Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry
Walk by Dr Richard Stemp
Reading Museum
Lunch · Guided Gallery Tour
3rd June 2026
Ahead of the Bayeux Tapestry’s return to the UK, Dr Richard Stemp will take us to see the “British Bayeux Tapestry”. In the late 19th century, a group of Victorian embroiderers recreated the Bayeux Tapestry in full, which is now displayed in Reading Museum. The 70-meter-long tapestry chronicles the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Dr Richard Stemp will construct a picture of the effects of the Conquest as illustrated by the Tapestry, and will invite you to consider how the country changed, and what is left of this event’s legacy in modern times. We will also discuss the significance of this replica, and how it has become an important artefact in British history and culture.
This is an opportunity to take in the narratives in each scene of the Tapestry in more detail, away from the crowds. It is also a chance to mark the 1000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror; the Normandy Regional Council has announced that 2027 will be the ‘Year of the Normans’. We will begin the day with lunch at The Reading Room before embarking on our tour of the 11th-century historic work.
Order of Events
12.30 Lunch at The Reading Room, The Roseate Hotel (26 The Forbury, Reading RG1 3EJ)
14:30 Tour of the British Bayeux Tapestry, Reading Museum (Blagrave St, Reading RG1 1QH)
COSTS
Walk only £70.00 (museum donation & booking fee included)
add Lunch (2 courses, wine and coffee) £52.00 (booking fee included)
Please note, with the new ticketing system, you can only buy one ticket at a time. You will need to repeat the process to purchase more.
SOLD OUT
Tickets are non-refundable.
If you would like further information please email me on [email protected] or call 01379 871800.
