126 LIFESTYLE
BAYEUX TAPESTRY TO BE DISPLAYED AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM IN HISTORIC LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UK AND FRANCE
The signing of a historic loan agreement, for the Bayeux Tapestry to come to the British Museum for display.
In exchange, treasures from the British Museum that represent all four nations of the UK – including Sutton Hoo and the Lewis chess pieces – will travel to museums in Normandy, France.
The agreement, which will provide immense cultural and educational benefits for citizens in both countries, is due to be announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, and will be signed by Director of the British Museum Nicholas Cullinan.
The 70-metre Bayeux Tapestry depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings, and is due to go on display in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum in the autumn of 2026. The Museum will draw on its own collection as well as other loans in order to tell a rich story about this period of history.
This will be the first time that the tapestry has been shown in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000 years ago – and is expected to be one of our most popular exhibitions ever. The British Museum’ s status as the UK’ s most visited attraction, as well as one of the most popular in the world – attracting 6.5 million visitors in 2024 – means it is well placed to ensure that the widest possible audience will have the opportunity to enjoy it.
Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, said:‘ The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties
between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations. It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1,000 years ago. We are also delighted to send treasures from the British Museum representing all four nations of the UK – including Sutton Hoo treasures and the Lewis chess pieces – to France in return.
This is exactly the kind of international partnership that I want us to champion and take part in: sharing the best of our collection as widely as possible – and in return displaying global treasures of the world never seen in London before to a global audience.’
George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum Trustees, said:‘ Once in a generation there’ s a British Museum exhibition that eclipses all others. Think in previous ages of
Tutankhamun and the Terracotta Warriors. The Bayeux Tapestry will be THE blockbuster show of our generation. I know it will capture the imagination of an entire nation.
There is no other single item in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools, so copied in art as the Bayeux Tapestry. Yet in almost a thousand years it has never returned to these shores. Next year it will and many, many thousands of visitors, especially schoolchildren, will see it with their own eyes.
And we’ re thrilled too that the people of France will get to see some of the greatest treasures from all four nations of the United Kingdom.
We’ ve worked hard at the Museum to make this extraordinary loan possible. I want to thank this government – the ministers, officials and diplomats – for all their help in getting it over the line. It is the most visible expression of a stronger relationship between Britain and France. Merci beaucoup!’
www. britishmuseum. org
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 72 2025