People look at the "Bayeux tapestry" or "Queen Mathilde tapestry" which relate England's conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066, in Bayeux, western France, on September 13, 2019. —LOIC VENANCE––AFP/Getty ImagesFor the first time in more than 900 years, the Bayeux Tapestry has returned to British soil.Transported from a secret location in France in a high-tech, climate-controlled container and under police escort, the tapestry arrived at London's British Museum early Friday under the cover of darkness.Its arrival had been eagerly anticipated since French President Emmanuel Macron announced the historic loan during his state visit to the U.K. in July 2025.“This millennia-old treasure that recounts our shared history is crossing the Channel,” Macron said last night. “Thanks to the teams who made this historic gesture of trust, culture, and friendship possible.”Hélène Duchêne, France's ambassador to the U.K., described the loan as an “exceptional moment” in relations between the two countries.The Bayeux Tapestry had been displayed at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy since the museum opened in its current form in 1983. It was moved to storage after the museum closed for renovations on Sept. 1, 2025.Following its exhibition in London, the tapestry will return to Bayeux ahead of the museum's scheduled reopening in October 2027.Here's what to know about one of Europe's most significant historical treasures.What is the Bayeux Tapestry—and why is it so important?The Bayeux Tapestry is an 11th-century embroidered work made from dyed wool thread on linen. It depicts the events leading up to and including the Battle of Hastings in 1066.The battle is one of the defining moments in British history. Fought on Oct. 14, 1066, it saw William, Duke of Normandy—later known as William the Conqueror—defeat the army of Harold II, England’s last crowned Anglo-Saxon king, paving the way for the Norman conquest.William’s victory transformed England, establishing a new Norman ruling class and bringing far-reaching political, social, and cultural change. It is commonly described as the last successful invasion and conquest of England, although that characterization is sometimes disputed. Official histories of the English monarchy also commonly begin their post-Conquest lists with William I, even though the monarchy itself long predates 1066. While most surviving accounts from the period are written, the tapestry offers a rare visual narrative of the events surrounding the conquest. It also provides a vivid glimpse of life in 11th-century medieval England, depicting castles, ships, warfare, clothing, food, furniture, and Harold’s coronation.Stretching nearly 70 meters, the embroidery contains more than 620 people and 737 animals across 58 scenes, including striking depictions of battle and its aftermath.Its arrival in London marks the first time in nearly a 1,000 years that the tapestry has returned to the country where it is widely believed to have been made, drawing widespread interest from historians and the public.Who made the Bayeux Tapestry?Most historians believe that the Bayeux Tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror's half-brother, possibly to decorate his newly built cathedral in Bayeux for its consecration around 1077.No contemporary record confirms who commissioned it, however, and other theories have attributed its patronage to figures including Matilda, William the Conqueror's wife. Most scholars believe the tapestry was made in England, probably in or around Canterbury, citing similarities with illuminated manuscripts associated with monastic libraries there. Some researchers have suggested that it may have been produced at St. Augustine’s Abbey, although its precise place of manufacture remains uncertain.The identities of its designer and embroiderers are also unknown. Historians generally say the embroidery was produced by English women, whose needlework was admired throughout Europe and praised in Norman sources after the Conquest. The tapestry is damaged at the end and is generally believed to be incomplete. Some scholars, such as Gale Owen-Crocker, imagine that it would have finished with an embroidered depiction of William's coronation at Westminster Abbey, which took place on Christmas Day in 1066, but its original ending is unknown Workers prepare to unload a specially designed crate carrying the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum in central London early on July 10, 2026, as the 11th-century artwork depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England arrives ahead its first UK exhibition from September. —Richard A. Brooks––AFP/Getty ImagesHow was it transported to the U.K.?Because of the tapestry’s fragility, the transfer required meticulous planning. It was transported in a specially designed climate-controlled container engineered to minimize vibrations, movement, and temperature fluctuations during the journey.The nearly 70-meter-long tapestry was carefully folded before crossing the English Channel under police escort. On arrival, the transport vehicle slowly reversed into a loading bay at the British Museum, accompanied by British and French diplomats.Britain's Museums, Heritage and Gambling Minister Fiona Twycross thanked “all involved in the meticulous planning” of the transfer and expressed her gratitude to French officials for agreeing to the loan.How can you see the Bayeux Tapestry?Under an agreement between Britain and France, the Bayeux Tapestry will be displayed at London’s British Museum from Sept. 10, 2026, through July 11, 2027.Tickets for visits through Dec. 31, 2026, have already sold out. Further tickets will be released in stages, with bookings for visits from January through March 2027 expected to open in October and those for April through July expected to follow in January.