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Original poster

Bayeux Tapestry tickets…

79 replies

Pansykavalier · 21/10/2026 12:30

“Ticket availability for The Bayeux Tapestry between January and March 2027 is now limited, and tickets may have sold out when you reach the front of the queue. If you miss out, don’t worry, there will be further ticket releases – bookings for April to July 2027 will open in early 2027.”

Rinse lather repeat…

If you miss out, don’t worry…

No doubt it’ll be the same story when the next and last batch of tickets will be released in January.

I was in the queue hours before they went on sale, today and last time. No doubt it’ll be the same story next time.

Anyone here been lucky…….. is there a secret knack?

OP posts:
OtterlyMad · 21/10/2026 13:30

Sorry don’t have any advice except to visit the Bayeux Tapestry when it’s back in France, I went years ago and it was a very laidback affair, just bought tickets on the day and had plenty of time to look at it properly! It’s usually displayed in Normandy so very easy to get to from UK - could be done as part of a weekend or even an extreme day trip.

Nanasueathome · 21/10/2026 13:33

My daughter managed to get 3 tickets just after 10am this morning
saturday, 13th march
shes so excited

OffTheMap · 21/10/2026 13:34

OttersOnAPlane · 21/10/2026 12:38

I must admit I had originally set alerts several weeks ago to remind myself to get myself in the queue.

After al the press about the endless mismanaged queues and barely getting to see it - or not at all for those with slots later in the day - I decided to bail out. I don't want to pay for return tickets to London and barely be able to see it.

I think there's a third tranche of tickets for later in 2027; I'll either try then or say bugger it and go to Bayeaux on holiday in future.

I went last week and found it well managed.
Also keeping everyone in a line and shuffling slowly along worked well - it was slow enough to take in detail and the well structured narrative. Better than people over taking, stopping for ages, trying to look over each others shoulders or push to the front etc.

I think though, that is would not be an optimal experience for a wheelchair user. I think (maybe wrong) that the display case is not low enough to be seen while seated and the constant slow sideways, rather than forwards movement would be difficult, Unless moving forwards and looking sideways at the tapestry.

Unless you could do it in a couple of 15 min stints.

Maybe contact them and ask the height of the display?

petitpasta · 21/10/2026 13:35

ShadowViolet · 21/10/2026 13:00

This is how I feel as well. It's not just the queuing for me. I've also seen a lot of people describe it as a much more rushed experience than they expected.

Don't think I'd enjoy travelling all the way to London with my autistic DH who wants to look at things in detail, only for us to be told that we need to keep moving... We're now planning to go and see the van Eyck exhibition in the National Gallery instead. That's also a 'once in a lifetime' experience.

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There's a full copy of the Bayeaux tapestry in Reading museum. Might be a better experience for your DC?

OffTheMap · 21/10/2026 13:36

adviceatthislatestage · 21/10/2026 13:17

I saw that too, not sure of the reasoning behind it though. So someone could have sighed in after me and been allocated no 2 in the queue?

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Everyone there at 10 got a random queue number.
If joining after that, at the end of the queue.

Emily3325 · 21/10/2026 13:36

Managed to get two tickets for February, no luck last time, but was 2000th in the queue today and had the tickets by 11

Gertlushthatis · 21/10/2026 13:39

I've seen it when it was in france. It's a bit shit. I know it's old but if I had done that and taken it to my GCSE textiles teacher she would have said it was about a D. Lots of time taken but not really a quality result. Less is more bayuex people, less is more.

OsfameronTanamoril · 21/10/2026 13:40

Gertlushthatis · 21/10/2026 13:39

I've seen it when it was in france. It's a bit shit. I know it's old but if I had done that and taken it to my GCSE textiles teacher she would have said it was about a D. Lots of time taken but not really a quality result. Less is more bayuex people, less is more.

😂 You didn't like the tiny details like the Hand of God?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/10/2026 13:41

I managed to get them in the first round and I didn’t even try until the evening. They’re for a Friday evening.

Seems to be the weekend ones that are really selling out

RaggedRocks · 21/10/2026 13:42

I am going to Reading Museum to see the copy and as a bonus the biscuit tin collection and if I have time the Museum of English Rural Life - MERL.

RaggedRocks · 21/10/2026 13:43

MERL has a late night for Adults only

queenofthewild · 21/10/2026 13:50

The Reading Museum copy is brilliant. Identical (aside from the addition of undergarments), usually deserted and informative signage.

TinyTear · 21/10/2026 13:52

i had 250000 in front of me! also didn't get it

Howmanycatsistoomany · 21/10/2026 13:53

Owhatfuckeryisthis · 21/10/2026 13:12

I was working and dh was in the car. So thats us fucked.
Am going to persuade dh that we go to France instead, where its cheaper, easier and the food is better.

Edited

👏
I live about 30 mins from Bayeaux and am looking forward to seeing it again when it's back home next year.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/10/2026 13:54

fiveminutestochill · 21/10/2026 13:15

When I clicked on it at 9, they said the queue would open at 10 and I'd be 'assigned a random place in the queue' so not sure there is a knack sadly. Oh well

I think they do that to stop people going in early!

Heylittlesongbird · 21/10/2026 14:00

Howmanycatsistoomany · 21/10/2026 13:53

👏
I live about 30 mins from Bayeaux and am looking forward to seeing it again when it's back home next year.

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You should air bnb for it. I think there’ll be a lot of us heading over when it’s back.

nomas · 21/10/2026 14:03

Damn, I almost booked tickets after the last thread, there was lots of availability then.

ThePieceHall · 21/10/2026 14:04

RaggedRocks · 21/10/2026 13:42

I am going to Reading Museum to see the copy and as a bonus the biscuit tin collection and if I have time the Museum of English Rural Life - MERL.

My idea of a brilliant day out!

2dogsandabudgie · 21/10/2026 14:04

OffTheMap · 21/10/2026 13:34

I went last week and found it well managed.
Also keeping everyone in a line and shuffling slowly along worked well - it was slow enough to take in detail and the well structured narrative. Better than people over taking, stopping for ages, trying to look over each others shoulders or push to the front etc.

I think though, that is would not be an optimal experience for a wheelchair user. I think (maybe wrong) that the display case is not low enough to be seen while seated and the constant slow sideways, rather than forwards movement would be difficult, Unless moving forwards and looking sideways at the tapestry.

Unless you could do it in a couple of 15 min stints.

Maybe contact them and ask the height of the display?

Show quote history

Yes agree with this. I went a few weeks ago. There was a lot of queuing. We finally saw it about 90 minutes after our allotted time. It's supposed to take 25 minutes to walk along the length of the tapestry whilst viewing it. Obviously people did stop but you were encouraged to keep moving.

There was a wheelchair user when we were there but I don't think he had a good view as the viewing case is quite high.

PullingOutHair123 · 21/10/2026 14:06

Blimey, I though 39000 in the queue was bad enough. I had got to 19000? ish before the tickets all went.

The demand is ridiculous.

Like others, think will wait till it's back in France and less demand. By the time I've travelled up to London, done an overnight hotel somewhere and eaten out, it won't be that different to going to France for a weekend.

Ohnoitsfinallyhappened · 21/10/2026 14:07

Not perhaps the answer you want but Reading has a Victorian copy - no queues and free entry

Gertlushthatis · 21/10/2026 14:08

RaggedRocks · 21/10/2026 13:43

MERL has a late night for Adults only

It definitely needs alcohol.

nomas · 21/10/2026 14:11

Howmanycatsistoomany · 21/10/2026 13:53

👏
I live about 30 mins from Bayeaux and am looking forward to seeing it again when it's back home next year.

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Given the rioting in France, maybe we should hold on to them a bit longer. For safekeeping, you understand. Wink

LittlestMouse · 21/10/2026 14:11

OttersOnAPlane · 21/10/2026 12:43

That's encouraging. As a wheelchair user I'm worried that I won't be able to see much. I'm ambulatory, but I can't stand for more that 5-10 minutes at a time.

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I havent read the whole thread yet so unsure if someone has already replied, but we saw it with my husbands grandmother who is in a wheelchair. She could see the tapestry well - the only thing she chose to stand for was to look over the barrier on the viewing platform, but thats just to get a view of the whole thing from the floor above. Shes also teeny tiny!

HundredMilesAnHour · 21/10/2026 14:12

A friend became a member in order to book tickets and she managed to get 2 today for January (weekday late afternoon). She reckons she literally got the last 2 tickets.

From what I hear, getting tickets for Da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan is worse as that’s limited to one 40 people every 15 mins (max time you’re allowed in).