The British Museum has faced an ‘unprecedented demand’ from visitors eager to see the tapestry up close
The British Museum has announced new measures to speed up the viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry after repeated issues.
The tapestry has seen thousands of people flock to the museum, and as a result, there have been consistent problems, with many complaining about overcrowding, visitors lingering too long during viewings, and people being kicked out for private viewings.
To help manage demand, the British Museum told MyLondon it will introduce audio guides this month to improve visitor flow through the exhibit. The exhibition was designed to take visitors about 40 minutes, but some have reportedly lingered for over two hours, forcing others to wait in line due to overcrowding concerns.
These delays reached a peak on Wednesday (September 30) when around 200 waiting visitors with booked tickets who had yet to enter the exhibit were turned away to allow a private viewing to take place. These visitors were offered a refund or offered to rebook their visit for another date.
A British Museum spokesperson said: “We have seen unprecedented demand for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition and our priority is to enable as many people to see it as possible, while maintaining our commitment to the best possible visitor experience.
“Unfortunately, delays earlier in the day meant that some visitors were unable to enter at their allotted time. We have apologised to those affected and giving a refund as well as rescheduling their ticket for free. This was an isolated situation and we appreciate visitors’ patience and understanding.”
This announcement of an audio guide will be welcome news for the likes of Dr Yusuf Ali Osman, who is seeking damages after claiming he had been discriminated against when he was told that ‘self-guided visits would be prioritised over programmed tours and events because of restrictions on visitor numbers.
At the time, Dr Osman said: “I hope that this legal action will help make sure that blind and partially sighted people are properly considered when major exhibitions are planned, so that we can enjoy and engage with our national cultural institutions on a more equal footing.
The tapestry, a woven record of the Norman Conquest, is on display at the museum for one year in a historic loan from France. When general admission tickets went on sale in July, the museum recorded its biggest single day of ticket sales in its history, generating more than £2.4 million in the first 24 hours.
Tickets to the exhibition are sold out until the next release on October 21.
