British Museum Extends Opening Hours and Adds Seating to Tackle Tapijt van Bayeux Queues
The British Museum in London is extending its opening hours, adding seating, and improving signage after visitors faced waits of up to two hours to see the Tapijt van Bayeux, BBC News reported. Hundreds of ticketholders were recently turned away when the museum closed early for a private event, prompting officials to issue apologies and offer refunds and priority rebooking.
The 70-meter-long, 11th-century embroidered cloth depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England, including the Battle of Hastings where William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxon king Harold. Transported from France under heavy police guard, the artifact is on display in the United Kingdom for the first time since its creation more than 900 years ago. Public interest has proved exceptionally high, with nearly 100,000 tickets sold on the first day of advance sales.
High ticket demand causes long queues and closures
Demand for the exhibition has drawn comparisons to major cultural events, with museum director Nicholas Cullinan likening the ticket sales pace to the Glastonbury Festival, as reported by nos.nl. That initial sales rush led to crowded exhibition halls and long outside queues. VRT Nieuws reported that visitors experienced delays reaching up to two hours, culminating in the closure incident that left hundreds of ticket-holding patrons locked out before entry.
In response to complaints voiced on social media, the museum agreed to refund affected visitors and grant them priority booking slots for future dates. To streamline visitor flow moving forward, management plans to introduce an audiogids alongside clear physical wayfinding and additional seating areas for those waiting in line. Operating hours will be extended beyond the standard schedule of 10:00 to 17:00, and until 20:30 on Fridays, though exact schedules for the extended hours remain unannounced.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tapijt van Bayeux Exhibition
How long will the Tapijt van Bayeux remain on display in London?
The 11th-century embroidery will stay at the British Museum for ten months until July of next year, according to museum schedules reported by nos.nl.
When will more tickets become available to the public?
Additional tickets are scheduled to go on sale this month, followed by another ticket release in January, as detailed by nos.nl.
What compensation are affected ticketholders receiving?
Visitors who were turned away due to early museum closures will receive refunds and priority booking status for rescheduled visits, according to VRT Nieuws reporting.