How on earth do you get Bayeux Tapestry tickets?

[harbourlightsbaby]

I'm looking for tips really for the next round. I went on to the British Museum website this morning at about 9.30 and the queueing started at 10. There was roughly 110,000 people in front of me. There was about 85,000 in front of me when the tickets sold out. What can I do next time? How did anybody else get tickets??

Thank you!

I joined as a member before the second round and got some on that member round

Join as a member

they release member tickets early

Apparently the queue was randomised at 10am, I was 134,000 which is ridiculous. I did see it several years ago in Bayeux (where it was €12) and thinking I might just take DD back there when it’s back on display again.

We got tickets - me, my husband and son all logged on to the website at around 9.30am. When 10am came round, we were all allocated random numbers in the queue: I was 88,800 (approx), my dh was 42,000, but my ds was 4300 in the queue. The queue went down at a rate of approx 100 people every few mins (but it did speed up). My ds got to the front of the queue after around an hour, and we managed to get tickets. So i think the answer is to have as many people / devices logged in, before the queue opens, in the hope that one of you is in the first 5000 - good luck.. or join as a member before the next round, as pp say (i think ticket sales were open to members from 6 October?)..

I went on it at 9,45, been put on the queue at 10 and got my slot to book the tickets at around 10,45. There were plenty of days and times to chose from and I got mine quite easily.

go to France - it's chaos at British Museum
I saw it years ago as a kid. Nice area to visit

That is my plan. I have experienced blockbuster exhibitions at the BM as being overcrowded and had no intention of seeing this one here for that reason. Bayeux sounds a lot more civilised, altho I reckon a lot of people will have had the same idea as us.

I was thinking the same thing! I was around the 110,000 mark too and was on a staff training day but checking my place every so often. I got down to 93,000 3 hours later and was told all sold out.

And then at lunch two colleagues said they would go to France to see it. Quite a good idea 👍🏼

Thank you to everyone who has responded. It looks like the answer is to either become a member or go to France. Would love to see it. I didn’t realise that places were randomised. I did have two devices logged in, they were about 10,000 places apart.

@mizu sounds like we had an almost identical experience this morning.

Well done to those who got tickets. Looks like it was a bit of a lottery this morning. Thank you for the tips everyone.

Go to Reading- it's free.

@HotChocolateHotCoffeeColdDrinks have you been? I think I’d like to see the original, but have considered going to Reading.

No naked willies in Reading.

On the tapestry, obvs. Can't speak for the rest of the place.

I got through at around 11.30, from 7000 ish in the queue. There were already a limited number of times still available on weekend days for 2 tickets - especially when trying to work out what will be feasible for a 4 hour train journey before / after - so feeling very lucky that I found some that worked out.

I got tickets. I went onto the website at 9.40 and was redirected to the tickets page at 10.22. I cant remember how many in front of me but it seemed a suspiciously smooth process, I kept thinking I would get kicked out or an error message would appear at the checkout.

A few weeks after the last round, I had a look for returned tickets on their website, and was able to get some. I was able to be reasonably flexible, which must've helped, but even so, I got some in half-term as I wanted. Basically, have another look in a few weeks time. It takes a little while, going through the days, but there's bound to be some.

I tried this morning. 239,000 people in front of me! No luck at all. I’m going to go and see the replica (ish) one in Reading. A bit disappointed but one of those things I guess.

I would second going to Reading.

Jump on a ferry & drive down to Bayeux when it goes back on display there.

Queue was randomly allocated at 10am. Me and three colleagues were all trying. We got placed at 106,000, 114,000, 117,000 and 14,000. The 14,000 person got two tickets but hardly any times and dates left by the time she got in.

Agree, wait until it’s back in Bayeux. Normandy is a lovely holiday and not far away in the grand scheme of things.

Go to France in a couple of years.
I understand people want to see it at the British Museum but it is so draining on the soul to try.

Exactly. We went on a normal weekday & just bought tickets and walked in. It might be worth pre-booking at weekends or during school holidays, though.

I've given up on trying to aquire tickets for the British Museum exhibit, but, given all the negative reports about queuing, time slots going awry and being rushed through, not sure that it is worth the effort any longer.

However, Tewkesbury Abbey (Gloucestershire) have a full size replica going on display from tomorrow (22nd October) and it is free, although a donation is suggested. Yes, it is printed, but one can turn up at any point, during published display hours, and take as long as one wishes to view it. Guided tours of the Norman Abbey tower are also available for £10 I believe, but booking advised.

That is where I shall be going and Tewkesbury is a beautiful town to explore further in its own right, as a bonus!

DH is a member. The year’s membership is £80 ish. He got peak tickets for the two of us on his membership very easily as members get priority. Worth £66 and then you have access to all the other exhibitions that you would usually pay for throughout the year. We are going next week!