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These Are 10 Of The Best Roman Sites To Explore In Britain
Britain was one of the last provinces added to the Roman Empire in 43 AD, and it was one of the first provinces to be abandoned circa 410 as the Western Roman Empire weakened and fell into a downward spiral in the 400s. Still, that meant that the Romans ruled Britain (mostly England and Wales) for almost 400 years – a period of time comparable to the European settlement of the United States to the present day.
Today, there are plenty of ancient Roman ruins in Britain (except for northern Scotland), and they should be on anyone’s bucket list. Here is a list of the top Roman ruins in Britain to visit.
10 Hadrian’s Wall – Northern England
Hadrian’s Wall in the hills of Northern England
Perhaps no Roman ruins in Britain are as famous or iconic as Hadrian’s Wall, which ran from shore to shore in northern England. It was to protect the remote frontier of the Roman Empire, and today, visitors can walk along it and explore its ruins on the Hadrian’s Wall Path. While the wall is close to the Scottish border, it is fully within the modern borders of England.
9 Chester – North West England
Chester City Walls in England
Chester began as a Roman fort (or Castrum) and grew into a city. Today, visitors can see the Roman ruins of this ancient city along with the old Roman city plan. Chester is also famous for being one of the best-preserved medieval cities in England, with plenty of excellent Tutor-period buildings and more to see. The old city walls of Chester are mostly medieval, but they rest on the foundations of ancient Roman city walls.
8 Bath – Southern England
People enjoying the scenery of the Roman Baths in Bath, England
Bath is one of the most popular Roman destinations in England today. The Romans loved their baths, and in every city, there were public baths and plenty of aqueducts supplying them with fresh water. The Romans also sought out hot springs to build their baths. Today the city of Bath preserves the ancient Roman baths along with magnificent Georgian architecture for which the city is famous.
7 Antonine Wall – Scotland
The Antonine Wall is one of the only Roman ruins in Scotland to make the list. While Hadrian’s Wall in Northern English marked the Roman frontier for the longest time, for a period, the Romans pushed north into Scotland and built another wall to defend their even further northern frontier. This wall was earthen, and the berm can still be seen in places.
6 Londinium – Southern England
Londininum was the ancient Roman city of London (the Romans founded London). The Roman ruins found in London are not particularly impressive, but it is a rewarding experience to discover the last traces of the ancient city of London (or Londinium) right in the heart of the bustling metropolis. Ruins include pieces of the old wall and the foundation of a mysterious Temple of Mithras.
5 Roman Lighthouse – Southern England
St Mary in Castro Church and a Roman lighthouse
Go to the English Channel, where Dover gazes across the water to France, and visitors will find the impressive medieval Dover Castle. By the castle is a medieval church. But there is something strange about the church’s bell tower. It is actually a Roman lighthouse converted into a bell tower and one of only two Roman lighthouses still standing.
4 Vindolanda – Northern England
Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England
There are many ancient Roman forts that have been excavated in Britain, but perhaps one of the best is the old Roman fort of Vindolanda. Vindolanda is one of the forts that guarded Hadrian’s Wall, and the site is open to the public today. A number of important archeological finds have been made there over the years.
3 Roman Fort of Caerleon – Wales
Much of mountainous Wales was rather peripheral and sort of frontier in Roman Britain, but this was different for the South of Wales. In the South of Wales, visitors can find one of the best archeological sites for Roman ruins in Britain – the old Roman Fort of Caerleon. It is very much worth a visit for those who would like to learn of the impact of Roman Britain on what is now Wales.
2 Wroxeter – West Midlands England
Roman ruins of Viroconium Cornoviorum at Wroxeter
The old Roman city of Wroxeter, or Viriconium, was once one of the largest and most important Roman cities in Roman Britain. While many of the Roman cities grew and are today the origin of many of Britain’s modern cities, Wroxeter was eventually abandoned. Today, it is a great example of a Roman ghost town in England.
1 Colchester – Southern England
Colchester Castle, Colchester, Essex, UK
The modern city of Colchester is built over the ancient Roman city of Camuldunum. What is particularly significant about this city is that it claims to be the oldest city in Britain and the first capital before the Romans moved their administration to London. Today, there are a number of Roman ruins to be found in the city.
