The town of Bayeux in France would be far less famous were it not for the tapestry named after it.But the Bayeux Tapestry has now arrived in London – leaving France for the first time in more than 900 years for an exhibition in Britain.On loan from its home in France, the tapestry will go on display at the British Museum from September 10 until July 2027 in a highly anticipated public homecoming for a vivid visual record of the 1066 Norman invasion, the last successful conquest of England. Many scholars believe the tapestry was made by artisans in or around Canterbury in Kent.It was probably commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux – William the Conqueror’s half-brother – in 1077 to decorate the new cathedral in his hometown, Bayeux, according to the tapestry’s home museum.But without its famous namesake tapestry, what else does Bayeux have to offer? The Bayeux Tapestry, pictured in France in 2018, depicts the 1066 Norman invasionBayeux war cemetery A visit to Bayeux would be incomplete without paying homage to those who died during the Second World War in FranceThe Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France, and is a must-visit in the town. A total of 4,648 men are buried here, and there is also a memorial to 1,800 missing soldiers.Approximately 300 metres from the cemetery is the Memorial Museum of the Battle of Normandy, which tells the story of the battles that occurred after the D-Day landings in 1944.There’s a huge collection of military equipment to see, as well as archival films and small exhibits to explore. Notre-Dame Cathedral Bayeux’s Notre-Dame Cathedral is intricately designed, with features of Gothic styleTrue, you might not be able to see the Bayeux Tapestry in the town right now – but you can certainly get a glimpse of other equally historic landmarks and attractions.Bayeux’s Notre-Dame Cathedral was consecrated on 14 July 1077, in the presence of William the Conqueror himself – and was adapted in the 13th and 15th centuries.The decoration and ornamentation here place it among one of France’s most impressive cathedrals, with the lower parts built in a Romanesque style and the upper sections with Gothic architecture.One delighted visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: ‘To be honest, we had not intended to enter this church, but it was so chilly, raining and very windy so we went inside to get dry and warm up. We were simply blown away by this incredible structure. So huge and massive.’ Bayeux Medieval Festival The Bayeux Medieval Festival takes place every summer in the townEvery June or July, the town of Bayeux celebrates its roots with the Bayeux Medieval Festival.This year, it took place from 3 to 5 July, and brought to the fore jugglers, craftsmen, dragon trainers and tavern keepers.There’s always a parade as well as re-enactments, street shows, games, concerts, lectures, a medieval market, crafts and a games garden.It’s a delight for medieval fanatics, as well as children, who will enjoy the festivities and colourful costumes. D-Day Landing beaches Utah Beach in Normandy is one historic seaside spot to explore nearbyBayeux is often considered an excellent gateway to the D-Day beaches, making it a great base from which to explore the past.The beaches of Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold and Juno still show the marks of war – and are within an hour’s drive. At Arromanches-les-Bains you can see the huge concrete blocks remaining from the Mulberry harbours which were towed across from Britain ahead of the invasion, for instance. A stroll through the historic town Bayeux in northwestern France has a beautiful historic centre to navigateNothing beats a mooch around a picturesque, cobbled street-filled town – become ‘flaneur’, as the French would say, and stroll while immersed in your surroundings.Explore the Norman-Romanesque and Gothic architecture throughout, and enjoy the peaceful ambience created by the presence of the River Aure.There are heritage trails nearby to try, too. The rue des Cuisiniers in the Old Bayeux is a highlight, and if you have time to do the circuit of the old town, it’s well worth two hours of your time.Market Most French towns will have a weekly market, and Bayeux is no exceptionThe Bayeux market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays – perfect for sourcing fresh produce and tasting some French cheeses.With a local atmosphere and fresh seafood, flowers, and artisanal goods to try, it’s a great way to spend a few hours.Meanwhile, every Thursday evening in summer, the town hosts a market of local produce and crafts on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. In William the Conqueror’s wake, the Bayeux Tapestry heads to UK The story of 1066, the Battle of Hastings and the Norman conquest of England is told in incredible detail in the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry.Now that the priceless work has completed its perilous journey from its home in Normandy to London, here are some facts about the artefact:- 1066 and all thatEmbroidered in wool thread, the tapestry depicts how in 1066 William the Conqueror defeated England’s King Harold and changed the course of history for England, France and Europe.It tells its story in words and images, but its origins are shrouded in mystery.’Most scholars today think the tapestry was made in England, probably in or around Canterbury, because of the influence on its design of illuminated manuscripts made in .. monastic libraries in Canterbury,’ the museum says on its website.According to some historians, Bishop Odo of Bayeux – William’s half-brother – commissioned the work in 1077 to decorate the new cathedral in his hometown, Bayeux.The artisans’ identities are lost to time, although the British Museum says scholars believe ‘it was made by English women, whose needlework skills were admired across Europe’.The tapestry is 68m (224ft) long, 50cm (20in) wide and weighs 350kg (772lbs).- Arrow in the eyeMade of nine panels, the work is an ’embroidered story’, said Antoine Verney, head conservationist at Bayeux Museum.The tapestry features 627 figures and 737 animals including horses, dogs and birds, according to the British Museum.Only six women are depicted on it – one is being possibly assaulted, one crying and one fleeing a burning house clutching a child.Some accounts say that England’s King Harold died after being struck in the eye by a French arrow – a scene apparently shown on the tapestry though the arrow may have been added later.The tapestry also captures an image of Halley’s comet.- London exhibitionIn an unprecedented display of French-British diplomacy, the tapestry goes on display at the British Museum from September 10, 2026 to July 11, 2027.It will be displayed flat for the first time, rather than hanging on a wall.In return, the British Museum will loan France the Sutton Hoo collection of Anglo-Saxon artifacts discovered in 1939 – one of England’s most important archaeological finds.Around 7.5million people are reportedly expected to flock to the museum during the exhibition, up from the usual annual figures of around 6million.So it could break the record of 1.69million visitors for a single exhibition set in 1972 for an exhibition of ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamun.’It is a defining piece of our nation’s history and a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience,’ said the museum’s chairman of trustees George Osborne.The first tickets from the opening of the exhibition to the end of December sold out on July 1, the day they went on sale.Prices range from £25 to £33 with under 16s free. More tickets will be released in October and January for the rest of the exhibition.- Risky journeyThere had been two previous plans to loan the tapestry to Britain which never went ahead: one in 1953 for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and one in 1966 for the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.The tapestry has only left Bayeux twice, to be displayed at the Louvre in Paris: once in 1803, on Napoleon’s orders, and once in 1944, in tribute to the British and US troops who fought to free France from Nazi German occupation.The Bayeux Museum, its home since 1983, is closed for a €38million renovation due to end in 2027.The late artist David Hockney had added his voice to concerns that the strains of the journey could imperil the fragile work.The UK government is insuring the tapestry for an estimated £800million while it is on loan.And the exhibition is being sponsored by Belarus-American billionaire Igor Tulchinsky, founder of global hedge fund WorldQuant, in a deal worth an estimated £5million.