Where can I see some Roman ruins?
Posted by Oolon42@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 279 comments
My wife and I visited Bath a couple years ago and enjoyed it very much, especially the exhibits in the Roman bathhouse.
Besides Bath, where can we see some really well preserved Roman ruins?
Plasticman328@reddit
Hadrians Wall: Vindolanda, Housesteads, Corbridge.
Abouts1x@reddit
Can’t go wrong with York.
ellisellisrocks@reddit
Exeter or bath
AsleepClassroom7358@reddit
Ummm Rome
Muted_Promotion_5488@reddit
Absolutely everywhere, from the south of england to the scottish highlands. Roman shit everywhere
Cakeo@reddit
Not really that much up the highlands. A good bit around Glasgow.
Interesting_Fish309@reddit
Chester
Expensive-Candidate4@reddit
https://sussexpast.co.uk/attraction/fishbourne-roman-palace/
Long-Mongoose-6015@reddit
https://www.storyofleicester.info/city-stories/the-romans-in-leicester/
The Jewry Wall museum in Leicester has just reopened after a lengthy upgrade.
C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit
chester. There is half of an exposed amphitheatre, the walls, and some bits of history across the city. They also offer roman tours if that’s what you’re into.
Apsalar28@reddit
Plus two for Chester. If you go at the right time you get to see a bloke dressed up in full Roman Legion kit escorting a bunch of primary school children around the city and giving them gladiator lessons in the amphitheatre.
Paper182186902@reddit
I was one of those kids years ago, absolutely loved that school trip!
SocieteRoyale@reddit
all the kids shouting SINISTER, DEXTER dead loud as well, lol
Numerous-Abrocoma-50@reddit
Always wondered what they were shouting
Dazzling-Wanderer@reddit
Another for Chester but wanted to add that you can go into a shop on 39 Bridge Street and see the remains of a 2nd Century Roman Hypocaust (under floor heating). It's been a while since I was there but you used to be able to just say you wanted to see it and they'd direct you to some old stairs.
CompleteDot9383@reddit
Think it's called Spud u like, or was 10 years ago. Think they make you buy something or pay a pound
tomwaitsgoatee@reddit
It's Bridge Cafe now, but no idea what their policy is on having a ganders at the Roman ruins. You can see some through the floor in Pret though!
MilitantSheep@reddit
Last time I was there (a few months ago) they had a sign up in the window saying "ASK ABOUT OUR ROMAN RUINS!!" so I think they're OK with you looking 😂
tomwaitsgoatee@reddit
You know I must walk past it 3 or 4 times a week and have never noticed, but you're right!! Maybe I'll pop in next time.
Dazzling-Wanderer@reddit
That closed in 2018, which is why I put the address not the shop name ;) Was always free for me to have a gander.
crankgirl@reddit
Bonus about Chester is you are still allowed to shoot Welsh people with an arrow if they are inside the city walls after dusk. Possibly. Maybe.
couldobetter@reddit
I think it's only on a Sunday
couldobetter@reddit
Also it may only be allowed with a long bow. But dont quote me on that.
CryptoQuinn2@reddit
Wish I read this earlier, wasted a journey
C0nnectionTerminat3d@reddit
fuck i’m in danger then, i’m welsh living in chester!
tomwaitsgoatee@reddit
I walk across the amphitheatre on my walk into work. Can confirm, it's awesome.
Oolon42@reddit (OP)
We will definitely be adding Chester to our visit.
Sleepyllama23@reddit
Was about to say Chester. Loads of Roman ruins , and it’s also a really picturesque city to walk around too.
Veflas510@reddit
If you don’t go on a race day.
R0gu3tr4d3r@reddit
To be fair, race day is great too.
Veflas510@reddit
Great maybe. Certainly not picturesque though 😂
bitesizejasmine@reddit
Plus one for Chester.
OwlBeBack88@reddit
Chedworth Roman Villa just outside Cheltenham is impressive!
Weird-End5410@reddit
Rome
Diligent-Suspect2930@reddit
Omg thank you, I was fighting the urge to write this 😆
captainsittingduck@reddit
Same 😂
Pyjama365@reddit
If we're going international then Ephesus in Turkey. Get a tour with even a half-decent guide and it's and incredible day out.
Mallev@reddit
Lebanon also has a crazy amount of Roman ruins, but maybe wait a while for a visit.
LegolasleChat@reddit
Algeria has loads of sites, Timgad, Tipaza, Djemila to name a few. And easier than Lebanon at the moment.
Fluffy_Ad2274@reddit
Libya also.
Weird-End5410@reddit
They've got more than just Roman ruins, unfortunately.
Sparkz1873@reddit
Is this Basil Fawlty?
ANewSlipper@reddit
Beat me too if
insane_worrier@reddit
Hadrians wall and vicolander is worth visiting
UKTim24530@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Villa and Bignor. Both in Sussex. I'm from there, so have seen them many times but my American wife is so enamoured of Fishbourne that we go about every other time we go back to England.
Hadrian's wall. There are many places along the wall you can go.
I'd recommend this site to you: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/RomanSites/
StrangerWest2756@reddit
If you’re in the UK, you’ve got some great options:
If you’re open to Europe, then places like Rome, Pompeii, or Tarragona in Spain take it to a whole different level.
trysca@reddit
London has a bathhousein the basement of an office in Lower Thames Street, the temple of mithras in the Bloomberg building, the amphitheatre under the guildhall and extensive sections of the roman wall standing alongside a gatehouse at the barbican and at the Museum of London. You can even ask to see a section of the forum in the basement of a shop in leadenhall Market. it's ironic that London is almost unknown for its Roman ruins but there are loads all within close walking distance.
misimalu@reddit
Fishbourne https://sussexpast.co.uk/attraction/fishbourne-roman-palace/
MMH1111@reddit
I know the curator. He made me handle one of the few glass bottles from the Roman era in existence. I cradled it with both hands firmly on the desk.
misimalu@reddit
All I remember is learning to make a roof tile by slapping clay on my leg 😂
Agile_Complaint_1657@reddit
and don't forget the bit they found under Chichester cathedral too which you can view
Hunter037@reddit
There's also the Novium Museum in Chichester which has some Roman ruins on display on the ground floor (and is a nice little free museum)
snarkmaiden5@reddit
This was my first thought. Amazing remains of mosaics. Worth getting the guides to tell you about them too
PengyLi@reddit
Came here for Fishbourne!
downandoutitis@reddit
York if it hasn’t already been mentioned features many Roman ruins.
couldobetter@reddit
Chester and St Albans
Sad_Introduction8995@reddit
St Albans - a couple of bits of wall. (Mostly unprotected and gradually falling apart) The hypocaust - a large mosaic in a building (which is sometimes open). A Roman outdoor theatre. Many Roman artifacts and mosaics in the Verulamium museum. Did I miss anything?
couldobetter@reddit
Aren't there some bath ruins as well? Its been awhile since I've done anything than walk through the park.
Cantseemtothrowaway@reddit
There are the ruins of a Roman Bath a few miles away under the motorway in Welwyn, which you can visit.
Sad_Introduction8995@reddit
This might be what you’re thinking of.
https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/visit/hypocaust
couldobetter@reddit
Possibly. Its off one of the main roads. I didn't know what a hypocaust was.
Cantseemtothrowaway@reddit
You can actually go to performances in the theatre.
Sad_Introduction8995@reddit
Right - OVO run a summer outdoor theatre program.
Whoppa-seagull@reddit
I was thinking fishbourne too.
JustBee37@reddit
Wallsend for bleak roman ruins realness.
PurplePlodder1945@reddit
Newport, South Wales. There’s a small ruin of a colliseum in one place, covered in grass, and they also have a museum where a bathhouse was. You can walk on raised platforms around the baths and they have artifacts in the rest of it
Motor_Impression6678@reddit
Half-hearted vote for the (reconstructed) Roman fort in Manchester…
DenoD_Horendous@reddit
Hadrians wall
Tylerama1@reddit
Turkiye.
The_Witcher_3@reddit
Colchester or Camulodunum in Roman times, used to be the capital of Britain until it was burnt to the ground by Boudicca's army. There is a great deal of the old Roman wall left around the city. The Norman Castle is built upon the foundations of a former Roman temple and you can visit the the crypt during a tour. There's also a great museum in the castle with more information about the revolt against Roman wall. Interestingly, the George hotel has parts of what remains of the old Roman city behind glass in their cellar. You can see a layer of ash showing how immense the fire must have been during the revolt. There are other sights to see and I recommend popping to the Colchester Archaeological Trust website: https://catuk.org/
Lots of other history in the city too, if you're into the English Civil War and witches!
linifloor@reddit
Vindolanda. Nearish Carlisle. It’s a Roman military place. Huge
MPD1987@reddit
Cardiff Castle has an entire Roman wall in the basement
Aromatic_Tourist4676@reddit
The north east. Segedunum. The Roman wall…
JealousStuff4405@reddit
We went to Caerleon the other day. Really well preserved bath houses. A barracks and amphitheater and free museum with artefacts.
It’s been a while since I went there but when I was doing my dissertation on Roman life I really enjoyed the stuff in St Albans. Can’t remember the details of what’s there though
Inevitable-Debt4312@reddit
Wroxeter in Shropshire. Big former baths building walls. The preserved foundations around it are a bit antiseptic but hey … Leicester city centre had big baths wall too, with a wonderful new museum.
Silchester near Reading - walk around the walls. Similarly Verulamium at St Albans, which has a lovely museum, one of my favourites. Burgh Castle in east Norfolk, a late fort with big walls. Reculver, an amazing late fort on the south coast with Norman castle and WW2 pill boxes built into it - a series of defences. York / see the second century Multangular Tower, then the great museum, and walk the (mainly medieval) walls around the city.
Spoilt for choice, really.
Inevitable-Debt4312@reddit
Whoops - Pevensey, not Reculver.
YragNitram1956@reddit
Rome?
Drewski811@reddit
York is worth a look. There's a section of the Roman wall just out on a street, and the remains of the Roman fort are quite prominent in the Minsters catacombs.
Rhesus-Positive@reddit
Plus the museum has that massive mosaic
KeyboardMash615@reddit
Don't know if this is still there,but there was a pub called the Roman Bath and underneath it was....a Roman bath. It was a very ordinary pub in the city centre and you.psid them about £3 and could head down a back staircase and wander round the excavated remains of the Roman bath!
Krzykat350@reddit
It was surprising how far down the roman street level is from the modern day.
Slinkybeats@reddit
St Albans.
Ornery-Wasabi-1018@reddit
Hadrians Wall.
Housesteads, Vindolanda, and Chesters all offer glimpses, and are all up in Northumberland / Cumbria.
LeanneJade@reddit
Birdoswald off the motorway at Carlisle. My son is learning about Romans so wanted to go on our way back from Scotland. It has the longest stretch of Hadrians Wall allegedly. Am I any wiser to what Hadrians Wall looks like after visiting? No. Am I assuming it was the long wall attached to the millcastle? Yes.
TheLostWaterNymph@reddit
I used to work for EH and birdoswald is probably their best site in my opinion!
LeanneJade@reddit
Then please can you tell me - is that wall that runs all along the road towards the millcastle Hadrians wall? There were no signs
widdrjb@reddit
Segedunum in Wallsend, the reconstruction of Arbeia in South Shields, and the various relics in the Great North Museum in Newcastle.
Timely_Stretch_5268@reddit
Yaas. Wallsend represent!
stiggley@reddit
And a bit further down the coast is Ravenglass Bath House, and Hardknott Fort (all part of the UNESCO Roman Frontiers heritage site)
LillaLobo@reddit
That’s the answer. I still remember loads from Vindolanda from a school trip 40 years ago. The wooden postcards amazed me.
Stillcoleman@reddit
St Albans
Good-Gur-7742@reddit
The Cotswolds.
Exact-Put-6961@reddit
Hardknott castle. Impressive for its existence, on so remote and high a spot. Of course the climate was warmer then
FlippedHope@reddit
Lullingstone in Kent is nice, with good walks in the area and just down the river is a pub by a nice ford over the River Dart where lots of paddling and sitting on the grass happens https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lullingstone-roman-villa/?utm_source=Google%20Business&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Google%20Business%20Profiles&utm_content=lullingstone%20roman%20villa
Sorry-Mate69@reddit
The roman wall in London and also St. Albans which has a mosaic floor in the park and an amphitheatre.
kalendral_42@reddit
Bristol
London
Chester
York
Hadrian’s wall up on the borders
Cirencester
Fishbourne Palace in West Sussex
Chedworth in the Cotswolds
St Albans
Carlson in Wales
Dover
Littlecote
Leptis Magna Ruins
North Leigh
Swindon has some Roman ruins as well
Silchester
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg
newbris@reddit
Hadrian’s wall is level with Newcastle rather than up in the borders isnt it?
kalendral_42@reddit
Technically at the time it was the border between Britannia & Scotland & although parts of it go down as far as Newcastle, there are parts that go further up towards Scotland so I just class it as the border/buffer area. Plus there’s all the earlier/later wall structures a bit further up/lower down (e.g. Antonine wall) that show the border moved around a lot back then
TheGeordieGal@reddit
It’s nowhere near Scotland - especially once you get away from Carlisle where it’s closest. Almost the entirety of Northumberland is north of it. I know people forget Northumberland exists, but come on.
Also not a border of Britannia and Scotland given Scotland didn’t exist until centuries later. Don’t go and say you mean what’s now Scotland, because once again, Northumberland is mostly north of the wall and we aren’t Scottish.
TheLostWaterNymph@reddit
Yeah but the bit nearest is also nearest to Scotland - it’s a border county hence the border reivers. They’re not wrong in saying that and as a Northumbrian I’m not offended, I’m not sure why you are
Fearless-Hedgehog661@reddit
Britannia and Caledonia.
newbris@reddit
Yeah makes sense back then, just haven't hear it called parts of the borders in modern times as train is 1.5 hours to Edinburgh.
Extension_Common_518@reddit
Well, the wall runs fairly straight East-West while the border is at an angle. The bits of the wall in Newcastle are a good 100 km south of the Border. The bits of the wall outside Carlisle are like 15 Km south of the border.
No_clue_9891@reddit
The roman villa is lovely at Littlecote. The main house and grounds are now owned by Warners, so you need to be over 21 to visit.
jayphelps57@reddit
And Leicester! Jerry Wall ruins and museum
jayphelps57@reddit
Jewry Wall!
thelilistchode@reddit
Gloucester
Hamsternoir@reddit
Leicester admittedly not as much as other cities but we have a king
Severe-Industry-2717@reddit
Exeter, the RAMM houses the Seaton Down Hoard.
femalefred@reddit
The Roman Painted House in Dover rarely gets a shout out in this sort of post, thank you for mentioning it
LillaLobo@reddit
Lancaster too.
No-Cherry-6678@reddit
Arles in France has an intact colosseum , slightly smaller than the one in Rome but still used
Nervous_Tourist_8699@reddit
Chester is a good call. If you are basing yourself in London, it is a bit of a trek. St Albans have some, also London itself in Billingsgate and Barbican. Wouldn’t say they are well preserved though. Enjoy your trip
BedaFomm@reddit
Taragona in Spain is built on a Roman settlement and has lots of exposed ruins, including a complete amphitheater.
TheDarkestStjarna@reddit
Colchester has the roman mosaic in the castle, the remains of an amphitheatre (visible, but only open on Heritage Weekends) and a roman circus, which apparently is the size of the Circus Maximus.
Vetni@reddit
Chedworth is always worth a visit
Violet351@reddit
St Albans has some Roman wall and a hypocaust as well as the Roman theatre. There’s also a museum there. A lot of it is in or next to verulamium park. The waffle house (which is delicious) is just outside the park.
Dangeruss82@reddit
Thanet(margate, ramsgate, Broadstairs and surrounding areas). It’s where they first landed. There’s an old amphitheater thing, loads of ruins. In Dover there an original Roman painted house.
andale01@reddit
York; the city was an important City during the Roman period. There's lots of Roman artifacts throughout Yorkshire, for instance you can walk part Ermine Street Roman road via Roman Ridge bridleway
jamnut@reddit
Wrestlemania is next week, he'll be the main event on Sunday Vs CM Punk
The_Mutterer@reddit
This place on the outskirts of Dorchester is amazing. https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/explore/roman-town-house/
ruellera@reddit
Chedworth Roman villa.
Historical_Project86@reddit
Caerleon. A lot of stone has been taken from the sites, but there are open-air barracks, the remains of the most complete excavated amphitheatre in Britain, and a small museum with other stuff which I forget. Caerleon was one of the three permanent legionary Roman fortresses in Britain, along with Chester and York.
RootVegitible@reddit
Exeter was a roman city. The entire city has roman ruins everywhere. There are still standing roman city walls in parts of the city. There’s a free museum with epic roman history.
milgi617@reddit
London- Temple of Mithras (in the Bloomberg building is amazing.)
Sea_Pomegranate8229@reddit
Understand that everything you saw at street level in Bath is from the 19th century. What you saw below street level is almost entirely original - with some stabilisation work done. Having said that, Bath is probably the best visit for Roman ruins.
Chester is next with Roman walls, an amphitheatre, and the remains of a Roman fortress. It is also a beautiful city, like Bath.
York would be third with the Yorkshire Museum with Roman artifacts, parts of the Roman city walls, and the Multangular Tower. York has the bonus of being the Viking capital of England and the Yorvik Viking Centre is certainly worth a visit - not just for the huge Viking poo! And of course York is also beautiful.
jacktheturd@reddit
St Alban's
Gwenfrewy@reddit
Wroxeter (Viriconium), Shropshire. There's a huge section of wall standing. There's also a museum and reconstruction of a typical middle class villa. The construction of the villa was the subject of a documentary: Rome Wasn't Built In A Day, 2011. In it modern builders learn and use the Roman techniques to build it.
PhysicsAgitated6722@reddit
There is a Roman villa at Chedworth near Cirencester then the remains of an amphitheatre in Cirencester. Cirencester also has a brilliant museum displaying all the Roman finds found in the area of which there is a lot.
MySparePersona@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace
iolaus79@reddit
Caerleon
Laufreyssonsadvocate@reddit
Forgot but they also have remains of barracks etc across from the amphitheatre and you can walk along the old walls.
Eren-Alter-Ego@reddit
Definitely second this!!
Laufreyssonsadvocate@reddit
Seconded... Great museums and if you pop over to St Fagans in Caerdydd they have some more exhibits there.
alltheparentssuck@reddit
St Fagans is my favourite museum.
croxdax@reddit
Plus a genuinely nice place with really friendly people.
kendoddsdadsdeaddog@reddit
Also you can talk a stroll up Twmbarlwm , see the Celtic Iron Age hill fort that had a few dust ups with the Romans from Caerleon. Try spotting the addition made by the Normans when they blew through too.
Pop by Caerwent on the way home.
llynllydaw_999@reddit
Also Caer-went Roman town which is nearby. The most substantial Roman ruins I've seen in this country outside Hadrian's Wall, but I don't think that it's well known at all.
Pure-Coconut628@reddit
Came here to say this, really cool and just in the open air, had a picnic at the Amphitheatre
welshfach@reddit
Great museum where they have preserved parts of the baths too.
Jiminyfingers@reddit
Lots of bits and pieces around here in Gloucestershire. There is Chedworth Roman villa, but there us also a free one in the woods in Cranham near Painswick. My favourite is one above Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe, there are the remains of a villa in the woods. Not much to see apart from a small covered corner where under a tarp you'll find a hidden mosaic. Bill Bryson wrote about visiting it. Cirencester has a museum and the remains of an amphitheatre. Across the way a bit Corleon near Newport has a big amphitheatre and the remains of a large military camp.
Also you can't see it since it has been reburied but there is a huge mosaic in Woodchester. Feels like a huge shame it remains under the ground https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodchester_Roman_Villa
DeniseGunn@reddit
Wroxeter Roman city
ialtag-bheag@reddit
Antonine Wall, some remains around Glasgow and Falkirk areas.
SquireW65@reddit
The Roman villa in Brading on the Isle of Wight is worth a trip….and then you get to see the IOW too!!!
anabsentfriend@reddit
The Mithraeum in the City is interesting if your in the area.
siliconsandwich@reddit
Go to Italy there are millions of them.
Upper-Flatworm8784@reddit
Lots of little locations along the length of Hadrian’s Wall. And if course the wall itself.
Confudled_Contractor@reddit
Colchester Castle is Roman. Their capital here I think.
JeremySausage1@reddit
The castle is Norman. It was built on the ruins of a Roman temple. Yes Colchester was the capital 👍
silentv0ices@reddit
Arbeia the roman fortress at South Shields served as a base for the emperor Septimius Severus's campaigns in Scotland and so was considered the centre of the roman empire at the time.
celtiquant@reddit
Caerwent, not too far from Caerleon. The best preserved Roman town walls in Britannia
resting_up@reddit
Colchester.
Ineeda_lie_in@reddit
North East
cerealdeviant@reddit
Chedworth Roman villa is really interesting.
Hyacinth_Bouque@reddit
Hadrian's Wall. Do the hike and there are plenty of sites along the way.
Fun-Injury9266@reddit
Roman Wall
birchboleta@reddit
Hadrian's wall
ProudMastodon1@reddit
Noble Street in London has the ruins of a Roman fort https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alder+Castle/@51.5170345,-0.0955013,3a,83.1y,337.25h,83.18t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWk0dEc-GZkYjVo4v1uEZfg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D6.817874958035503%26panoid%3DWk0dEc-GZkYjVo4v1uEZfg%26yaw%3D337.2504711793987!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x48761b5458bcd03f:0x7cd69f616e0e9e56!8m2!3d51.5168043!4d-0.0962925!16s%2Fg%2F11g1npr61v?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Queasy-Ad-18706@reddit
Silchester between Newbury and Reading. Read up about it first. Amphitheatre etc.
Marzipan_civil@reddit
Vindolanda is a Roman fort up by Hadrian's Wall that's supposed to be very good
Ok_Tree_4706@reddit
In Hampshire you’re spoilt for choice: Silchester, Fishbourne, Fordingbridge for the Rockbourne Roman villa, cross The Solent by ferry to the Isle of Wight for the Roman villa ruins & museum at Newport and Brading.
LeadershipMammoth940@reddit
If you’re travelling between Chester and Hadrian’s Wall, make a stop off at Ribchester, a very small settlement in Lancashire with a lovely little museum
Rare_Ad_649@reddit
I used to live in Ribchester, There's also a roman bathouse that you can go walk around the ruins of
lyremni@reddit
York.
DigitalGravyboat@reddit
Caerleon!
Gary5757@reddit
Rome
Lost-Sausage@reddit
East Kent has a good collection of exceptional Roman sites in close proximity:
Richborough (near Sandwich) - Roman fort, triumphal arch, port town and amphitheatre. Dover - Roman painted house, fort and lighthouse Canterbury - Roman walled town, Roman museum and funerary mound (Dane John)
OsMaRu3@reddit
Lincoln (Lindum Colonium). Its everywhere - beside the street, a roman arch above a road, mosaics in the museum, a roman well in a pub. Plus you can see one of only two surviving copies of the very first Magna Carta. The cathedral is pretty nice too
Welshbuilder67@reddit
Caerleon, near Newport Gwent if your in the South West, largest Amphitheater in the U.K. Museum and a Bath house
Visual_Cauliflower92@reddit
Norfolk. Lots of old Roman forts and walls to look at.
jayphelps57@reddit
Burgh Castle
irv81@reddit
Northumberland and Cumbria, there is a 73 mile wall, Hadrian's Wall, with various forts dotted along the length of it.
heliumhussy@reddit
Chester Colchester Fishbourne Palace
Hadrian’s wall is immense though - Vindolanda is great.
Easy-Equal@reddit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_sites_in_Great_Britain
Lollygagger105@reddit
Yes, so many many places
c_is_for_cookie1983@reddit
Fishbourne Roman palace is good to see and nearby Chichester has Roman walls. There’s also Bignor Roman villa not too far away
jayphelps57@reddit
Leicester ( Ratae) and The museums and forts on Hadrian’s Wall
YupItWasMeMate@reddit
The best preserved Roman fort in the UK is in Alderney.
StillJustJones@reddit
Colchester…. Which used to be called camulodunum and was Britain’s Roman capital…. Although… good old Boudicca sacked the city so the remains are sporadic!
You can see the berryfield mosaic in the firstsite gallery, see a tiny bit of the remains of the huge Roman theatre, see where the largest Roman circus used to be where there’s a visitor centre, displays, blurbs and loads of info from the local archeological trust, see the (somewhat underwhelming) remains of the oldest church in Britain and you can walk around the Roman Wall which is the oldest and longest surviving town wall in Britain (some of which is in the beautiful castle park and some goes down a grim stretch of dual carriageway on a big hill thanks to shitty town planning in the 60’s).
There’s a nice walking tour mapped out by the council.
There’s also Colchester castle (a Norman Keep), which although not truly roman is built directly upon the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius (circa AD 54), which I think you can see in the castle vaults…. Although I’m not sure about that as I haven’t been in a while.
CrazyPlatypusLady@reddit
You can see bits of it just outside the castle. You have to cross over it to get inside.
Past-Bicycle5959@reddit
There's a Roman Fort somewhere between Warwickshire and maybe Birmingham
Spank86@reddit
Fishbourne
CrazyPlatypusLady@reddit
Colchester. Roman capital.
Norman castle on Roman foundations. City wall. Many ruins just in the town centre. There's a Roman tumulus mound in Lexden (but it's in someone's garden). Earthwork defences also in Lexden. An amphitheatre over at Gosbecks (dunno if they left that open, it's been years since I've been there).
Shazpless66@reddit
We’ve got some, here in Bristol. There’s some by the side of a main road, which aren’t much to see. Then there’s a villa in Lawrence Weston, with a hypocaust and everything!
Shazpless66@reddit
See also Cirencester. Ciren museum is good, too!
Otherwise_Type6223@reddit
Hadrians Wall…
Select-Usual-4985@reddit
Caerleon. Amphitheatre and barracks but the baths and museum are particularly lovely.
Impossible-Alps-6859@reddit
Chichester Roman Villa is well worth a visit if you are towards the south of England.
ZBD1949@reddit
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wroxeter-roman-city/
Bernardozila@reddit
Milton Keynes
Glad-Feature-2117@reddit
Before anyone thinks you're joking...
Bancroft Roman Villa | The Parks Trust https://share.google/rvPrrxHiI4Var6SDI
Secure-Career-2016@reddit
Caerleon
LopsidedLobster2@reddit
York and Leicester both have Roman walls remaining
BenRod88@reddit
Burgh castle. Visited last week while in the area and it was pretty interesting. Visited a few other locations nearby also
Toc13s@reddit
St Albans - Verulamium
Large bits of standing wall, gatehouse foundations, hypocaust - all in a public park
At one end of the park is the museum. Across the road from the is the amphitheatre & some shop foundations. Both of these are charged for
SwordTaster@reddit
Caister
azzthom@reddit
South Shields has Arbeia, a Roman fort that has been partially reconstructed, but is mostly just the foundations of the original Roman buildings. Its a fascinating site, and well worth a visit.
unalivexmastree@reddit
Lyon.
Harry-666666@reddit
Silchester. They have been excavating the Roman city of Calleva for years.
lucylucylane@reddit
Hadrians wall northhumberland
KDurin@reddit
Off the top of my head, and trying to avoid a huge list - Chester, York, Colchester. All of which are lovely places to visit, all around too.
MattySingo37@reddit
All over the place. The big legionary fortresses at York, Chester and Caerleon are as good a place as any to start. The whole Hadrian's Wall complex is amazing. Saxon Shore forts, Pevensey, Portchester, Richborough (possibly the landing site for Claudius' invasion.) Towns, Silchester, Wroxeter.
Have a look for odd little sites. Minerva's shrine at Handbridge, Chester sits in a small park and is possibly the only shrine of it's type in the UK. At Prestatyn there's a bath house in the middle of a housing estate.
DrHydeous@reddit
My favourite is the Mithraeum in London.
monsterlander@reddit
My favourite was the black gate in trier, Germany.
Sorry_Welder9636@reddit
VINDOLANDA
Captlard@reddit
London wall
175737@reddit
And while you're in London there's a free museum in Bank showing the remains of a Roman temple discovered during work on Bank Station. Well worth a look.
From their website:
London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE returns the Roman Temple of Mithras to the location of its discovery in the heart of the City.
Situated on the site of Bloomberg’s European headquarters, this cultural hub showcases the ancient temple, a selection of the remarkable Roman artefacts found during the recent excavation, and a series of contemporary art commissions responding to one of the UK’s most significant archaeological sites.
danjimian@reddit
Also the City Wall at Vine Street museum, there's a section of the original wall in-situ
Desperate-Cookie3373@reddit
The Mithraeum is huge fun!
sneakyhopskotch@reddit
Plus Guildhall. That was an astonishing recent find
Free_Ad7415@reddit
Rome
armthesquids@reddit
The Mithraeum opposite Cannon Street station
Markfish@reddit
Piercebridge
Lanesra8989@reddit
St Albans in Hertfordshire , known as Verulamium in Roman times, was primarily a major Roman town—one of the largest in Britain
NLFG@reddit
St Albans
i_like_pigmy_goats@reddit
Chedworth villa by Cirencester is pretty good.
UntappdBeer@reddit
Caerleon in Wales.
LogicalConference765@reddit
Hardknott Roman Fort & Thermae. In the Lake District. Note- Hardknotts Pass (the shortest route over to Windermere) is not for the faint of heart driving wise!
Excellent pub Nearby, Brook House Inn
JorgiEagle@reddit
London Wall is the original Roman wall
Admiral-snackbaa@reddit
Chichester’s Roman walls still surround the city and you can walk them + there are several Roman villas in the local area you can visit
d00000med@reddit
There's Castlefield in Manchester city centre. Also apparently there's a recreation of a Roman fort somewhere called Mancunium
Two_Bricks@reddit
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/RomanSites/
PennyPitstop68@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace, Chichester, West Sussex is an awesome place to visit
Hefty_Tip7383@reddit
York has some
b00merang1998@reddit
Hard knott fort in west Cumbria, near Scafell Pike.
JimDixon@reddit
There are surprisingly many in London: https://www.thecityofldn.com/article/roman-ruins-city-of-london/
Longjumping_Dark_460@reddit
In Norfolk, the walls at Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth are well preserved and extensive. There are also remains at Caistor-by-Sea and Caistor St Edmunds. Really, most parts of Britain have some Roman remains that can be visited.
But I would agree with others that Hadrian's Wall and it's associated forts and Fishbourne Palace in Susses are among the most impressive.
Wrong_Duty7043@reddit
Castlefield in Manchester (rebuilt from the foundations)
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Mithraeum, London.
Gornal-Annie6133@reddit
Wroxeter, not far from Shrewsbury.
Otherwise-Plane8282@reddit
St Albans is worth a visit
1_innocent_bystander@reddit
Rome.
Hope that helps.
abibofsweat@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace
Snoo_23014@reddit
Scarborough castle has the site of the original Roman cliff top fort
VinceVanV@reddit
Hardknott Roman Fort (Mediobogdum) up near where I live is a remote, 2nd-century Roman stronghold at the top of the steep, winding Hardknott Pass in the Lake District, Cumbria.
Built around AD 110–138, it guarded the Roman road connecting coastal Ravenglass to Ambleside.
The fort was designed for approximately 500 infantry soldiers and provided a strategic viewpoint before being abandoned in the 3rd century.
Established under Emperor Hadrian (c. AD 120–138) to secure trade routes and police the area.
AffectionateAgent264@reddit
St Albans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verulamium
MeckityM00@reddit
Chester - It's still laid out on the Roman street plan. Years ago, a few of the bottom shops on the Rows on Bridge Street had Roman ruins in the middle of their shops. I remember eating a Spud-U-Like next to a Roman hypocaust.
There's half a Roman amphitheatre that's open to the public, and even a Roman trail that includes some ruins https://www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/north-west-england/trails/chester-trail.html
WickedWitchofTheE@reddit
Loads along Hadrian’s wall
LupercalLupercal@reddit
Rome
VinceVanV@reddit
https://share.google/P9hmpl0glgCBun5aM
thelilistchode@reddit
Gloucester literally a hole in the city centre that shows the foundations. Museums not bad either.
ImBonRurgundy@reddit
Sofia (Bulgaria) has some really well preserved Roman ruins in the city centre
val_kekmurder@reddit
If you go to Vindolanda, do the tour. If you get a little time alone with the tour guide ask about the murder. It’s an interesting but grim topic.
claireylou87@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace in Sussex has beautiful Roman mosaics and artefacts, if you want Roman buildings then Portchester Castle near Portsmouth is lovely to see too.
ColdAppointment3917@reddit
National Trust - Chedworth Roman Villa
Went a few years ago from memory there was a building with a roman mosaic floor that you walked on glass above, really interesting
llynllydaw_999@reddit
I live nearby and it's still well worth visiting. It's in a lovely location as well
DeliciousUse7585@reddit
Caesar has a palace in Las Vegas
Gullible_fool_99@reddit
Caerleon just outside of Newport in Wales.
Substantial_Use_2189@reddit
Verulamium at St Albans
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
Chester and Wroxeter
Nigelb72@reddit
Jewry Wall and Roman baths in Leicester
Electronic-Stay-2369@reddit
St Albans (Verulam)
DollySheep32@reddit
St Albans - easily accessed on the train, plus a museum with a complete mosaic.
Sharks_and_Bones@reddit
Wroexeter in Shropshire.
Lynex_Lineker_Smith@reddit
Leicester. Jewry wall museum . There’s a huge piece of wall from the Roman baths and a really good little museum next to it showing Roman Leicester .
https://romanleicester.com/
https://storyofleicester.info/city-stories/the-romans-in-leicester/
tomm0307@reddit
Trier, Vindolanda, Nîmes.
actualinsomnia531@reddit
St. Alban's has a little Roman museum with some quite good mosaics etc.
babbacheez1997@reddit
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt8254432/
Chester, Britain's Most Roman City. Alice Roberts.
Normal-Height-8577@reddit
Not in situ, but the Corinium Museum at Cirencester has some really lovely Roman artifacts, mosaics and similar. You can also visit their (grassed-over for protection) amphitheatre in a nearby park. And if you want to visit a Roman villa, then Chedworth is relatively nearby.
Up in Northumberland, there are several forts by Hadrian's Wall that are being steadily excavated - Vindolanda is extensive and has an amazing collection of preserved organic artifacts in its museum, too, thanks to anoxic soil conditions.
Maple-Styrup@reddit
Lunt Roman Fort in Coventry.
calm-down-giraffe@reddit
Caerleon
MirrorTotal893@reddit
Chedworth, Gloucestershire
Gro022@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace
alex21dragons@reddit
Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex is worth a look and Brading Villa in the Isle of Wight.
R4ndomResp4wn@reddit
Volubilis, Morocco. Absolutely stunning.
https://sitedevolubilis.org/
ArsenalArry1960@reddit
St Albans in Hertfordshire, England.
SnooDonuts6494@reddit
Hadrian's Wall
Haunting_Cress_7348@reddit
If you're near Caerleon go to Caerwent too!
Moist_Barracuda_2014@reddit
Lullingstone in Kent: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lullingstone-roman-villa
Remember going here on a school trip too many moons ago.
Is not fully open at present as they are doing work on it, but according to the website there are open days and you can still see some parts while they are working.
yalliepants@reddit
Chester is a lovely place for it
insound0@reddit
Lullingstone Roman Villa
matthewmayer@reddit
Hadrians wall
Atheissimo@reddit
Portchester Castle on the south coast. It was developed from a Roman fort, and retains the overall shape as well as the D-shaped towers and Roman bricks
BambiTheInsane@reddit
Plenty round Chichester area
toonlass91@reddit
Northumberland, Newcastle and Durham. We have a lot of ancient Roman history here including Hadrian’s Wall and various old forts in the area. There are even ruins in the small market town I live in
MorugaMike@reddit
St Alban's.
nannyplum@reddit
Caerleon in Newport South Wales. I would have added a link, but for some reason the app won't let me.
There's an Amphitheatre and Roman Baths amongst various other things.
OddAd9915@reddit
The Palace at Fishbourne is very good. Has some exceptional mosaics and is a very interesting site from a historical perspective too.
twoquietsuns@reddit
The Roman baths in Bath are freaking WILD, what an amazing place - you will be hard pressed to beat that!