Classicist and museum trustee Mary Beard has intervened in the controversy surrounding excessively long queues for the Bayeux tapestry by visiting the line and proposing improvements to the British Museum. Beard, 71, inspected the queue herself after visitors complained about waiting for hours, with some being turned away without a guarantee of another timeslot.
Visitor Complaints
One visitor shared on social media that she had been waiting since she was seven to see the tapestry and had purchased tickets only to be turned away after queueing. The museum has since announced new measures to enhance accessibility for viewing the tapestry, which has returned to England after 1,000 years in France. These measures include:
- Longer opening hours to prevent queues
- A new audio guide to assist visitors in navigating the embroidery
- Additional signage and seating
Mary Beard's Observations
Beard, a celebrated classicist and TV presenter, told the Guardian that she visited to "chat to people in the queue," noting, "The atmosphere was very good, with people who had come from everywhere. I thought some tweaks were necessary: more benches for old ladies like me, more guidance on wait times." She expressed some understanding for the museum's situation, stating, "We had to expect some teething troubles – this isn’t like an ordinary exhibition; everyone has come to see the same one object! The important thing is to put those teething troubles right."
