Bayeux Tapestry London 2026-27: Ticket Dates, Visiting Tips & Where to Stay Nearby

Nearly a thousand years after it was stitched, the most famous embroidery in history has come to London. Getting a ticket is the hard part. Getting the rest of the trip right is rather easier.

The Bayeux Tapestry London exhibition at the British Museum is, to put it in properly British terms, popular. The 70-metre masterpiece that tells the story of 1066 is back in England for the first time since it was made, and the first batch of tickets vanished almost immediately. According to LBC, the museum took more than £2.4 million in sales in the first 24 hours, and around 7.5 million visitors are expected over the run.

So here is the plain-English guide: which tickets are still to come, what they cost, what to expect inside, and where to stay within a short walk of Great Russell Street.

Because the next release arrives sooner than you might think.

Why This Exhibition Is Different

Most blockbuster exhibitions are rare. This one is close to singular.

According to the British Museum, the tapestry is on loan from France from 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027, and it is the first time it has returned to England since it was made, nearly 1,000 years ago. It tells the story of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of 1066, the last time England was successfully invaded.

It is also full of surprises. The museum notes that it was likely commissioned by a Norman patron but made by English embroiderers. And in a detail that tends to stop people mid-scroll, the British Museum says more than 600 figures appear in the main body of the work, and only three of them are women.

General entry to the British Museum is free. The Bayeux Tapestry is the exception: it needs a separate, timed ticket, booked in advance.

Which brings us to the part everyone is asking about.

Bayeux Tapestry Tickets: The Release Calendar

Tickets are being released in waves, and the British Museum's own page is the source of truth.

(Source: British Museum, official exhibition page.)

A few rules worth knowing before you click:

• Up to 10 tickets per booking. Multiple bookings from the same email address will be cancelled.
• Tickets can only be used by the booker, and ID may be checked, so book in the name of someone who is actually attending.
• Tickets are emailed to you four days before your visit.
• Members have their own priority windows. The October–December and January–March member windows are already fully booked, with a final member window planned for January 2027.

If you are reading this after 21 October, check the museum's page straight away for any remaining January–March availability, and keep an eye out for the April–July release.

Planning a longer London stay around a big event? Read "The Rise of the Long Stay: Why More Travellers Are Booking London for a Week or More" here.

How Much Do Bayeux Tapestry Tickets Cost?

According to the British Museum, prices depend on the day and time you choose.

Under-16s are free when booked alongside an accompanying adult (maximum four under-16s per ticketed adult). The museum notes that prices may vary, and National Art Pass holders get a discounted rate.

A small tip from the table: the cheapest slots are the quietest-looking ones. If your plans are flexible, a late weekday afternoon can save you £8 per adult.

What to Expect Inside

Knowing the format helps you plan the rest of the day.

• It is quick. The British Museum says the experience lasts around 40 minutes, including time with the tapestry itself, and recommends allowing at least one to two hours for your visit.
• It is one-way. You follow a set route and keep moving to avoid bottlenecks. Expect queues at busier times.
• It is displayed flat, at a height of 80cm, in low light to protect the fabric.
• There is a free audio guide on the British Museum Audio app. Download it beforehand and bring your own headphones.
• No photography, and no drawing or sketching.
• Large bags are not permitted. A paid cloakroom exists but is subject to capacity, which is one very good reason to stay close enough to drop your things first.
• Opening hours for the exhibition are Sunday to Wednesday 10:00–18:00 and Thursday to Saturday 10:00–21:00, so late-evening slots are possible on those days.
• The entrance to Room 30 is in the Great Court.

(Source: British Museum, official exhibition page.)

That Thursday-to-Saturday evening window is rather useful. Hold that thought for dinner.

Missed Out on Tickets? Five Smart Moves

First-release sell-outs make for dramatic headlines, but there are still ways in.

1. Be ready for 21 October. The January–March 2027 release is the next chance for the public. Sign into your British Museum account in advance.
2. Aim for off-peak. Less popular slots are more likely to remain available, and they are cheaper too.
3. Plan for April–July 2027. A third release is due in early 2027, and the exhibition runs until 11 July.
4. Join the newsletter. The museum says this is the best way to hear about future releases first.
5. Explore the wider programme. The British Museum's Bayeux Around Britain programme includes activities at over 60 museums and heritage sites across the UK, there is a free online experience on the museum's website, and a free evening event, Bayeux Late, takes place on 4 December 2026 (check the museum's events page for what is included).

Not a bad Plan B, and an excellent excuse to build a longer London trip around the exhibition once you do secure a slot.

Make a Day of It: Fitzrovia to the British Museum on Foot

Here is where staying in the right neighbourhood changes the whole trip.

Fitzrovia sits directly north of the British Museum's neighbourhood. From the Goodge Street and Charlotte Street area, the walk is around ten minutes. Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road are the nearest stations, and the museum is also served by Holborn.

A day that works beautifully:

Morning: Coffee on Great Titchfield Street, then a gentle walk through Bloomsbury's garden squares to the museum.

Midday: Your timed slot. Allow an hour or two, then use your free general entry to see the rest of the museum if you have energy left.

Afternoon: Bedford Square and the second-hand bookshops of Marchmont Street, heading toward Covent Garden.

Evening: If you booked a Thursday–Saturday evening slot, finish with dinner on Charlotte Street, a few minutes from where you started.

For the full route through Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Covent Garden - read our London Walking Routes 2026 guide here.

For more on Fitzrovia's restaurants, history and day-to-day life - read our Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Guide here.

Explore D'Montrio Fitzrovia, from as low as £179 per night. The walk to the British Museum starts at your front door.

Pair It With London's Newest Museum

History lovers get a second reason to visit this winter.

The London Museum opens its new home at Smithfield on Saturday 28 November 2026, in the restored General Market building. According to the City of London Corporation, entry to the permanent galleries will be free, with timed tickets, and preview and opening activity is expected in the days before the public opening.

That makes a natural two-day history break: the Bayeux Tapestry and the British Museum one day, and the story of London itself at Smithfield the next. The two are easy to connect. Farringdon and Tottenham Court Road are neighbouring stops on the Elizabeth line.

For the full neighbourhood guide to Farringdon, Clerkenwell and the new museum quarter - read our Farringdon & Clerkenwell Guide here.

Explore D'Montrio Farringdon Apartments, from £250 per night, within walking distance of the new London Museum.

Where to Stay for the Bayeux Tapestry: A Simple Guide

Your best base depends on the kind of trip you are planning.

Walking to the museum, no Tube required: D'Montrio Fitzrovia. Around ten minutes on foot, with Charlotte Street's restaurants on your doorstep for the evening.

A history weekend with the new London Museum: D'Montrio Farringdon Apartments. A direct Elizabeth line link to Tottenham Court Road, and the new museum close by.

A longer London stay built around the exhibition: Any of our eight Zone 1 properties works as a base, with the Tube and walking routes covering the rest. The weekly transport cap makes travelling around central London simple and predictable.

A practical note: prices above are starting rates and vary by dates, apartment type and availability. Kitchens and other amenities vary by apartment category, so check the details for the apartment you choose. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability and may carry an additional charge, so it is worth asking in advance if your timed ticket falls on arrival day.

Bayeux Tapestry in London: Quick Answers

When is the Bayeux Tapestry in London? From 10 September 2026 to 11 July 2027, at the British Museum.

Where exactly is it? Room 30, the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery, entered via the Great Court at the British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.

Are tickets sold out? September to December 2026 is sold out. January to March 2027 tickets go on sale on 21 October 2026, and April to July 2027 tickets open in early 2027.

How much are tickets? Adult tickets are £33 standard, £27 off-peak and £25 super off-peak. Under-16s are free with an accompanying adult.

How long does it take? Around 40 minutes inside, with one to two hours recommended for the visit.

Can I take photos? No. Photography, drawing and sketching are not permitted.

Is it free? General entry to the museum is free, but the Bayeux Tapestry needs a separate timed ticket.

What is the nearest D'Montrio apartment? D'Montrio Fitzrovia, around ten minutes' walk from the museum.

The Takeaway

A thousand years in the making, ten months in London, and one very short window to book. The tapestry is the headline. The trip around it is the part you can shape.

Book the slot, pick a base within walking distance, and leave the rest of the day free for Bloomsbury, Charlotte Street and whatever London decides to show you.

Explore all eight D'Montrio properties and find your base for the Bayeux Tapestry: Westminster, Fitzrovia, Notting Hill, South Kensington, Baker Street, Liverpool Street, Farringdon Apartments and Gloucester Road.