British Museum to extend Bayeux Tapestry hours after queues and turn-aways

The British Museum in London will open longer for its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition after some ticket holders queued for up to two hours to get in.

The plan was confirmed on 5 October, less than a month after the display opened on 10 September. Demand has been intense. Tickets are sold out until the end of 2026, according to The Art Newspaper.

The pressure boiled over on 30 September, a Wednesday. Visitors booked to see the Tapestry could not enter after the museum closed early for a private event. Hundreds of ticket holders were reportedly turned away.

The early closure was for a Samsung-sponsored event marking the opening of the museum's new Korea exhibition. It left day visitors with timed tickets and nowhere to go.

The museum has confirmed that visitors who were turned away will receive a refund and a priority booking slot for a rearranged time.

Further details of the longer opening times are still to be announced. The aim is to stop queues building during the day and to allow more space between allotted visitor bookings.

The museum is also adding practical fixes. An audio guide, clearer signage and additional seating are being introduced to improve the visitor experience.

The Tapestry is on display in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery until 11 July 2027. It is in London while the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy undergoes renovations.

For anyone trying to go, this is a ticketed show inside a largely free museum. Adult tickets cost £33 at peak times and £27 at off-peak hours, with children under 16 free.

Bookings for the next block, covering 1 January to 31 March 2027, are due to open on 21 October 2026, according to the British Museum.