Archaeological Sites

English Heritage: No but it's FREE!

Tickets: Get FREE tickets early if you can. They only allow a small number of visitors per hour and day.

Carpark: No, use public transportation.

This site, in the Bloomberg Space, showcases the remains of a Roman mithraic temple. In the entrance gallery, you'll see artifacts including a Roman wax tablet containing the first instance of the name of Roman Londinium! Walking down into the actual temple, you'll see a short projection-based show that recreates a bit of the ceremony IN LATIN!

The City Wall at Vine Street

English Heritage: No but it's FREE!

Tickets: Get FREE tickets early if you can. They only allow a small number of visitors per hour and day.

Carpark: No, use public transportation.

This site showcases 2000 years of history in this one spot of the original Roman wall of ancient Londinium. Did you know that once the Romans left London, it wasn't occupied for nearly 400 years?! Neither did I, but I learned that here.

The Queenhithe Mosaic

Take a look here.

English Heritage: No but it's FREE!

Tickets: No tickets are needed. Just take a walk!

Carpark: Use public transportation.

This mosaic tracks the history of London's dock culture. It features several scenes from the Roman occupation of London. Take a beautiful morning walk along the Thames to see it!

The Boudiccan Rebellion Statue

English Heritage: No but it's FREE!

Tickets: No tickets are needed. Just take a walk!

Carpark: No, use public transportation (right at the exit of a Tube station).

This Victorian-era bronze statue celebrates the spirit of Iceni queen Boudica and her daughters.

The London Amphitheatre

English Heritage: No, paid tours

Website

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online at Guildfo

Carpark: No, use public transportation

The remains of an amphitheater!! In the middle of London! Read about it here.

The Billingsgate Roman House and Bath

Find information about this site here.

English Heritage: No but it's FREE!

Tickets: No tickets are needed, but it can only be viewed by private tour. It is rarely open and hard to arrange a tour.

Carpark: No, use public transportation.

Near London

Lullingstone Roman Villa

In Kent (Southeast), about 1 hour from London

Roman Name: None

English Heritage Site? YES!

Carpark: Yes

Learn more in Episode #163 of the English Heritage Podcast: "Feasts Through History: Dining and Reclining at Lullingstone."

See the sights in this video.

Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre

In Hamshire (south), about 1 hour west of London

Roman Name: Calleva

English Heritage? YES!

Carpark: Yes

Learn more in this episode of Digging Up Britain's Past: "The Lost Roman Town."

St. Albans

In Hertfordshire (central), about 30 minutes north of London

Roman Name: Verulamium

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

Things to See:

1. The Verulamium Museum of Roman Life - gorgeous mosaics and a wonderful collection of Roman artifacts.

2. The Hypocaust - stunning mosaic atop a Roman hypocaust in a covered building, a short walk from the museum in the adjacent park.

3. Roman Theater - still used by the local theater company for its Shakespeare festival and other productions, about a half-mile's walk from the museum.

See the sights in this video.

Nathalie's Pictures of the museum, the hypocaust, and the theater.

Colchester

In Essex (eastern), about 1 hour east of London

Roman Name: Camulodunum

Official Site and Significance ("Britain's First City")

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No, but parking is available on Priory Road.

Things to See:

Colchester Castle - The museum inside contains wonderful Roman artifacts.
Roman Theater - The remains of a Roman theater are near the castle. Since most is underground, they built the nearby street with darker bricks to outline the original foundations of the theater. Right next door to the church of St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine.
Roman Circus Visitor Centre - The only remains of a Roman circus in all of Britain.

In Kent

Canterbury Roman Museum

In the city of Canterbury in Kent (southeastern coast), about two hours east of London

Roman Name: Durovernum

Official Site and Significance

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No but parking available in numerous lots around the city.

Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre

In Kent (southeastern coast), about 2 hours from London

Called the "Gateway to Britannia," this spot is where Claudius landed his troops in 43 CE. Explore fort walls, a reconstructed gateway, a fabulous museum (with the remains of a Roman dice tower), and the mound foundations of an amphitheater (a short walk away through a field of friendly sheep).

Roman Name: Rutupiae

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

Learn more in Episode #128 of the English Heritage Podcast: "Uncovering the Secrets of Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre."

See the sights in this video.

Dover Castle

In Kent (southeastern coast), about 2 hours from London

Roman Name: Dubris

Official Site and Significance

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

See the White Cliffs of Dover while you're here, and imagine seeing them as a Roman sailor. The oldest structure on site is the remains of a Roman lighthouse or pharos.

View the site with this Google Arts and Culture virtual tour.

In Sussex

Fishbourne Roman Palace and Gardens

In Sussex (southern coast), about 2 hours from London

Roman Name: Noviomagus

Official Site and Significance

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

It's all about the mosaics at this palace site - they are fantastic! Walk on elevated wooden platforms to see the mosaics, explore the extensive artifact collection in the museum, and then stroll around the remains of the gardens in the same space as the palace courtyard.

View the site's introductory video.

See Nathalie's pictures.

Bignor Roman Villa

In Sussex (southern coast), about 2 hours from London

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

More fantastic mosaics that you can actually walk on! I didn't get to see this site in person.

Butser Ancient Farm

In Sussex (southern coast), about 2 hours from London

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

This site acts as an experimental archaeological research center. They have recreated a working Roman kiln, hypocaust, and a floor mosaic from scratch.

In Wales

Caerleon Roman Fortress Bath

In Wales (southwest coast), about 3 hours from London

Roman Name: Isca

Cadw: Yes

Carpark: Yes, but belonging to the local pub

It's all about the giant heated swimming pool - one of my absolute favorite sites from this trip!

View a quick flyover video (by Cardiff University), and learn more here with this fantastic Time Team episode.

See Nathalie's pictures.

The National Roman Legion Museum

In Wales (southwest coast), about 3 hours from London

Cadw: No

Carpark: No, but walking distance from the Caerleon Roman Fortress Bath

This museum had a LOT of artifacts squeezed into a small space. I could have spent a LOT more time here. Highlights were the bathroom, cleverly painted to look like a Roman fortress latrine and seeing classes of young Brits visiting the museum.

The Caerleon Amphitheatre and Fortress

In Wales (southwest coast), about 3 hours from London

Roman Name: Isca

Cadw: Yes

Carpark: Street parking is available, but walking distance from the Caerleon Roman Fortress Bath

This amphitheatre was part of the large fortress in this area.

The Caerwent Roman Town

In Wales (southwest coast), about 3 hours from London

Roman Name: Venta Silurum

Cadw: Yes

Carpark: Yes, near the little museum

This ancient Roman town is hidden within this tiny little modern town. Big Roman walls are visible, but most of all, it was so wonderful to see people tossing tennis balls to their dogs amidst the ruins of ancient Roman houses.

In Somerset

Bath

Bath (about 2.5 hours from London)

Roman Name: Aquae Sulis

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No, but lots of parking on the perimeter of the modern city. In addition, Bath is one of the easiest bus tours to jump on from London, often combined with a stop at the other World Heritage Site in this area, Stonehenge.

This ancient healing site with its natural hot springs is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a fact that makes this a super busy visit. Expect crowds, and for that reason, plan extra time here to navigate all the people, enjoy the amazing artifacts, and chat with knowledgeable re-enactors!

In Gloucestershire

Chedworth Roman Villa

Cheltenham (about 2.5 hours from London)

National Trust: Yes

Carpark: Yes

Take a winding ride on a tiny road to this large Roman villa with beautiful blue and rust-colored mosaics, hypocausts, and a tiny museum.

Learn more about the villa from this excellent video.

In Shropshire

Wroxeter Roman City

about 3 hours from London

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

I nearly missed this amazing site of an old town with a large bath complex, city center, and a reconstructed Roman townhouse. Spectacular!

Learn more about the villa from this excellent video, and listen to this podcast episode by English Heritage.

In Cheshire

Chester Roman Amphitheatre and Gardens

Chester (about 4.5 hours northwest of London)

Roman Name: Deva

Official Site (amphitheater) and Significance

English Heritage: Yes

Official Site (gardens)

Carpark: No, but a very convenient one right next door

These two sites are right next to each other. The gardens have charming modern mosaics, and the amphitheater is nicely interpreted (on your own).

Learn more about the city of Deva from this excellent video.

On Hadrian's Wall

A note about visiting Hadrian's Wall...it's only 86 miles long from end to end. Many of the important sites are concentrated along a short stretch in the center; thus, most visitors can see the sites with ease by car. The AD122 bus (public transportation) runs on the major nearby road and stops at all of the major sites.

Senhouse Roman Museum

In Maryport on the western coast of the Wall

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

This museum has the largest collection of Roman dedicatory altars in England. I didn't get to visit it but wanted to badly!

Tullie House Museum

In Carlisle near the western coast of the Wall

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No, but public parking is located nearby.

I missed visiting this museum. Next time...

Birdoswold Roman Fort

Roman Name: Banna

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

This fort has some of the best preserved lengthy sections of Hadrian's Wall. Take a walk, and see the views.

Learn more about this fort from this excellent video.

Listen to this podcast about the site.

Vindolanda Roman Fort and Museum

Roman Name: Vindolanda

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

This site includes the remains of the fort and town, an impressive museum, a modern reconstruction of a Roman gate, an experimental Roman kiln, and an archaeological center. Archaeologists actively work at the site year-round. Among other artifacts from Roman daily life, the museum houses the most famous finds: leather shoes and some of the Vindolanda tablets, both preserved so well due to the anaerobic quality of the soil. If you can only do ONE site on Hadrian's Wall, this is it!

Learn more about this site from this short documentary.

Watch this webinar about the Vindolanda leather shoe collection.

Dr. Beth Greene, a Roman shoe expert and archaeologist

Roman Army Museum and Magna Fort

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

This museum just blew me away! Its collection centers the Roman army, but its weapon technology displays were exceptional, including a station where visitors could test their pull strength on a bow used by ancient archers.

Learn more about the new excavations at the nearby fort in this excellent article.

Corbridge Roman Town

Roman Name: Coria

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

This ancient trade post has an amazing Roman road through the center of it. Its claims to fame are a giant silver tray called the Corbridge Lanx and this carved stone lion.

Learn more about this site from this film short.

Housesteads Roman Fort

Roman Name: Vercovicium

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

An absolutely STUNNING site, set dramatically on a hill! You can see for miles and miles in all directions. A stark reminder of what a cold, windy, beautiful place the Wall was, the fort boasts an awesome set of toilets in the most complete Roman fort on the Wall.

Learn more about this site from this episode of the English Heritage Podcast.

The drone footage in this video gives you an idea of the site's truly amazing location.

Chester's Roman Fort and Museum

Roman Name: Cilurnum

English Heritage: Yes

Carpark: Yes

This cavalry fort boasts a lovely set of Roman baths right next to a gorgeous river. Even better is the museum, a traditional antiquarium with a large collection of Roman dedicatory altars, some as small as my hand!

Learn more about this site from this English Heritage postcard video.

Hadrian's Wall Gallery at the Great North Museum

In Newcastle Upon Tyne on the east coast of the Wall

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No, but public parking is available nearby.

This museum has an amazing model of the Wall! I didn't get to visit it but wanted to badly!

Wallsend

Roman Name: Segedunum Roman Fort

English Heritage: No

Carpark: Yes

Most hikers end their wall walk here due to a sign that proclaims "I WALKED HADRIAN'S WALL!" The site is the last fort on the wall at the eastern end in a very industrial part of Newcastle upon Tyne with a full view of the busy shipping harbor. Visit a rebuilt part of the wall right across the street and an excellent museum!

Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort

Roman Name: Arbeia

English Heritage: No

Carpark: No

This fort guarded the river entrance to Hadrian's Wall. The one that got away...we didn't get to visit because the day we planned to, it was closed for a fund-raising concert. And yes, the concert was sold out! Next time...

Yorkshire

York

Roman Name: Eboracum

The city of York boasts the site of Constantine the Great being declared emperor by his soldiers in 306 CE. As the placard on his statue says, "His recognition of the civil liberties of his Christian subjects, and his own conversion to the faith, established the religious foundations of Western Christendom."

There is a TON of Roman bits and pieces scattered all over the city.

Nathalie's Pictures

Yorkshire Museum