The Bayeux tapestry is to be insured for an estimated £800m when it returns to the UK in 2026 for the first time in more than 900 years. The 70-metre embroidered cloth, which depicts the Norman invasion of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, will be covered by the Treasury against damage or loss during its transfer from France and while on display at the British Museum from September.
The cover will be provided under the Government Indemnity Scheme, an alternative to commercial insurance. The Financial Times reported that the Treasury had provisionally approved the valuation, with a final figure expected to be about £800m. A Treasury spokesperson said the scheme allows museums to borrow high-value works for major exhibitions, increasing visitor numbers and providing public benefits, while saving costs compared with commercial premiums.
The tapestry, consisting of 58 scenes, is widely accepted to have been made in England in the 11th century, probably commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. It will be on loan while the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy undergoes renovation until October 2027. Visitors will be able to see it at the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum in London from September 2026 until July 2027.
The loan forms part of an agreement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron announced in July, under which the British Museum will lend the Sutton Hoo collection, the Lewis Chessmen and other items to France. However, some French art and conservation figures have urged Macron to abandon the project over concerns that transportation could cause irreparable damage to the tapestry.
