Thousands sign petition to stop Bayeux Tapestry loan to London

The petition warns that transporting the fragile, thousand-year-old embroidery could cause irreparable damage.

Now, a plan to send the fragile embroidery across the Channel to London’s British Museum has ignited a storm of protest-with almost 50,000 people signing a petition that warns the one wrong move could destroy one of Europe’s greatest treasures.

The campaign, launched in July by French art historian Diier Rykner, argues that transporting the fragile embroidery to London’s British Museum is “a true heritage crime” and could cause irreparable damage to its linen fabric. Textile experts have echoed those fears.

"I think the tapestry must not be transported, for several reasons: its value is incalculable and if anything happens to it no amount of money and no other similar object can replace it,” Isabelle Attard, the former director of the Bayeux Tapestry Museum told a local publication.

Bayeux Tapestry' rich history

The tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and depicts 626 characters, 41 ships and 202 horses, is schedule to go on display in London between September 2026 and July 2027 while its home in Normandy undergoes renovations.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the loan during his 2025 state visit to the UK- the first by an EU leader since Brexit - the symbolism wasn’t lost on either side of the Channel.

After years of chilled ties, the move was seen as a gesture of renewed cultural warmth. But the tapestry’s journey is also a literal homecoming.

Historians widely believe it was originally stitched in England using wool thread on linen, meaning its temporary return will reunite it with its place of origin.

Details of how it will be moved remain under discussion. The transfer is being worked out between the British and French authorities, with conservation teams weighing every option - from humidity control and vibration monitoring to custom- built containers.