Nearly 1,000 years after it was made, the Bayeux Tapestry has returned to England for the first time.
This world-famous tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, which occurred in October 1066, and the Norman Conquest and is an incredible 70 metres long.
The tapestry is being loaned to the British Museum and is due to stay in London until July 2027, when it will return to its usual home at the Bayeux Tapestry Museum in Normandy, France. The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for renovations, which is what has made this historic loan to the UK possible.
The UK is the permanent home of many medieval wonders. Discover five of them below:
1. Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire
Built atop an island that juts out of the Fens, alongside the rest of the city of Ely, Ely Cathedral dominates the surrounding skyline with its distinct octagonal central tower. Ely Cathedral has origins dating back over a thousand years when St Etheldreda founded an abbey on the site. Work on the current cathedral started in 1081 and it took 100 years to complete the original structure. Further work happened in 1322 after the original central tower collapsed and the medieval masterpiece of the Octagon was built.
While the cathedral has seen restoration in the modern era following the restoration of the monarchy, the building itself remains a wonderful example of medieval Romanesque architecture.
If you wish to see Ely Cathedral for yourself, and explore all that it has to offer, it is normally open Monday to Saturday from 9:30-16:30 and on Sundays from 12:00-15:00. Be aware that, while there is no parking at the cathedral itself, there are plenty of car parks around Ely’s city centre, most of which are a 5-10 minute walk from the Cathedral.
While you’re in the area, why not visit the historic city of Ely itself, or explore the natural beauty of the Fens.
2. Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
Tintagel Castle, located predominantly on the island of the same name, has history dating back to the early medieval times, and was possibly even settled before then. Tintagel is known to have been an island fortress and probable residence for the Kingdom of Dumnonia, one of the last of Brittonic Kingdoms following the invasion and settlement of the Anglo-Saxons, between the 5th and 7th century AD.
However, Tintagel’s place in history was cemented in the 12th-Century, when the writer Geoffrey of Monmouth named it in his History of the Kings of Britain as the place where the legendary King Arthur was conceived with the help of Merlin.
If you wish to explore this mystical island and castle and find out more about the legend of King Arthur, the site is managed by English Heritage and is currently open from 10:00-16:00 Wednesday to Sunday, with access being more limited in the winter months.
While you’re in the area, why not visit the unspoilt harbour village of Boscastle or explore the rugged Cornish coast.
3. Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders
Melrose Abbey, the first Cistercian Abbey in Scotland, was founded in 1136 by the Scottish King David I. It was one of a number of abbeys that he set up in the Borders to show off both his piety and his power over the territory that was, at the time, often contested by both the Scottish and English kings.
Despite David I’s power, the tumultuous history of the borders saw the Abbey attacked twice by Edward I, known as the Hammer of the Scots, as well as requiring a complete re-build in 1385 after an attack by Richard II, it is this building that still survives today, long after its last monk died in 1590.
Beyond its link to David I, Melrose Abbey has been linked with other Scottish royalty and privileged people, including King Alexander II and, perhaps most famously, the heart of Robert the Bruce.
If you want to explore this magnificent, rose-coloured example of medieval church architecture, the area is managed by Historic Scotland and is currently open daily from 10:00-16:00.
While you’re in the area, why not visit the historic market town and abbey of Kelso, or Sir Walter Scott’s 19th century baronial mansion, Abbotsford.
4. Conwy Castle, Conwy County Borough
While Wales has more than a fair share of impressive castles, few are able to stand up to Conwy Castle (or Castell Conwy in Welsh). Originally built alongside the town walls of Conwy in just four years by Edward I after his conquest of Wales, the castle controlled an important crossing point over the River Conwy, allowing access to north-west Wales and saw a number of attacks and sieges.
Despite this, the fortress is exceptionally well preserved and is classed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO who consider it to be one of “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”. The high curtain wall and eight lofty towers that rise as impressively as the mountains of Snowdonia in the background certainly help add to its image as a truly special place.
If you want to explore one of the most stunning castles in Europe, the site is owned by Cadw and is currently open from 10:00-16:00 until the start of March.
While you’re in the area, why not visit Eryri National Park (previously named Snowdonia National Park), or head to the site of an early publicity stunt and witness the lengthened name of the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
5. Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire
Situated in the county town of Hampshire, and the original capital of the Kingdom of England, Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe and the longest in overall length in the world. Work began on the Cathedral in 1079 and worked continued on it well into the 1500s.
The Cathedral is home to, amongst other monuments and treasures, the Winchester Bible, the largest surviving 12th Century English Bible, having been produced between 1150 and 1175, and is on permanent display. As befits Winchester’s original status of the capital of the Kingdom of Wessex, and later England, many Wessex and early English Kings, including Alfred the Great, are buried there, and it is also the final resting place for more contemporary figures including Jane Austen.
If you wish to visit this awe-inspiring cathedral then it is currently open from 09:00-17:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:30-15:00 on a Sunday, although be aware that as an active church, place of research and (occasional) filming location, there may be additional closures of all or part of the cathedral.
If you’re in the area, why not take the time to explore the city of Winchester itself, see the Great Hall with its famous King Arthur’s Round Table (which dates from the 13th Century), or see the Iron Age ruins atop the scenic St. Catherine’s Hill.
Peter joined us in 2018 as an apprentice, following completing his mathematics degree at the University of Brighton. In his time here he has supported many different areas of the business, including accounting, invoicing, and IT and more recently he has been assisting the management team with reporting. Peter’s hobbies include playing video and tabletop games and writing and proofreading fiction.