Museum report·London
British Museum blocks photography of the Bayeux Tapestry amid record crowds
The British Museum has prohibited visitors from photographing the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, saying the habit was slowing movement along the 70-metre embroidery. The blockbuster loan from France, on view since 10 September, sold 100,000 tickets on its first day of public sale.
Days after the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opened on 10 September, the British Museum reversed its photography policy after complaints that picture-taking was causing delays for other visitors. The 70-metre embroidery is on loan to the United Kingdom for the first time in nearly a thousand years. A museum spokesperson said the restriction was needed so all visitors could have the best possible experience while moving along the length of the tapestry. Ticket demand has been unprecedented: a record 100,000 tickets sold on the first day of public sales, with around one million visitors expected before the show closes on 11 July 2027.
