Inspire Me

The Romans

Discover the secrets and stories of Roman Britain. From gladiators, solidiers and war, to luxury villas, rugged forts and sprawling 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.

A brief history of Roman amphitheatres in Britain

A 'Roman' import, the amphitheatre came to British shores around AD80-90. By AD350 most British amphitheatres had fallen into disuse.

Here, Tony Wilmott, senior archaeologist with Historic England charts the rise and fall of gladiators, games and amphitheatres in Britain.

Read more

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.

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. 

Find Out More

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

Rare Roman gladiator knife handle discovered at Hadrian's Wall

A rare Roman knife handle cast in the shape of a gladiator has been discovered in a river at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. Dr Frances McIntosh, English Heritage's Collections Curator for Hadrian's Wall and the North East, said, 'It is rare to find a piece of gladiator memorabilia in Britain and to find such a well preserved and interesting piece is particularly remarkable.

Gladiators had appeal and there are cases of high-status Roman women falling 'in love' with these lowly fighters, despite the vast social difference. This beautifully made knife handle is a testament to how pervasive this celebrity culture was, reaching all the way to Hadrian's Wall at the very edge of the Roman Empire.

Even now, almost 2,000 years later, the fascination around gladiators persists and has expanded even further into modern popular culture, as evidenced by the excitement surrounding the new Gladiator film sequel.'

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.

The History of Hadrian's Wall

  • Postcard from Hadrian's Wall

    Walk in the footprint of the Roman empire at forts along Hadrian's Wall in the north of England. Offering spectacular views of some of the most impressive landscapes in the country.

  • Hadrian's Wall | 10 Places That Made England with Dan Snow

    Historian Dan Snow discovers the history behind Hadrian's Wall, built to guard the northern frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain and stretching 73 miles from coast to coast.

  • All Aboard for Hadrian's Wall!

    Join our family of English Heritage members as they hop on the AD 122 bus to see Hadrian’s Wall, the most famous frontier of the Roman Empire, taking in awe-inspiring ruins and spectacular views

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.

  • Find your own Roman souvenir

    Know someone who loves their Roman history? Head to the English Heritage shop to find the perfect Roman gift.

  • 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.