Bayeux Late: medieval making

Event information

• Type: Festivals & special events
• Date: 9 October 2026
• Tickets: Free
• Location: British Museum
• Address: Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG
• Official page: https://www.britishmuseum.org/events/bayeux-late-medieval-making

Details

Be inspired by the medieval world in this special Late event celebrating the craft and artistry of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Bayeux Tapestry is back in England after 1,000 years, and we're marking the occasion with a weekend-long celebration. Try your hand at medieval-inspired workshops and activities in this Friday Late. Visiting with your family? Take a look at the Big Bayeux bash.

Bring your WIP (work-in-progress) to knit, crochet or embroider alongside other crafters with Matilda's Textile Club. Join Aran Prince-Tappé and Olivia Swarthout from Weird Medieval Guys for their medieval-themed pub quiz (Bayeux Tapestry-edition). Get stitching with embroidery artist Bella Lane and add to a large collaborative textile collage inspired by the vivid trees on the Tapestry. Create your own extravagant medieval-inspired headwear with milliner and artist Alessia Stranieri.

A full programme of activities will be available soon.

This event is part of the public programme supporting The Bayeux Tapestry (10 September 2026 – 11 July 2027).

Sponsored by The Ruddock Foundation for the Arts.

About the contributors

Matilda Ngute started The Textile Club, a small crochet and knitting meet-up, two years ago. Over time, it has grown into a warm, welcoming community where people can create and connect through textile crafts. Matilda crochets, knits and sews, and spends much of her time immersed in textiles and garment construction. Her passion for textiles inspired her to bring together like-minded people for inspiration, motivation and support through making.

The Textile Club. Photo © Pippa Campbell.

Aran Prince-Tappé is the co-creator of the acclaimed Weird Medieval Guys podcast, and is driven by the belief that history is for everyone. Described by fans as a consummate storyteller, Prince-Tappé makes dense history feel casual, engaging and beautifully chaotic. Born in Medford, Massachusetts, and raised in Edinburgh, he now lives in North London.

Aran Prince-Tappé. Photo © Olivia Swarthout.

Olivia Swarthout is the creator and curator of the internet sensation Weird Medieval Guys, which has grown to include a podcast and book of the same name. A lifelong devotee to all things strange and obscure, Swarthout's work centres around unearthing the most unexpected and entertaining stories from the annals of human history. Born in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, US, Swarthout has spent many years in Berlin, Glasgow and London, where she currently resides and works. Her latest book, The Wordspotter's Guide, will be published this November by Profile Books.

Olivia Swarthout. Photo © Aran Prince-Tappé.

Bella Lane (@bellalaneembroidery) is an award-winning master embroidery artist, specialising in Pre-Columbian hand embroideries of Latin America. She studied the art of hand embroidery as an apprentice embroiderer at the Royal School of Needlework in 2006, graduating in 2009 with Distinction. For over 20 years Lane has worked with private commissions, artistic, theatrical, cultural and community embroidery and textile projects. Her second book Paracas: Embroideries of the Desert was published in 2025 in London and in 2026 in Peru. Lane, originally from the Amazon rainforest, has lived in London since 2001.

Bella Lane. Photo © Simon Richardson.

Alessia Stranieri (@howeveralessia) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in East London. She likes to wear many hats (pun intended!). Formerly a photographer and videographer, she now works mainly as a self-taught milliner and fabric artist. Her headwear is often inspired by medieval fashion, mythology, and ancient iconography, translated into playful yet elegant pieces.

Alessia Stranieri.