Festivals & special events
Bayeux Late: medieval making
9 October 2026
Free
British Museum
Bayeux Tapestry opening festival
Bayeux Late Medieval making
Festivals & special events
/
9 October 2026
18+
A historic loan from France
Presented by
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Visitors at a Young People's Late. Photo © Manny's Vantage.
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Event information
9 October 2026
17.30–20.30
Great Court and galleries
Free
18+
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Be inspired by the medieval world in this special Late event celebrating the craft and artistry of the Bayeux Tapestry.
The Bayeux Tapestry is back in England after 1,000 years, and we're marking the occasion with a weekend-long celebration. Try your hand at medieval-inspired workshops and activities in this Friday Late. Visiting with your family? Take a look at the Big Bayeux bash.
Learn how to make your own chainmaille medieval-inspired jewellery with artist Poppy Langridge to take home. Bring your WIP (work-in-progress) to knit, crochet or embroider alongside other crafters with Matilda's Textile Club. Join Aran Prince-Tappé and Olivia Swarthout from Weird Medieval Guys for their medieval-themed pub quiz (Bayeux Tapestry-edition). Get stitching with embroidery artist Bella Lane and add to a large collaborative textile collage inspired by the vivid trees on the Tapestry. Create your own extravagant medieval-inspired headwear with milliner and artist Alessia Stranieri.
A full programme of activities will be available soon.
This event is part of the public programme supporting The Bayeux Tapestry (10 September 2026 – 11 July 2027).
Sponsored by The Ruddock Foundation for the Arts.
To attend this event
- This event is free to drop in to at any time between 17.30 and 20.30. Activities are non-ticketed but places will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- You're advised to book a free timed ticket for Museum entry to receive key information and updates before your visit and priority entry during busy periods. General admission tickets for October will be available to book from August.
- The Main entrance is on Great Russell Street. Your timed ticket allows you to explore the permanent collection. See the Visit page for more information.
- Please note this event does not include entry to The Bayeux Tapestry. Tickets must be booked separately.
- Some activities will have their own age guidance. Please ask a member of staff for more information.
- Please allow time to go through a security check which includes a bag check upon entry to the Museum.
Scheduled dates
October 2026
Friday 09 October
Times:17.30–20.30
About the contributors
Poppy Langridge is a jeweller specialising in chainmaille and silver casting. She takes inspiration from medieval manuscripts to create bold, ethereal pieces which blend the modern and the historical. Having studied sculpture at the Glasgow School of Art, Langridge's work is rooted in a deep technical understanding of form and composition.
About the contributors
Matilda Ngute started The Textile Club, a small crochet and knitting meet-up, two years ago. Over time, it has grown into a warm, welcoming community where people can create and connect through textile crafts. Matilda crochets, knits and sews, and spends much of her time immersed in textiles and garment construction. Her passion for textiles inspired her to bring together like-minded people for inspiration, motivation and support through making.
Aran Prince-Tappé
Aran Prince-Tappé is the co-creator of the acclaimed Weird Medieval Guys podcast, and is driven by the belief that history is for everyone. Described by fans as a consummate storyteller, Prince-Tappé makes dense history feel casual, engaging and beautifully chaotic. Born in Medford, Massachusetts, and raised in Edinburgh, he now lives in North London.
Olivia Swarthout
Olivia Swarthout is the creator and curator of the internet sensation Weird Medieval Guys, which has grown to include a podcast and book of the same name. A lifelong devotee to all things strange and obscure, Swarthout's work centres around unearthing the most unexpected and entertaining stories from the annals of human history. Born in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, US, Swarthout has spent many years in Berlin, Glasgow and London, where she currently resides and works. Her latest book, The Wordspotter's Guide, will be published this November by Profile Books.
Bella Lane
Bella Lane ( @bellalaneembroidery (Opens in new window)) is an award-winning master embroidery artist, specialising in Pre-Columbian hand embroideries of Latin America. She studied the art of hand embroidery as an apprentice embroiderer at the Royal School of Needlework in 2006, graduating in 2009 with Distinction. For over 20 years Lane has worked with private commissions, artistic, theatrical, cultural and community embroidery and textile projects. Her second book Paracas: Embroideries of the Desert was published in 2025 in London and in 2026 in Peru. Lane, originally from the Amazon rainforest, has lived in London since 2001.
Alessia Stranieri
Alessia Stranieri ( @howeveralessia (Opens in new window)) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in East London. She likes to wear many hats (pun intended!). Formerly a photographer and videographer, she now works mainly as a self-taught milliner and fabric artist. Her headwear is often inspired by medieval fashion, mythology, and ancient iconography, translated into playful yet elegant pieces.
Related event
Family activity
- Various dates
Free
Big Bayeux bash\ . Free\ .
Join us for a weekend of family-friendly fun inspired by the medieval world at the Bayeux Tapestry opening festival
Find out more