The Bayeux Tapestry prompted a greater spending surge than a Hollywood blockbuster’s opening morning or a typical Saturday night out, according to data showing the 1,000-year-old embroidery is drawing younger culture enthusiasts.
Monzo customer data revealed a spike in spending when the British Museum released its second batch of public tickets, as reported by ITV News.
During the first hour of sales for the second round of tapestry viewings last Wednesday, Monzo cardholders spent £14,100 at the British Museum—48 times the amount typically spent on a Wednesday morning. More than half (55%) of the buyers were under 35.
According to the bank’s spending data from its 16 million customers, this was twice the opening-morning takings of this year’s blockbuster films: the critically acclaimed The Odyssey (£7,000) and the box-office hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day (£6,300).
Tickets sell out within hours
The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opened last month, marking the first time in nearly 1,000 years that the embroidery has been displayed publicly in the UK.
Depicting the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the work will be on loan to the British Museum until July 2027 under a historic agreement with France. The 11th-century tapestry is being displayed flat and in one continuous length for the first time, in a special showcase.
The first wave of tickets sold out in 24 hours. When the second wave of tickets went on sale last week, thousands joined an online queue and tickets sold out within three hours. The museum will release more tickets in January.
Earlier this month, the British Museum apologised for the visitor experience at the exhibition and announced changes to address concerns over long queues and overcrowding. Some guests reported waiting up to two hours, and hundreds of ticket holders were reportedly turned away due to backlogs.
In response, the museum is introducing new measures, including extended opening hours and an audio guide with more information about the embroidery.
Charlotte Blanco Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.
