A family-owned Shropshire tour company is offering historic trips to see the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry – after tens of thousands of people scrambled to buy tickets.
The 11th century embroidery, which has been valued at £800m and depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066, is going on display for the first time in UK soil from September to July 2027.
It has been loaned to the British Museum in London from the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, due to major renovation works.
Experts have described the tapestry’s arrival in London as an ‘incredible event’, with tens of thousands of people hoping to get tickets when they went on sale earlier this month.
More than 65,000 people joined the online queue for the first batch of tickets, with many left disappointed.
However, Shrewsbury-based coach company Wisteria Tours are one operator giving people the chance to get their hands on a much-coveted ticket.
The company, which runs coach trips to gardens and on short breaks around the UK, Ireland and Europe, is offering a package that involves an overnight stay and a timed ticket entry.
Sue Burnell, who runs Wisteria Tours alongside sister Jacky and their mother Jackie Crick, explained how they joined the thousands of people queuing online to try and get their hands on tickets.
Luckily their persistence paid off, and they were able to land 45 tickets, with more than half already sold.
Sue explained how they were overjoyed to be offering such a rare tour – with the whole event set to net the British Museum £2.5m, owing to it being such a unique event.
She said: “This is such an historic event in the history of the country, with the tapestry heading to the UK for the first time, so it is amazing to be able to offer a trip to people.
“With so many people in the queues to get tickets, we’re thrilled we managed to get our hands on some.
“We’ve got no doubt that many people will be interested in what could well be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we’ve designed a trip that we hope makes it a journey to remember.”
The magnitude of the event is underlined by the fact the 70 metre-long masterpiece is set to occupy its own train as it travels to the UK, with only conservators and guards allowed on board.
It will then receive a police escort on both sides of the channel, before going on display on September 10.
Wisteria is offering a two-day trip to London as part of their package, departing Shropshire on Sunday October 11.
Following a visit to see the tapestry on the first day, the trip also involves a visit to Bletchley Park on the return journey.
The once top-secret home of World War Two codebreakers is now a popular heritage location.
For further information to check availability, head to wisteriatours.com
