British Museum changes Bayeux Tapestry visitor arrangements after queues

The British Museum is changing arrangements for visitors to its Bayeux Tapestry exhibition after concerns about long queues and overcrowding. From Monday, visitors will be offered an audio guide with more information about the embroidery, while extra signs and seating will be provided for people waiting to enter the main exhibition. [1]

The museum also plans longer opening hours, saying they should help prevent queues building during the day and give later-booked visitors more time to view the work. It has not announced the new hours or when they will begin. [1]

Some visitors said they had waited up to two hours, BBC News reported. Hundreds of ticket holders were reportedly turned away amid backlogs when the museum closed early for a private event the previous week. The museum apologised and said those unable to enter would receive refunds and priority booking slots for another visit. [1]

Since the exhibition opened on 10 September, some visitors have stayed beyond their allocated 40-minute viewing slot. Photography was subsequently stopped, and a recorded message was introduced to encourage people to keep moving through the one-way exhibition. [1]