Visitors to the British Museum’s sold-out Bayeux Tapestry exhibition have faced chaotic queues, lengthy delays and, in some cases, been turned away despite holding timed tickets. The museum has apologised after some visitors’ 40-minute viewing slots were shortened or lost entirely, prompting criticism of the experience.

The exhibition has sold a record 100,000 tickets, priced at £25–£33 for adults, amid unprecedented demand to see the 1,000-year-old embroidery displayed outside France for the first time. Photography has been banned to help visitors move through the gallery, while the museum says it is reviewing crowd-control measures and balancing demand with restrictions on how long the tapestry can remain on loan.