Events around UK for Bayeux Tapestry arrival

A national programme has been launched to mark the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in the UK from France for the first time in almost 1,000 years.

The tapestry is travelling to the British Museum in London in July and goes on display from September for several months.

The Bayeux Around Britain launch event was held at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery on Friday.

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: "Since this loan was announced last year, we have been committed to making this a significant cultural moment for the whole of the UK."

Cullinan said: "The Bayeux Around Britain programme will help ensure that this once-in-a-generation exhibition is not confined to Bloomsbury but accessible to 10s of millions of people around the country."

The Bayeux Tapestry is 70m (229 ft) long and tells the story of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

As part of the celebrations of its return to England, Hasting Museum will host a special loan of a British museum object, the Stothart Cast.

This object features depictions of Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror and a medieval knight, taken from wax impressions lifted from the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Hastings Embroidery will be displayed in Hastings Town Hall, created in 1966 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.

On 14 October 2026, the British Museum will also broadcast live into hundreds of classrooms across the country, "bringing the story of the Bayeux Tapestry to life through a curriculum-linked schools event", a spokesperson said.

The museum will also offer a free packed lunch to every pupil who visits the tapestry in London with their school.

Local primary school pupils attended the event launch in Hastings.

Imogen said: "I'm very excited because I think it will be a very interesting thing to discover."

Romana, her sister, said: "I'm excited to go up and see it in September."

Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye, said: "I have been working hard with the British Museum and the government to ensure that our area, and our school children are truly part of this national moment.

"I'm delighted that children from 1066 Country will now receive free priority tickets for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition."

The BBC has announced special programming across TV and radio, including a new documentary for BBC Two and iPlayer which will follow the tapestry on its remarkable journey from Bayeux to London, and a dedicated day of documentaries, discussions and drama on BBC Radio 4.

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