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The Romans

Discover the secrets and stories of Roman Britain. From luxury villas, rugged forts, to the towns along Hadrian’s Wall, our collections are packed with fascinating Roman artefacts.

Explore our range of articles and videos about Roman Britain on this page, along with information about our sites to help you plan your historic days out.

Visit a Roman Site in England

  • Birdoswald Roman Fort | Hadrian's Wall

    Birdoswald Roman Fort is the perfect place to stop off on a family day out or if you're walking or cycling along Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria. Extensive remains of the Roman Fort can be explored.

  • Chesters Roman Fort | Hadrian's Wall

    Built almost 2,000 years ago to house a Roman army garrison guarding the nearby bridge across the River Tyne, Chesters Roman Fort is one of the most impressive visitor attractions in the North East.

  • Corbridge Roman Town | Hadrian's Wall

    Visitors to Corbridge can walk along the main street of this Roman garrison town, flanked by the remains of granaries, a fountain house, markets, workshops and temples.

  • Aldborough Roman Site | Yorkshire

    Roman mosaic pavements line the remains of this once northern tribal capital, set amid a peaceful Victorian garden.

  • Lullingstone Roman Villa | Kent

    Among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain, Lullingstone provides a unique all weather family day out. See fascinating Roman artifacts and enjoy a specially commissioned light show.

  • Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre | Kent

    Evocatively sited amid the East Kent marshes, Richborough is perhaps the most symbolically important of all Roman sites in Britain, witnessing both the beginning and almost the end of Roman rule here.

  • Wroxeter Roman City | Shropshire

    Discover urban-living 2,000 years ago at Viroconium Cornoviorum (Wroxeter) - one of the largest cities in Roman Britain.

Life as a Roman soldier

We look through the Roman treasures in our collection to understand more about the way soldiers lived, fought and spent their free time. 

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13 Things the Romans did for us

The Romans were the great trend-setters of the ancient world – what they didn’t invent they copied and adapted from others, transporting new ideas across the Roman empire.

Find out more

Why the Romans left Britain

Discover how and why the 400-year Roman occupation came to an end and what sort of Britain was left behind.

Find out more

Free Roman Sites to Visit

The Romans Explained

Ever wondered how a Roman would have done their make up, or do you ponder the even bigger questions about their mark on Britain still seen today? You can find loads of videos about the Romans on our YouTube channel, featuring deep dives into the importance of bathhouses, what it was like to be part of the Roman army and even more.

  • How Were Roman Baths Really Used?

    Whether you fancied a quick dip, wanted to socialise with friends or needed to book in a business meeting, bathing was at the heart of Roman life.

  • The Romans in the Lake District

    The Lake District is celebrated for its dramatic landscape but what is less well known is that for 300 years, it was a frontier of the Roman Empire. 

  • Meet a Roman Legionary

    Meet a Roman Legionary and discover what life was like for the Roman army, from their armour to their way of life. 

  • Roman Makeup Tutorial

    Discover how cosmetics from the Roman Empire literally changed the face of Britain in the 3rd century in this history-inspired makeup tutorial.

Who was Hadrian?

Learn more about Emperor Hadrian's life, relationships and legacy.

Hadrian assumed control over the vast Roman Empire in AD117 following the death of his adoptive father, Trajan. As emperor, he broke with the expansionist policies of his predecessors to focus on securing the Roman Empire within its existing borders.

Learn about Hadrian

ROMAN FACE POTS

LEARN MORE AND CREATE YOUR OWN USING OUR FACE POT GALLERY

Face pots were widely used across the western provinces of Roman Britain and are some of the most striking artefacts we have to evidence everyday life under Roman rule. Intriguingly, despite their wide use, archaeologists aren’t entirely certain about the function or importance of Roman face pots.

Visit our Face Pot gallery to create your own digital pottery masterpiece, see other people's creations and learn about what these curious ceramic pieces might have meant to people living in Roman Britain.

VISIT THE FACE POT GALLERY

  • Making Face Pots the Roman Way

    Join Frances McIntosh, English Heritage Collections Curator for Hadrian’s Wall, as she visits expert potter Graham Taylor to discover how a modern potter uses historical methods to recreate these distinctive objects.

  • What Makes Face Pots So Intriguing?

    Take a closer look at the vessels discovered at Corbridge Roman Town and to discuss why these enigmatic faces from the past are so intriguing.

Explore Hadrian's Wall from home

Get creative with our Roman-themed activities

A model of the prefect’s house at Housesteads Roman Fort

MAKE A MODEL ROMAN PREFECT'S HOUSE

Find out about life at Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall, the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain.

Then, download the template and follow our easy step by step instructions to make your own model of the prefect’s house at the fort.

Make a model

  • Colour a Roman poster

    Download this colouring poster showing a busy Roman town and bring the scene to life with your coloured pencils, pens or paints!

  • MAKE YOUR OWN ROMAN TABULA

    Romans used wax tablets to write down important notes. Find out about this handy tool and learn how to make your very own 21st-century version.

  • MAKE A ROMAN MOSAIC

    Roman Villas were decorated with beautiful mosaics.  Watch our video to discover why and how they were made, and how you can make your own. 

  • Make a tasty Roman Burger

    You may think burgers are American, but the Romans beat them to it! Download the recipe and ask a grown-up to help you make Roman burgers.

Roman Podcasts

From AD43 to AD410 Britain was under the control of the Roman Empire, from Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England to Richborough Fort in Kent.
Listen to the English Heritage Podcast to explore the archaeological discoveries made at these sites, as well as what they can tell us about Roman life in Britain.

Listen on Soundcloud

More to Explore

  • Travel guides

    Plan a weekend away or take a short break with our regional travel guides. Our guides are packed with ideas of things to see and do, plus practical advice for getting around.

  • Top Tearooms

    We know that cafés and tearooms are an important part of your visit. Here are some of our favourites from around the country.

  • Members Do More

    Help to keep the story of England's history alive for future generations. Join today and enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historic places, for yourself and up to 6 children.