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May newsletter | Bayeux Tapestry booking open

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Get your class ready for the greatest story ever stitched!
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Artistic impression of the Bayeux Tapestry showing three boats rowing across the water, with fish in the sea below.

For the first time since it was made almost 1,000 years ago the Bayeux Tapestry is returning to England, bringing with it the story that changed the country forever: the Norman invasion of 1066. A medieval masterpiece offering a masterclass in historical inquiry, the Tapestry gives students the chance to explore the story, consider who is telling it, question what is included and what might be missing.

We've got lots of ways you and your students can see the Tapestry in more detail, and explore these questions, both in London and in your classroom – and booking is now open. 

If next school year is too long to wait, or you’re not thinking about the Normans just yet, we’ve also got heaps of resources on ancient civilisations for you to explore in the meantime.

Read on to book and find out more! 

The Schools and Family Programmes team

In your classroom
Section of the Bayeux Tapestry showing a group of warriors with shields and spears on horseback charging from left to right.

Live schools’ broadcast | The Bayeux Tapestry

Give your students a front-row seat to one of Europe's most dramatic stories with our 60-minute live broadcast on the Bayeux Tapestry, created especially for learners aged 7–14. 

The session is easy to book, curriculum-aligned and packed with expert insights and backstage glimpses. Designed for use in classrooms or assembly halls, with options for multiple connections, students will be involved throughout – and can put their own questions to experts in live Q&As. 

Join us and discover how the Bayeux Tapestry shapes the story of 1066, and how narrative, perspective and bias affect the history we learn. Perfect for students who can't visit the Tapestry in person, or a great way to prepare those seeing it at the British Museum, we can’t wait for you to join us – wherever you are in the UK.

14 October 2026, 10.30–11.30
60 minutes
£30 per connection
Ages 7–14 (KS2–KS3)
Book now
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At the Museum
Characters from the Bayeux Tapestry on horseback travel with birds and dogs against a linen background.

Bookings open | The Bayeux Tapestry experience

On display at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027, the 70-metre embroidery depicts events leading to the Battle of Hastings and the defeat of Harold Godwinson by William of Normandy. With its complex political, cultural and historical layers, the Tapestry provides a rich source of insight for students.

Dedicated school visits to see the Bayeux Tapestry are free of charge. We are delighted to release thousands of free tickets for school visits – the highest number we've ever offered – to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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

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

Each school can book one slot for a group of up to 40 students, including accompanying leaders. Booking slots are released termly to support inclusive access and fair allocation. 

30 minutes
Free
At the Museum
Ages 7–18 (KS2–KS5)
Book now
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Recommendations for your library
Front cover of a book with the title, author and illustrator’s names with colourful illustrations around the edges depicting everyday life in a medieval castle.

So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in a Medieval Castle

A kid’s life in a medieval castle might sound like fun, what with all those cool battles and massive feasts, but actually life for kids could be pretty hard. In this hilarious book, written by award-winning author Chae Strathie, children will learn just how tough life really was, from getting stuck in a siege and living next to a poo-filled moat to having teeth yanked out with pliers… and even eating live blackbird pie!

Part of Nosy Crow’s collaboration with experts at the British Museum, this witty, entertaining and carefully researched children’s book explores what life was really like for a child in medieval times.

£8.99
Ages 7+
Buy now
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Online opportunities
A fragment of a wall painting showing Nebamun, an Egyptian man, hunting in the marshes.

Live schools’ broadcast | ancient Egypt

Give your students an incredible glimpse into one of history's most fascinating ancient civilisations with our live broadcast on 16 July 2026.

Designed for busy teachers and tailored for learners aged 7–11, this end-of-year experience is aligned with the curriculum and crammed full of expert insights. Help students explore how we can use objects from ancient Egypt to understand what people believed, how they lived and what mattered to them, through tomb paintings, writing systems and remarkable mummified animals.

In this one-hour live broadcast, learners will:
 

  • Explore real objects from ancient Egypt
  • Hear directly from a British Museum curator
  • Take part in simple, classroom-friendly activities

Easy to run and low on admin, this engaging broadcast sparks curiosity and discovery, offering a rich educational experience and a real treat for the final week of term.

16 July, 10.30–11.30
60 minutes
£30 per connection
Ages 7–11 (KS2) 
Book now
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Workshops and presentations
An image of a bronze gladiator helmet from Pompeii.

KS3 presentation | An introduction to ancient Rome and Roman city life

Join our interactive presentation as you and your students explore the evidence that objects provide about key aspects of life in ancient Rome. Themes include the founding of Rome, the spread of the Roman empire, leisure and entertainment, building materials, trade, religion and daily life. Book the July session as an end-of-summer-term introduction for students starting their Classical Civilisation or Ancient History GCSE in the autumn.   

July 2026

  • Thursday 9 July at 11.00
  • Thursday 9 July at 12.30       

45 minutes
£2.50 per student
At the Museum
Ages 11–14 (KS3) 
Book now
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Images: 

Artistic impressions of scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry. Graphic created by Hocus Pocus for schools. Photo © Trustees of the British Museum.

So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in a Medieval Castle. Photo © Nosy Crow.

Wall painting showing Nebamun hunting in the marshes. Painted plaster. From the tomb of Nebamun, Thebes, Egypt, about 1350 BC.

Bronze gladiator helmet, Pompeii, Italy, 1st century AD.

© 2026 The Trustees of the British Museum

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