The Bayeux Tapestry on display at the British Museum in London

In the United Kingdom, it is the cultural event of the year, and even that of a lifetime for the British who are stamping their feet this morning in front of the British Museum. “We couldn't miss this. I think I'm going to be upset when I see her,” confides a woman in the queue this Thursday, September 10. They are the very first visitors to the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London.

Those who were lucky enough, after hours of waiting on the Internet last July, to get a ticket are getting impatient. “I took the day off to be able to be there this morning. It’s incredible. I don’t have the words,” enthuses one woman. “Normally, I have the pool on Thursday morning, but now I canceled. I really wanted to be there,” assures another.

These visitors will be able to admire the Bayeux tapestry, 70 meters of incredibly preserved embroidery, which tell the story of William the Conqueror, the epic founding of England. Sue Brunning participated in the installation of the almost thousand-year-old work. “We decided to display it flat to preserve it,” underlines the archaeologist and curator at the British Museum. Extremely fragile, the tapestry suffered little from the journey from Normandy. Only two wires were slightly damaged. Sue Brunning still can't get over seeing the work exhibited in her country. "It's very exciting. We've been waiting for this moment for a year, since we knew we were going to receive the tapestry. In addition, there is such enthusiasm from the public, entry tickets have been snapped up," she points out.

7 and a half million visitors expected by next summer

In London, the excitement linked to the inauguration of the tapestry goes far beyond the walls of the British Museum. A few meters away, the owners of a pub have had their own tapestry embroidered. Eight meters of fabric dedicated to beer and almost as pampered as the original work. “We wanted to celebrate the exhibition. The idea is that people who go to see the tapestry at the British Museum will then come and have a beer with us,” explains Jack Palmer, a London brewer.

If his wish comes true, the crowd in the pub promises to be significant. By next summer, 7.5 million visitors are expected at the British Museum to admire the Bayeux tapestry.