How a 1,000-Year-Old Tapestry Took London by Storm

For the first time in centuries, the Bayeux Tapestry — a nearly 1,000-year-old piece of embroidery that depicts the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 — is on display in Britain.

It was long said by art experts to be too fragile to move. But in a development that required geopolitical persuasion, this summer the tapestry made its way from Bayeux, France, to the British Museum in London.

When the first block of tickets went on sale, the British Museum said, over 80,000 people at a time waited online to buy them.

In this episode of the “Sunday Daily,” Alex Marshall, a culture reporter for The New York Times, talks with host Michael Barbaro about why this ancient piece of embroidery matters so much to the British public.

On Today’s Episode:

Alex Marshall is a European culture reporter for The New York Times, based in London.

Background Reading:

• How to See a Bayeux Tapestry — Without Going to the British Museum
• A Nation Gripped by ‘Bayeux Fever’ Finally Gets to See the Tapestry

Photo credit: Kin Cheung for Associated Press.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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