The Bayeux Tapestry
for schools

Tickets from 10 September – 31 December 2026 have sold out. If you've missed out, don't worry, there will be further ticket releases. Bookings for January to July 2027 will open later in the year. Sign up to our schools and families newsletters for the latest news and booking information.

We are delighted to release thousands of free tickets for UK schools only – the highest number we've offered – to this once-in-a-lifetime show.

Visits take place during Camden school term time only on the following weekdays:

• Mondays: 10.00–13.00
• Tuesdays: 12.00–15.00

There are no additional free educational tickets available outside of these dedicated school sessions.

Each UK school can book up to 40 free tickets for a group of students and accompanying adults.

Booking slots are released termly to support inclusive access and fair allocation. For booking slots and other news, sign up to our Schools and Families newsletters.

Schools are advised that The Bayeux Tapestry will be very popular and your school group will need to arrive on time for their pre-booked entry slot.

The Bayeux Tapestry is designed as a continuous, one-way experience. Groups will enter and move along, getting up close and experiencing the Tapestry, then exiting directly into the shop. To ensure all schools have fair access, and the space flows safely, students will not be able to stop at specific objects or gather for extended discussion. We have provided pre- and post-learning opportunities on this page for you to explore with your students, to support wrap-around learning.

If you are visiting the permanent galleries as part of your trip, you may wish to bring resources with you to support your time in these galleries. Free downloadable/printable school resources can be found within the schools section of our website.

Tickets from 10 September – 31 December 2026 have sold out. If you've missed out, don't worry, there will be further ticket releases. Bookings for January to July 2027 will open later in the year. Sign up to our schools and families newsletters for the latest news and booking information.

• Each UK school may book only one date/time slot, for a maximum group of 40 people (including students and accompanying adults). Your group can be mixed ages.
• School booking slots are released termly to support inclusive booking practices.
• All booked students must be accompanied by an appropriate number of school adults, up to a maximum group size of 40 students and adults per school
  • Maximum student quantity: 36
  • Maximum adult quantity: 4

• Visits take place during Camden school term time only on the following weekdays and times:

  Mondays

  • 10.00, 10.15, 10.30, 10.45
  • 11.00, 11.15, 11.30, 11.45
  • 12.00, 12.15, 12.30, 12.45

  Tuesdays

  • 12.00, 12.15, 12.30, 12.45
  • 13.00, 13.15, 13.30, 13.45
  • 14.00, 14.15, 14.30, 14.45
     
• We recommend that school groups are on-site and inside the Museum at least 30 minutes before their booked entry time to ensure the group arrives at the entrance to The Bayeux Tapestry in the north-west corner of the Great Court, ready to go in on time.
• Schools will not be able to enter The Bayeux Tapestry after their booked timed entry slot as other school visitors will be arriving for their slot. 
• Late entry will not be possible.

• Your booking includes a timed lunch slot in the School Lunch Room with locker space and access to the school toilets. Please check the day and time you book with the information below to see which lunch slot your group has been allocated for the day of your visit.

  Mondays
  Schools will eat lunch after their visit

  • 10.00, 10.15 or 10.30 entry slot: 11.30 lunch slot
  • 10.45, 11.00 or 11.15 entry slot: 12.00 lunch slot
  • 11.30, 11.45 or 12.00 entry slot: 13.00 lunch slot
  • 12.15, 12.30 or 12.45 entry slot: 13.30 lunch slot

  Tuesdays
  Schools will eat lunch before their visit

  • 12.00, 12.15 or 12.30 entry slot: 11.30 lunch slot
  • 12.45, 13.00 or 13.15 entry slot: 12.00 lunch slot
  • 13.30, 13.45 or 14.00 entry slot: 13.00 lunch slot
  • 14.15, 14.30 or 14.45 entry slot: 13.30 lunch slot

A separate booking slot for Home Educators will be available during the 2027 summer term. Sign up to our schools and families newsletters for the latest news and booking information.

• Photography is permitted, but no flash.
• No worksheets, drawing or sketching, is permitted. These activities can encourage students to pause for longer periods, which isn't possible in this carefully managed, one-way space where groups move through at a steady pace. Avoiding dwell time helps ensure The Bayeux Tapestry remains accessible to everyone and supports smooth flow for all visitors.
• Visiting the Tapestry follows a one-way route.
• Groups will share the space with other schools and age groups.
• Museum staff will be present to support your arrival and movement through The Bayeux Tapestry.

• The Tapestry will be displayed flat at a height of 80cm.
• A supporting animation runs behind the display.
• There are low light levels throughout the space to help conserve the Tapestry.
• Lifts are available for visitors who cannot use stairs.
• There is a single accessible toilet available once you have entered the foyer but please note that there are no toilets available in the space itself. If you exit to use the Great Court public toilets you will not be able to re-enter The Bayeux Tapestry. We recommend that all students and accompanying adults have an opportunity to visit the public toilets before going into the experience.

During your visit, your group will have around 30 minutes. This time has been designed to ensure we can offer access to as many schools and community groups as possible – giving more learners the chance to see the Bayeux Tapestry up close.

As the visit time is structured in this way, it can be especially helpful for students to arrive with a clear focus. Encouraging your students to consider a set of guiding questions will help them make the most of their time and give you rich material for reflection and discussion afterwards.

Here are five big questions to explore as they move through The Bayeux Tapestry:

1. Who is telling the story?
   Consider whose point of view the story reflects, who may have commissioned it (possibly Bishop Odo, William's half-brother), and who created it (likely English women). Also think about who it was originally made for, and why that audience matters.
2. What events and people have been included – or not?
   Consider whether or not the Bayeux Tapestry story presents a balanced view of events – could it be biased? Which events, people and voices are included, and which are missing?
3. Why was the Tapestry made?
   What do you think its purpose was? Was it created to celebrate, record or persuade viewers to think in a certain way about the events and people it shows?
4. What can we learn about every day early medieval life?
   Look closely for details about clothing, tools, buildings and daily activities that reveal what life may have been like in the period these events took place.
5. How does the Tapestry design support the story?
   Explore how the Tapestry uses layout, scene structure, border details and movement to tell the story. You might also think about how visual choices communicate pace, significance and mood.

These questions are designed to help students observe more deeply, think critically and engage with the experience in a meaningful way – even within a focused visit slot.