Home / Arts and Entertainment / Blind visitor's lawsuit prompts Bayeux Tapestry audio tour
Blind visitor's lawsuit prompts Bayeux Tapestry audio tour
30 Sep
Summary
- Audio tour added for Bayeux Tapestry after a legal threat.
- A blind visitor demanded access for visually impaired visitors.
- The exhibition runs until July 11, 2027, on loan from France.
The British Museum has announced it will provide an in-person audio-described tour for the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, responding to legal action initiated by a blind visitor. The visitor, Dr. Yusuf Ali Osman, argued that the museum failed to meet accessibility requirements under the Equality Act by not offering such tours.
His legal team sent a pre-action letter in late September, citing the museum's initial prioritization of self-guided visits due to light exposure limits on the tapestry. Dr. Osman is seeking damages and policy changes, including disability awareness training for staff.
The 70-meter-long tapestry, which details events leading to the Norman Conquest of 1066, is on loan from France. The exhibition is scheduled to continue until July 11, 2027, with the museum exploring further accessibility enhancements, including an audio-described tour for its app.
