The British Museum has apologised after some ticket holders were unable to see the Bayeux Tapestry. It attributed the queues to unprecedented demand, and tickets for the remainder of the year have sold out.
The 11th-century, 68-metre embroidery depicts the Norman conquest of England and recently went on public display. Some visitors left before completing their visit; others could not enter. Afternoon ticket holders faced delays as queues built through the day. One visitor said he waited more than two hours and reached the start of the tapestry shortly before the gallery closed.
The museum has banned photography and set a 40-minute viewing limit under the loan agreement with French authorities, which also restricts light exposure to protect the artefact. Lead curator Professor Michael Lewis has said visitors can become absorbed in the tapestry's details, slowing the flow through the gallery.
Some visitors described the experience as rushed and heavily controlled. Staff and automated announcements urged people to keep moving to prevent bottlenecks. The museum said it was balancing the loan conditions with visitor experience; a spokesperson acknowledged longer-than-expected waits, apologised and said affected visitors would be contacted directly.