The British Museum has announced it will offer an audio-described tour of the Bayeux Tapestry. This decision follows a legal threat from Dr Yusuf Ali Osman, a blind man from Croydon, who argued the museum breached the Equality Act by not providing such tours for visually impaired visitors.
Dr Osman's lawyers, Leigh Day, sent a pre-action letter to the museum on 24 September. The central London museum confirmed on Wednesday that an in-person audio-described tour would be held during the exhibition's duration. The museum is also exploring the addition of an audio-described tour to the exhibition's app.
Dr Osman, who has no sight, contacted the museum in July regarding the availability of audio-described tours. He is seeking damages and a declaration of discrimination, alongside an order for the museum to change its policies and provide disability awareness training to staff.
The 70m embroidery, depicting events leading to the Norman Conquest of 1066, is on loan from France and will be on display at the British Museum until 11 July 2027.