From Emperor Claudius’ conquest of Great Britain in AD 43, to the sudden withdrawal of Roman garrisons in AD 400, nearly 400 years of Roman history in Great Britain has left us with some of the world’s best preserved, and most visited Roman sites.
Towns, cities, sanitation and straight roads were all trademarks of the Roman occupation, transforming a largely tribal and desolate landscape into something more reminiscent of the modern world.
But, with the Romans having achieved so much during their stay here, knowing where to spend your time (and money) isn’t always easy. So, we’ve reviewed Britain’s best Roman sites and come up with our top 3 for you to visit and enjoy.
3. Roman Amphitheatre, Chester
Chester (or Diva Victrix as it was known to the Romans) is a small walled city in the north west of England, home to no more than 80,000 people today. But don’t be fooled by this seemingly unassuming, sleepy Cheshire city, as it was once a Roman garrison of great significance.
Of its numerous attractions – the Roman fortress walls, its garrison baths, and the various Roman building remains that can be found there – the most interesting has to be its amphitheatre.
First excavated in 1929, the largest known military amphitheatre in Britain gives insight into Chester’s significance, and wealth during Roman occupation.
The Roman amphitheatre in Chester is free to enter and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find out more and plan your visit, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chester-roman-amphitheatre/
2. Hadrian’s Wall
This UNESCO world heritage site stretches 73 miles in all, touching both east and west coasts in the north of England. Begun in AD 122 during the reign of emperor Hadrian, the wall acted as a Roman defence against marauding northern tribes from modern day Scotland.
For the Romans, Hadrian’s wall represented the western-most frontier of the Roman Empire, and was one of the (if not the) last place a legionnaire wished to be posted.
The greatest gift to modern day visitors is the vast array of Roman sites visible along Hadrian’s wall. Forts, towers, barracks and towns line the path of the wall, and mean your visit will feel like stepping into history, and seeing it as the Romans did. Not only this, the stunning natural landscape provides an incredible backdrop to a trip that will live long in the memory.
Much of the 73 mile wall is free to visit and explore at any time of day, however many of the wall’s attractions mentioned above are subject to entry fees and opening times. To find out more visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall/
- Roman Baths, Bath
Number 1 on our list of Britain’s top 3 Roman sites is the remarkably well preserved Roman baths found in the heart of the city of Bath. Built between 60-70 AD, the baths took advantage of a hot water spring discovered in the surrounding hills. The Romans being natural engineers, set about creating an extravagant bathing complex that would become known across the entire empire.
Host to over 1 million visitors per year the baths boast numerous stunning rooms, artefacts and sights – not least the famous outdoor baths pictured above. Delving deeper into the complex you’ll discover steam rooms, plunge pools, roman walkways and temples, all contributing to a feeling of wonder and intrigue.
£21 for an adult ticket and £13.50 for a child represents fantastic value for money at this world heritage site, and we couldn’t recommend a visit highly enough.
To book your tickets and find out more, visit https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/
Roman Britain 