The Bayeux Tapestry made its debut in Britain on Tuesday, displayed at the British Museum for the first time in nearly 1,000 years. The 70-metre embroidery, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, is expected to attract up to one million visitors before it returns to France next July.

The opening ceremony featured a traditional Norman shield bang and a ribbon-cutting by the museum director. While some early attendees experienced minor frustrations, including a reported queue-jumping incident, visitors quickly became absorbed in the exhibit’s intricate detail.

Cheryl Prax, who arrived first in line but was momentarily overtaken, said she was amused by the embroidered depictions of nudity scattered throughout the tapestry. “I was looking out for the nudity bits,” Prax remarked. “Somebody even asked me what I was chuckling at.” The atmosphere during the viewing was otherwise quiet and reverent.

Adrian Harris, a Westminster Abbey employee and father of three, described his reaction as “very emotional” after seeing scenes he was familiar with, such as craftsmen installing the weather vane on the abbey and the symbolic hand of God blessing the church. “It was a profound experience,” Harris said.

Visitors are currently asked to move steadily along the display to allow others to view the tapestry. A recorded announcement in English and French repeatedly reminds guests to keep advancing through the gallery. Despite this, some attendees took brief liberties with the flow. Cresta Norris and her son Robert, after being urged to continue, walked back down the length of the tapestry to rejoin the line for a second viewing, wanting more time to appreciate the stitchwork and detailed imagery.

At any given moment, about 100 people can view the tapestry, with entry limited to 240 visitors per hour. Each visitor is allocated 40 minutes, though many have completed their viewing in less time. Museum officials anticipate increasing visitor numbers as demand grows, confident that the space can accommodate higher throughput to meet the target of one million visitors during the exhibition period.

Among the early guests were Ruth and Nicholas Schooley from Ohio, who had been in London for only a day and were keen to see the tapestry. Their visit was facilitated by the museum following a special request, providing them a chance to experience the historic embroidery.

The Bayeux Tapestry’s rare appearance in Britain offers a unique opportunity to engage with a key artifact of medieval history well beyond the usual viewing location in northern France. Its display at the British Museum is anticipated to generate significant public interest over the coming months.