The Bayeux tapestry is being loaned to United Kingdom

keepingquiet.....lol

I expect it will be very popular. It’s very long so it will be a slow shuffle but more time to examine the details.

French news is reporting that over 1 million viewers are expected to visit it in the 10 months it is in London.
Normally it receives atound 420,00 visitors a year in Bayeux.

Moonwatcher1904

I'll be interested to see how they transport it. I imagine it will be a mammoth job.

Well it won't be in a small boat lol!

I'll be interested to see how they transport it. I imagine it will be a mammoth job.

I saw it in France some years ago. It looked very fragile so wonder how easily it can be transported without damaging it.

It’s on my calendar already. It’s at the British Museum.

On an OU summer school in Caen, I drove some fellow students to Bayeux to see the tapestry. Middle aged though we were, we paid student rates for admission and enjoyed the introductory video. I had learnt all (?) about the Battle of Hastings and the tapestry in primary school, so it was such a thrill to see it in its wonderful entirety as an adult. I'd love to see it again, but by the time they settle it in its 'migrant' state, somewhere in London, it would probably be easier to reach Normandy!

I saw it in Bayeux many years ago but didn't spend enough time to see much detail as we were there on a family holiday and my kids were too young to apreciate it. I recently went to see the replica that is displayed in Reading Museum with a group of stitchers. We have recently produced a much smaller embroidery of our local area and all the people who meet regularly through a local charity. I guess we may end up having a trip to see the original in London as we are not too far away.

Also, (starting to sound like a guide book now), you can see William the Conq's thigh bone in Abbey Saint-Étienne in Caen.
The huge Romanesque church was founded in 1063 by William and he was buried there, but during theFrench Wars of Religion, his tomb was opened and the bones were scattered and lost, apart from the thigh bone!

Grammaretto

How exciting! I saw an exact replica at Børglum Kloster, Jutland, North Denmark last year. No crowds and time to really take it all in.
It is such an amazing thing.

www.bayeuxtapetet.dk

Oh how lovely, I am thrilled just to read about it in Danish, I would love to see that, but doubt I will ever be visiting Denmark again. I was born and bred there and spent my first 19 years then before I came to England. Really Nostalgic for me, thank you.

I love it. You have to look close to see the humour in it. Unfortunately the cartoon-like figures give the idea that people in those days were incapable of more realistic depictions. But that is quite untrue. The figures are intentionally cartoon-like.

By the way, if you're in Bayeux, it's worth visiting the WW2 cemetery where soldiers from the UK are buried.
Centuries apart from the Norman invasion times, but it makes you realise how futile wars are.

I don't think it ever leaves Bayeux. I'm sure it was hanging in Bayeux Cathedral several decades ago before they built the visitor centre.

Yes, we are very fortunate that our museums are free, and I don't object to paying for special exhibitions in a capiral city.
I think I meant more the scattered provincial attractions like say Mont St. Michel which is free, unlike St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, where I think we pay £16.

The replica in Denmark taught me much..I hadn't realised that the Normans were the Northmen in other words the Vikings. Hence the interest in anything Viking in Denmark.

Out of interest does the Bayeux tapestry tour France?

Many London museums are free for visitors and that includes foreign visitors, unlike many other countries we’ve visited. Special exhibitions sometimes attract a fee but I suppose that’s to be expected given the enormous costs involved in maintaining these places. The British museum is free for the standing exhibitions, special collections are usually around £18-£20 but free to members. The Louvre and Orsay museums both charge for entrance at all times.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202507/medium-bvfx68-20250710-155522.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202507/medium-52bh7y-20250710-155106.jpg

I've just found this pamphlet from April in my drawer here in France.
Look at the price, 12 euros, £10! Now let's guess what entry will cost to see it in the UK. (Unless of course it will be free? Anyone know?)

That's what I like about France. You can go out for the day and it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg to buy tickets to visit places of interest.

It's going to be in the British Museum. Needs to be displayed somewhere that has enough space as its so long. The place where it currently lives is going to be renovated - so its all timed so that can be done whilst we get to look after it for a bit! I last saw it in situ well over 40 years ago, so am looking forward to seeing it (naughty bits and all) again. I agree with the last person - easier to see it in London that go to Bayeux. Mind you - any excuse to go to france......................

The Bayeux tapestry is so large, so fragile and so valuable. It is clear that touring it round the country is totally out of the question.

The French will have been very specific about all the security systems required and also the managed environment that is necessary when so many people will be walking past the tapestry breathing our microbes and damp air.

It is clear that only a mueum like the British Mueseum will have the facilties to protect and care for such a precious and delicate artifact.

As for those out of London complaining. It is a lot easier for them to come to London to see the Bayeux tapestry than travel to Bayeux to see it.

I’m not sure why people would think it shouldn’t be in London. It’s actually the capital city. I’m sure if it were somewhere in the sticks residents would moan about the security costs and the crowds etc. The British Museum is a great location and used to displaying precious artefacts.

Find it weirdly funny that the tapestry depicts people in boats! And the problem with the UK & France is people in boats!
Maybe do a ‘new tapestry’
Nothing has changed

Of course! Only London exists!

Fine if you live in London or the south or is it touring UK?

😂