.

The work is fragile. A 2020 study found about 24,200 stains and 10,000 holes, and the tapestry is sensitive to micro-vibrations, handling and humidity. The UK government is insuring it for an estimated £800 million while it is on loan.