Iconic Global Attraction Making Its UK Debut After a Millennia!

THIS year, the UK will welcome a major new attraction, which has now been named the best thing to see in the UK for 2026.

which depicts the Battle of Hastings, will be returning to the UK for the first time in nearly 1,000 years.

The British Museum will host the Bayeux Tapestry later this yearCredit: Getty It will mark the first time the tapestry has been in the UK in nearly 1,000 yearsCredit: AFP

The tapestry will be on display at the in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery from autumn 2026.

The tapestry measures 70 metres long and depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings.

Visitors will be able to see the embroidered tapestry, made with wool thread on linen cloth and explore the 58 scenes across the tapestry, with 626 characters and 202 horses.

It will be the first time that the tapestry has been shown in the UK since it was made, which was nearly 1,000 years ago.

In addition, the exhibition is expected to be one of the most popular ever at the

Specific dates for the exhibition are yet to be revealed, but it is set to be between September 2026 and July 2027.

Tickets are also yet to be released, along with prices for the exhibition, but if tickets are in line with prices of other exhibitions at the, visitors can expect to pay between £20 and £28 per person.

It comes as The Bayeux Museum, where the tapestry has been since 1983, closed on September 1, 2025, for a two-year refurbishment.

In July last year, Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, said: “The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and and has fascinated people across geographies and generations.

“It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved.”

And Time Out has now named this the best thing to see in the UK for 2026Credit: Getty

George Osborne, chair of the British Museum Trustees, said: “Once in a generation there’s a British Museum exhibition that eclipses all others.

“Think in previous ages of and the Terracotta Warriors.

“The Bayeux Tapestry will be THE blockbuster show of our generation. I know it will capture the imagination of an entire nation.

“There is no other single item in British history that is so familiar, so studied in schools, so copied in art as the Bayeux Tapestry.”

A number of other new openings were named in Time Out’s top 10 things to see and do in the UK this year.

At number eight is the new historical theme park – – The Storied Lands – set to open in Bishop Auckland, County , this summer.

The theme park will immerse visitors in multiple and experiences that “span millennia” including a Medieval horse show, a viking show and a Victorian Adventure.

There will also be a lake that is transformed into a stage for The Legend of the Wear, where the Lambton Worm myth will be brought to life with visual effects and stunts.

In the future, the theme is slated to have even more shows, including inspired by Robin Hood, Excalibur and the Tudors.

In other attraction news, there’s a where you can go on a real Hogwarts Express train ride to launch this year.

Plus, here’s everything we know about the with no rides reveals opening plans for UK site with four ‘villages’, live shows and three .

Tickets are yet to be released for the exhibition, but it is set to be the most popular exhibition at the British Museum yetCredit: Getty