BAYEUX AROUND BRITAIN: BRITISH MUSEUM LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE PROGRAMME TO BRING THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY TO THE UK

The British Museum has launched Bayeux Around Britain, supported by WorldQuant, a major nationwide programme bringing the story of the Bayeux Tapestry to communities, schools and cultural organisations across the UK.

Photo Credit: The Stothard Cast © The Trustees of the British Museum

As the country prepares for the long-awaited return of the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain for the first time in almost a thousand years, the British Museum is ensuring that this once-in-a-generation cultural moment reaches far beyond London.

Through a network of more than 60 partner organisations, including museums, galleries, libraries, archives, cathedrals and heritage sites, Bayeux Around Britain will bring Bayeux Tapestry-inspired activity within an hour’s drive of two-thirds of the UK population. Alongside the nationwide programme, a new digital experience will allow schoolchildren across the country to explore the story wherever they are.

The initiative forms part of the British Museum’s ambition to make the historic loan a truly national event, connecting communities with one of the world’s most celebrated medieval works and encouraging a new generation to discover the people, stories and events surrounding 1066.

At the heart of the programme is The Bayeux Tapestry Presented by Igor Tulchinsky, accompanied by a rich programme of exhibitions, educational resources and events taking place across Britain. Partners will have access to a dedicated digital exhibition pack, while a British Museum Spotlight loan of a 19th-century cast of the Bayeux Tapestry will tour several destinations, giving audiences the opportunity to encounter a piece of its history closer to home.

Education is at the centre of Bayeux Around Britain, with the British Museum placing particular emphasis on ensuring that schoolchildren can experience the story of the tapestry, whether or not they are able to travel to London.

On 14 October 2026, hundreds of classrooms across the country will become part of a unique live broadcast exploring the Bayeux Tapestry and the events surrounding the Norman Conquest. Designed for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils, the curriculum-linked event is being delivered in partnership with the British Library, English Heritage and Norwich Museum Service.

The interactive broadcast will allow pupils to hear directly from experts, explore the history behind the tapestry and take part in a live question-and-answer session – creating what will be one of the country's largest classrooms.

The programme will also provide grants and funding opportunities for national partners to purchase AV equipment, helping organisations make the most of the digital opportunities available.

Looking further ahead, a nationwide celebration of craft inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry will take place in spring/summer 2027, in partnership with the Crafts Council, inviting communities across the UK to respond creatively to one of history’s most enduring works.

The British Museum has also announced additional support for school visits to the exhibition. Every schoolchild attending The Bayeux Tapestry Presented by Igor Tulchinsky as part of an organised school visit will receive a free packed lunch, thanks to support from Benugo.

The move is designed to remove some of the practical barriers that can prevent children from visiting major cultural institutions, helping ensure that the return of the tapestry can be experienced by as many young people as possible.

Photo Credit: The British Museum

The British Museum has also found a distinctly 21st-century way to bring the Bayeux Tapestry to a new audience, with Claudia Winkleman starring in a playful new film created with the Museum to promote the exhibition.

Photo Credit: The Bayeaux Tapestry Film, The British Museum

Winkleman, who became a British Museum Trustee in 2025 and has a long-standing connection with the institution, takes on the rather unexpected role of a security guard in the film. Her first day on the job quickly descends into chaos when she encounters a Saxon soldier in full armour inside the Museum. Before long, Norman and Saxon warriors appear throughout the galleries before facing off in the Museum’s Great Court.

The Bayeux Tapestry, Presented by Igor Tulchinsky will open on 10 September 2026 and run until 11 July 2027.

Tickets for general admission, click here