Depicting the 1066 Battle of Hastings and the invasion by William the Conqueror's Norman army, the 70-metre-long tapestry has shadowy origins.It is widely thought to have been made in England almost 1,000 years ago before being transferred to Bayeux in France.
London's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition opened Thursday to a British public gripped by "mania" as the medieval artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England goes on display outside France for the first time.
Excited visitors who had tickets to the first day of the sold-out exhibition queued outside the British Museum ahead of the opening, with some museum workers donning period costumes.
"It is back here for the first time in 950 years!" 46-year-old Catherine Pitt told AFP outside the museum entrance as she waited to get inside.
"It is joint history between France and England. It is like a big bang moment in our history," she added.
