walking tours of roman london

London Guided Walks » Roman London Tour

Roman London Tour

• See hugely impressive remains
• Learn how Roman London was created and deserted
• Qualified City of London guide

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Embark on an enlightening journey back in time to uncover the layers of history that lie just beneath the bustling streets of modern London. Our private tour, led by highly qualified and deeply passionate guides, invites you to explore the ancient origins of this magnificent city for a comprehensive ninety minutes that promises to be both educational and captivating.

Delve into the heart of Roman London, known to the ancients as Londinium, a city of great importance and a bustling trading post that once was. Our expert guides, equipped with extensive knowledge and an infectious enthusiasm for London’s history, will lead you through the city’s most impressive archaeological remains as well as its more subtle and lesser-known traces that elude the average eye. This private tour is an exclusive opportunity to uncover the secrets of Londinium’s past, offering insights into its grandeur and the intricate lives of its inhabitants.

Discover the strategic reasons behind Londinium’s establishment in its specific location, and get acquainted with some of the characters who walked its streets over two millennia ago. We will also explore the enigmatic decline of Roman London, shedding light on how such a thriving metropolis could nearly vanish from history, only to be reborn as the vibrant capital we know today.

The magnitude of Roman London’s footprint is nothing short of astonishing. Our journey will not only highlight the significant architectural and urban achievements of the Romans but also invite you to consider the daily lives, trades, and even the dramas that unfolded in this historic setting.

By joining us, you’re not just taking a walk through London; you’re stepping back into a bygone era where every stone, every ruin, and every forgotten corner has a story to tell. Our guides are not just historians; they are storytellers, eager to share with you the monumental history that is, quite literally, beneath our feet.

This private walking tour is an essential experience for anyone passionate about history, archaeology, or the enduring legacy of one of the world’s greatest cities. Come along and let us reveal the wonders of Roman London, a journey through time where the past is always underfoot, waiting to be rediscovered.

Your Guide: Jenny Funnell

Roman London Tour Reviews

Qualified London Tour Guides

Real London Walks

A Roman London Walking Tour

A day-tripper guide to Roman London.

Table of Contents

About the roman london walking tour.

According to mythology the earth was surrounded by a mighty sea called Oceanus; by extending the influence of Rome to the equivalent of outer space the Emperor Claudius was going against accepted wisdom.

Britain was worthless and scary at the same time – an island of dangerous people far from the civilised centre of the world.

Today if you know where to look, you too can experience the story of old Londinium and discover the threads that bind the ancient and modern worlds.

Key facts about this tour

What to expect on this walking tour.

This walking tour is 120 minutes long. You will walk approximately 1.5 miles and see hundreds of years of history.

Once you have experienced your tour you will be able to say you have seen:

• Booked entry to the Roman Mithraeum
• Roman wall remains
• Entry to the Roman Amphitheatre.
• And so much more!

Tour location map

Things to do after your tour

Once you’ve finished your walking tour why not visit some of the other exciting London locations below?

The Cafe Below

The Café Below, nestled in the crypt of St Mary-le-Bow Church in the heart of London, serves up locally sourced, hearty British cuisine in a unique, historic setting. As you enjoy your meal amidst centuries-old architecture, it’s an ideal spot for those looking for an authentic dining experience that seamlessly blends tradition with modern culinary art.

The Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden, offers stunning 360-degree views of the city from atop the Walkie Talkie building. With its lush, beautifully landscaped gardens, chic bars, and restaurants, it’s a sublime retreat that combines relaxation and sophistication, making it an essential visit for stunning cityscape views.

Book your ticket now

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12 Roman London Ruins to Visit

This post covers Roman London, where was it, and what remains of it.

We include a map of the top Roman sights and tips on where to find them, as well as how to take tours of a few of them.

Let's dig in! (pun intended)

• What was Londinium?
• 12 Roman Ruins to Visit
• Old City of London Tours
• Self-Guided Tours of London
• Things to do in London

WHAT WAS LONDINIUM?

Some visitors to London might be surprised to hear that there is a Roman Wall and Roman ruins in London, but they do exist.

Around the year 50 BC, the Roman settlement of Londinium was established near where the City of London stands today.

Click here for an interactive version of the map

A major hub in the Roman Empire, Londinium stood on the River Thames until it was abandoned by the Romans in the 5th century.

Although bustling and important, Londinium was quite small – about the size of today’s Hyde Park.

Boasting a complicated network of roads connecting Londinium to the rest of the country, an amphitheatre, temples, and markets, Londinium was a sophisticated city and it is still possible to visit the remains of this ancient town today.

ROMAN LONDON RUINS

Below are the top locations for either Roman London ruins or artifacts.

They are listed in the same order as found in the map posted above.

1. Museum of London

For a true treasure trove of Roman artifacts, one need only visit the Museum of London.

Showcasing the history of London from well before the Romans themselves, the Museum holds a plethora of artifacts dating from the time of Londinium.

Currency, jewelry, household goods, and figures of worship, the Museum of London’s collection cannot be topped.

2. Roman Wall at the Museum of London

Connected to the museum is a piece of the Roman Wall, a 5 km (3 miles) long, 6 m (20 ft) high, and 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) thick structure, that would have surrounded Londinium roughly 2,000 years ago.

This wall stood, in one form or another, until the 17th century.

A dominating feature for centuries, today the wall has been reduced to a few small pieces, the largest of which is located here.

More London Wall Locations

• Near Tower Hill Underground Station
• Outside the Museum of London
• On the Barbican Estate near Barbican Underground Station
• Check out or map above for a route to walk the Roman wall

3. Amphitheatre – London Guildhall

The only Roman amphitheatre in Londoninium was unearthed in 1988 when London’s Guildhall was excavating a site for their new art gallery.

Nearly 2,000 years after it was last used, the amphitheatre was opened to the public again as a part of the new gallery.

Animal fights, public executions, and gladiatorial combats would have been held here, attracting huge audiences from all nearby Roman settlements.

It is now possible to visit the amphitheater when going to the gallery at the Guildhall.

4. The Temple of Mithras

Originally uncovered in the 1950s during rebuilding work in the City, the Temple of Mithras was the largest and most important temple in Roman London.

A myriad of figurines and tributes (some of which are in the Museum of London now) were found at the Temple, indicating that it was used frequently by Londinium residents.

Because of the pressing need to build over the site of the Temple, it was very carefully moved to Temple Court on Queen Victoria Street.

That was until the media company Bloomberg, building their European HQ on the land that stands on the original site, decided to reconstruct the Temple back in its original position – where it is believed it was erected in the year 240.

It's free to visit but you need timed-tickets .

5. The London Stone 

A block of limestone measuring 53x43x30cm (21x17x12in), the London Stone is first made reference to in the year 1100 AD. 

The original function and usage of the stone aren’t known for certain but it is thought to be Roman in origin.

Potentially used by the Romans as a distance marker, the stone has existed in this part of London for centuries and by medieval times and was considered an important London landmark, sitting in the heart of the City of London.

The stone was considered so important that laws were drawn up on top of it and oaths were taken over it!

Today it lies, quite inconspicuously, in a small compartment at the bottom of a building located at 111 Cannon Street, available to be seen by anybody who walks past – although usually overlooked by the majority of pedestrians.

Learn more about the London Stone .

6. Roman Road in Southwark Cathedral

Roman London had a bridge crossing the River Thames, where the current London Bridge stands today.

On the southern side of the Roman bridge was a road that passed right through where Southwark Cathedral stands today.

Recent rebuilding of the gift shop/visitor centre at Southwark Cathedral unearthed part of this road and it is possible to see the road when visiting the shop at the Cathedral today.

7. Billingsgate Roman House & Baths 

The City of London organizes tours of the remnants of a Roman bath and house located in the basement of an office building.  

The tours take place on Saturdays and Sundays, last 45 minutes and cost just £9/adult and £7/concession.  Book the tours on their website .

8. Tower Hill Roman Wall

Just adjacent to the Tower Hill Underground Station stands one of the highest remaining pieces of the Roman Wall.

The base of the wall is the original Roman stonework (up to about 4m high), and later medieval additions can be seen the higher up the wall you look.

The wall originally surrounded London on four sides, with the southern edge running along the shore of the River Thames.

Today, there is a statue of Roman Emperor Trajan, who actually never visited Britain, but did expand the Roman Empire to its' maximum extent.

9. Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market is well known for its' beauty as well as its' use as a filming location for the Harry Potter films .

But what many of the people who pass through the glass and ironwork structure don't know is that there'd a hidden piece of Roman London tucked away in the back of a barber's shop!

Leadenhall Market sits on top of what was once a roman basilica, which was forgotten to time until construction in the 19th century uncovered the ruins.

The only piece that is visible to the public is on the ground floor of Nicholson & Griffin's hairdressers, situated right on the corner of the market and Gracechurch Street.

To see it, you will need to politely speak to the staff but they are usually happy to bring people down and show them the remains of a supporting-pier from the basilica that once stood here.

The ruins are kept behind a glass wall, right next to one of the barber's chairs! A truly bizarre but fascinating piece of London's history.

10. Roman River Wooden Piling at St. Magnus the Martyr

The parts of the Roman Wall that touched the River Thames were built on top of thick wooden pilings.

Almost all of them have beeb lost to time - except for the singular piece that still survives, on display outside St. Magnus the Martyr Church!

Check out our video on the history of London Bridge below to see this original piece.

11. All-Hallows-by-the-Tower

This charming church was originally founded in the 7th century - so not quite as long ago as Londinium.

However, after bombing damage in the Second World War, it was discovered that some of the ground floor structure had been built using Roman tiles and stonework.

Today, there is a museum in the crypt of the church, displaying portions of Roman pavement, as well as artefacts discovered during reconstruction efforts.

Perhaps one of the most useful items is an accurate model of Londinium, built in 1928 by Captain Lowther.

It shows the city as it would have been in AD 400, including the basilica under today's Leadenhall Market.

12. St. Bride's Church

Known primarily for its' legendary association with wedding cakes, St. Bride's Church is believed to sit on a site of worship dating back to the 7th century.

The current version was rebuilt in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren, but hidden in the crypt are even older pieces of history.

Uncovered in the 20th century, the crypt is home to medieval lead-lined coffins but also a roman pavement and a roman ditch.

A ditch doesn't sound that exciting, however it's a bit of a historical mystery as it's much deeper than the ditch that would've surrounded the Roman Wall - and nobody knows why!

Also in the crypt are Roman artefacts and the remains of a mosaic.

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London Walking Tours

Roman london.

Spend a half day or full day exploring the amazing Roman remains and artefacts which lie beneath the surface of the busy streets in the City of London. This private walking tour covers the oldest part of London or Londinium as it was called by the Romans. We visit an amphitheatre, a bathhouse, a temple and the basilica and discover sections of the Roman wall that protected the city.

Larger group price discounts available. Please ask Nigel for details.

Price includes full guiding services. Price does not include refreshments or entrance to any attractions.

Want to book or find out more?

Give Nigel a call on +44 (0)7802 786868 or send a message using the form below and he'll get right back to you.

• Find a Guide
• Walks & Tours
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Discover Official Walks & Talks

Roman london tour: thurs & sun.

The original City beneath our feet

What have the Romans ever done for us Londoners? Plenty!

Join our Roman guided tour and let us ‘roam’ around the City and discover a history that dates back nearly 2,000 years. Let one of our qualified City of London Guides reveal the ancient city of Londinium that lies beneath your feet.

• Learn why the Romans founded the City of Londinium, what they bought - and what they liked to export. 
• See the site of a Roman bathhouse that’s now a pretty garden
• Discover a temple to Mithras that was only discovered after bombing in World War Two
• Take in a view of the original Roman wall that guarded the City 1,800 years ago. 

Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE

Photos: courtesy of Niki Gorick

Read about our walk in the Londonist

We offer daily, weekly and monthly walks around the City of London 

Our daily walks run from the City Information Centre, just south of St Paul's. You need to book via Eventbrite to secure you place.  Note : the cut-off time for booking our daily walks is 21:00hrs the night before. If we don't have any bookings then the walk will not take place.

Our weekly walks have individual booking pages and earlier cut-off times, please see the individual listing.  

We've adde d 3 new walks for this season:

Secrets and Symbols, News from Fleet Street, and From Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths open 

This unique site is now open for this season of tours.  Find out more.

Leadenhall Market: Beer, Bread and Beans!

This is a limited-edition, evening tour exploring the history of food and drink in and around the market in May and June.  Find out more

Private tours

If you'd like to organise your own walk , lecture or a virtual tour, then please use our  Find a Guide  section. If you're a member of an Arts Society or a U3A or other group we'd love to take you on a tour of the City. And if you're a company based in the City who'd like to organise a social event for your work colleagues, why not book a walk with us? 

If you've been on a walk recently we'd love to hear from you. Why not leave a review on our TripAdvisor  page? We've been awarded TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice for 2023!

Normal price, concessions.

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Posted on Published: 7th December 2021  - Last updated: 7th July 2023 Categories London History

By: Author Julianna Barnaby

Roman London: Finding Londinium’s Roman Ruins

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London’s history stretches way back – including to Londinium – the ancient Roman city that stood where the City of London does today. Ready to discover the remains of Roman London? Let’s explore. 

Hidden amidst the streets of London, you’ll find the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire that formed the foundation of what the City of London is today. 

Believe it or not, you can still take to the streets and see some of these ancient wonders with your own eyes. 

From the ruins of the Temple of Mithras to the wall the Romans erected to protect it, the remains of Roman London sit between the city’s skyscrapers and contemporary buildings. They can be a little hard to find… that is unless you know where to look. 

Where to Find Roman London

London mithraeum .

The Temple of Mithras was just one of the temples in Londinium, but historians think that it was also one of the most significant in the city. 

Construction workers discovered the Temple in the 1950s, alongside an elaborate collection of different statues and trinkets of tribute while doing construction work in the area. The location of the ruins has changed twice because of this. 

The first was pretty much as soon as it was discovered. Due to the importance of the building that was underway, the city delicately moved the structure to a new location in Queen Victoria Street, Temple Court. 

It moved for a second time when the media giant Bloomberg built their European headquarters on the temple’s original location. Upon learning this, Bloomberg decided to transport the ruins back to their original location and rebuild the temple.

The ruins are open to the public and free to see. You can book a ticket through the Bloomberg Space and London Mithraeum website . 

The headquarters also show some of the different artefacts discovered during the uncovering of the ruins of the temple. 

London Wall 

The Museum of London is one of our favourite free museums – a special place that houses thousands of different artefacts from cultures around the world, but there is a piece of Roman history surrounding it. 

Take a walk around the outside of the museum, and you will find the remnants of a 5km-long piece of wall that the Romans built to encircle Londinium – imaginatively called London Wall . 

This thick wall stands 6 metres tall and measures 2.5 metres wide. Its purpose was to protect the city over two thousand years ago. 

Today, there are only a small amount of pieces that are still left. You will find other pieces near the underground station for Tower Hill and close to the Underground station for Barbican, on the Barbican Estate. But you will find the biggest piece of the Roman wall outside the museum. 

Sadly, the rest of the wall has been destroyed, buried, or removed over the years with the rapid expansion and development of the City of London . 

London Wall Road shows a different perspective of where the wall used to sit. This road mimics the north part of the wall and where it ran along the city’s edge. 

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths 

The Billingsgate Bath House is a 2,000-year-old ruin, discovered in 1848. 

The artefacts inside show that it was built in the 2nd century on the bank of the River Thames, with a lovely waterfront view. 

The Romans used it right up until they abandoned Londinium. This spectacular ruin even showcases modern features like underfloor heating. 

You can walk to Lower Thames Street to experience this marvel of how the Roman British lived back then. It is one of the top examples of the style and type of Roman buildings within the capital. 

The ruins were hidden from the public for a long time, in the cellar of a Coal Exchange building. Then the city destroyed this building to make way for another new development. 

During this time, more excavations were undertaken and kept again in the cellar of the new building on Lower Thames Street. 

When the Romans were on their conquest of Britain, forts were the standard to protect their new settlements. The Fort of Londinium was built around 120 AD after local tribes burnt the original city to the ground.  

The fort was built on the outskirts of the city and spanned an impressive 12 acres. Over the years, the city of Londinium grew. The fort was absorbed into the construction of the protective wall that encircled the city. 

The military later decommissioned the fort as it was no longer needed — with stability coming to the region. A few pieces of the western and northern edges of the fort remain today within the Museum of London grounds.

Roman Amphitheatre of Londinium

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guildhall Art Gallery (@guildhallartlondon)

Hidden in a vault under the Guildhall gallery are the remains of the Roman Londinium amphitheatre. 

A group of archaeologists from the Museum of London discovered the remains while planning a new gallery project. The moment the archaeologists uncovered the ruins, they became a protected monument. 

Originally made out of wood, during the 2nd century the structure underwent a renovation with a tiled entryway and stone walls added.

It could hold a few thousand visitors and the Romans used it for a variety of events, ranging from the infamous gladiator games to religious events and even executions. 

These are the most impressive of all the Roman ruins in London, and they are free to visit during the gallery’s opening hours. If you stand in the courtyard above ground, there is an outline of the perimeter of the structure laid out in grey stone paving to show the sheer scale of it. 

A Wharf Pilon from the Romans

View this post on Instagram A post shared by St Magnus the Martyr, London. (@stmagnusthemartyrlondon)

Nestled in St Magnus, the Martyr church is a real Roman pilon dating back to the Roman period and still standing today. It is within the entry point of the church, below the bell tower. This pilon forms an integral part of what used to be the riverside wall along the river. 

Builders discovered the pilon in 1931 when they were digging foundations for a building nearby. 

A scientific study was done on the wood, and it was dated to roughly 75AD. It is incredible how a piece of wood has survived thousands of years.  

A Recent Discovery 

The summer of 2023 turned up a pretty interesting find for Roman-London enthusiasts . While digging around the site of The Liberty of Southwark site – where some fantastic mosaics were found previously – a fantastic example of a Roman mausoleum was discovered. 

It’s said to be the best-preserved Roman mausoleum in the UK, but don’t expect to see much of a structure. The best part of it has long been pulled down, likely by Londoners in the middle ages. 

What remains has been slated for public viewing once the Liberty of Southwark site is completed. 

Roman London Walk 

The best way to experience all of these things — and more — is to take a Roman London walking tour. This will take you to the sites above and provide you with a guide who can also inform you about all the unique aspects of the ruins.

Much of the remains are 7 metres below ground so you have to know where to look. Here is an outline of a path to follow.

London Wall at Tower Hill

The walk will take around three hours from start to finish with Tower Hill being the best place to start, where you will see your first piece of the London Wall. Take the underground to Tower Hill station and just outside will be a large chunk of the wall. 

Billingsgate Baths on Lower Thames Street

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit the City of London (@visitthecity)

Take a stroll down Lower Thames Street towards the London Bridge and stop at the Roman Baths next to St Dunstan’s Hill. Not too far away from where you started. 

London Mithraeum on Walbrook 

Further down the road, opposite the Cannon Street Station and in the Bloomberg Building, is the London Mithraeum, where you can marvel at the ruins of the Roman Temple. Granted, this is a bit more of a walk to get to here but your feet won’t get too tired. 

Londinium Amphitheatre At Guildhall Gallery

A short walk up King Street will take you straight to the incredible Amphitheatre ruins of Roman Londinium. 

Museum of London on London Wall Street

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museum of London (@museumoflondon)

Just up the road will be the end of your walk at the London Museum. Here you will find the remains of a large piece of the London Wall and the ruins of the Roman Fort that once stood there. End of your walking tour with a simple and relaxing walk along the London Wall Road to trace the original wall location and take you back to Tower Hill.

Feel like exploring all the ruins? Well, the good news is that there is a walking tour to show you the remains of Roman Londinium and provide expert knowledge while doing it. There are also a few extra hidden Roman ruins that you might not have heard of before on this walking tour of Roman Londinium . 

A Brief History of Londinium 

The history of Roman London is quite long – so we’re giving you the short version here. 

During the Roman period, Londinium was known as Roman Britain’s capital. The original area — first built in 47AD — was only a settlement, sitting on what is today the City of London.

Londinium’s Importance 

It was a strategic settlement, located at an important point to cross over the Thames. This made it an important port serving as a commercial epicentre for the Roman Empire on the British island. 

There has been a bridge at this important crossing point ever since in one form or another. The Romans built the Roman London Bridge to take Londinium citizens over the River Thames. 

Archaeologists discovered the foundations of a substantial pier foundation in the early 1980’s close to the London Bridge.  

The Rebuilding of Roman London

A coalition of local tribes destroyed the original settlement during an uprising, but the Romans rebuilt the city after. Romans built the new city according to the standard Roman philosophy of a grid layout, and by 225 AD, they encased it within a wall. 

The Roman London wall still exists today, and pieces of it still hold the City of London within it. 

The Fall of Londinium

The city hit its peak in the 2nd century, but the status of Londinium started to fall in the 5th century. During this time, the Roman Empire began to weaken after the Barbarians invaded Roman territories and other major cities of the Roman Empire cut communications. 

Londinium was effectively abandoned and fell into a state of disrepair. 

It only became relevant once again during King Alfred’s reign, where the city was used to protect the countrymen from the invading Vikings. At this time, the name was also changed to Lundenburg. 

Map of Roman Ruins in London

Looking For More Historical London Guides?

• Explore London’s Oldest Buildings 
• Why You Really Need to Visit the London Mithraeum 
• A Walk Along The Old London Wall

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London’s Roman Wall: A Self-Guided Walk

It is difficult to picture now, but for most of London’s history, the shape of the city was defined by its huge perimeter wall.

Seeking out the ruins, by walking the route of the old Roman and medieval city walls, is a great way of getting in touch with and learnign about that element of London’s past. It is also a very pleasant walk that takes you through some fascinating parts of London.

Here is my suggested self-guided walk (roughly 4km). Along the way you’ll find crumbling medieval towers, great imposing walls and ruins in some surprising places…

Introduction

No-one can quite agree why the Romans decided to build a wall around Londinium, as it was known then. Nevertheless, in 200AD, the wall was built and was one of the largest construction projects in Roman Britain. Over the medieval and Tudor periods, the wall was added to, maintained and enhanced.

Below is a brilliant map from Layers of London of Tudor London showing the wall, its moat and gatehouses. I will use sections of this map throughout the walk to help you get your bearings.

In the 18th century, as London expanded, the gates and parts of the wall were destroyed, primarily to improve traffic flow. The remaining ruins are now scheduled monuments, often looking slightly adrift in a sea of glass and steel.

Along the way you will see these plaques (below)- laid out by the Museum of London in the 1980’s. They have some very interesting pictures and text but don’t bother trying to follow their suggested route as lots have been lost over time.

Start: The Tower of London and Medieval Postern Gate

When William the Conqueror built the Tower of London in 1077 he incorporated a section of Roman wall into it. This was unfortunately lost during medieval upgrades to the Tower. You can still see the line of the old wall however inside the Tower, should you visit.

For our first stop we are at the ruins of a medieval postern gate. Built between 1297-1308, it was located at the point where the wall met the moat of the Tower of London. It was used as a pedestrian gate and defensive tower, right up until at least the 17th century.

The postern gate was uncovered during excavations in 1979 and had only survived because part of it had subsided and was buried in 1440.

Tower Hill Roman Wall

This is where you can see one of the best surviving sections of London’s wall. In the Roman period it would have been roughly 6m tall and is now 10m due to medieval additions. It gives you a great sense of how imposing the wall would’ve been to those inside and out.

The Roman wall was built predominantly of Kentish ragstone (roughly one million blocks) brought on barges from Maidstone.

To work out which bit is Roman, look out for the lines of red tiles. The Romans included these horizontal lines to keep the wall level over a long stretch.

This Eastern section of the wall in the Roman period had up to 20 bastions (projecting parts of the wall from which to defend).

The statue was installed here in the 1980’s and is thought to be of Emperor Trajan. He did not have anything to do with the wall and never visited Britain but it adds a nice bit of atmosphere I think!

Cooper’s Row

Walk to Cooper’s Row and through the entrance/carpark area of the Leonardo Royal London City hotel. This is probably the best surviving section of the wall.

You can still see archer’s loopholes here in the medieval section of the wall. According to the Museum of London there would have likely been a timber structure behind the wall to give archers access to these holes.

It appears to be sitting in a trough due to the rise in ground level since the Roman period.

The name Cooper’s Row comes from the coopers or cask makers who used to store their casks in the recesses in the wall here.

How has it survived? Well, over the years it became incorporated into the foundations and walls of industrial and residential buildings. It was rediscovered during the construction of a warehouse in 1864. It was decided by the then owner of the warehouse to preserve the wall. During excavations in 1962 the remains of a rectangular Roman turret were discovered which likely had a stairway within it to access the parapet.

Walk along Vine Street for our next stop. There is a stretch of Roman Wall in the basement of the buildings on your left, currently a building site. Included in the building works there is apparently a plan to fit viewing panels.

You will now be where the Aldgate used to stand: one of the seven gates in the city walls. This open area still has a palpable feeling of being on the edge of the city. A gate was built here by the Romans over the road to Colchester: one of their major thoroughfares.

The etymology of the name ‘Aldgate’ is disputed. Theories include that it comes from ‘Aeld Gate’, i.e. ‘Old Gate’, ‘All-gate’, meaning that it was free to all, or that it comes from ‘Ale-Gate’ in relation to an ale-house.

Geoffrey Chaucer, of Canterbury Tales fame, lived in rooms above the Aldgate from 1374 whilst he was a customs official for the Port of London. More on some of the other uses of the gates below in the Bishopsgate section!

It was pulled down in the 18th century with the rest of the gates.

Note the name of the church here (also on the map): St Botolph without Aldgate- meaning it was outside the Aldgate. St Botolph was the patron saint of travelers. A church dedicated to him is therefore often found at the city gates, for people setting off on their travels! We will see a couple more on our walk.

Have a look at the plaque here about the archaeological dig on this site in 2013.

Houndsditch

As you set off on the next section of the walk, note the street name- Houndsditch. There was a outer ditch around the exterior of the wall. The name Houndsditch is thought to be named for the fact that this particular area of ditch was a popular spot for the Romans to dispose of their dead dogs. Indeed, during 20th century excavations, quite a lot of dog skeletons were found here! You can see it on the map above.

The plaque on the side of Bevis Marks synagogue has a good depiction of the area in the time of Elizabeth I.

Bishopsgate

Again, there is nothing left of Bishopsgate, but the bishop’s mitre adorning the wall of Boots is a nod to what was once here.

Bishopsgate was burnt down by the Yorkists, who attacked London in 1471 during the Wars of the Roses. It was rebuilt by merchants in exchange for steelyard privileges. Bishopsgate was famous for, along with other gates, having the heads or body parts of recently executed criminals displayed on spikes atop the gate!

A curfew was rung by the church bells at 9pm. At this point the gates and portcullises were shut and only opened at 6am or sunrise, whichever came later. During the night, citizens would have to stay in their houses and no-one would be allowed into the city.

As well as for security, the gates were also used as checkpoints to collect any tolls and often also as prisons.

Again, note the church St Botolph without Bishopsgate here.

All Hallows On The Wall and Moorgate

You will now follow the road: London Wall, which more or less follows the line of the old wall.

All Hallows On The Wall church was built around 1120AD on one of the old Roman bastions. It would have been neatly tucked against the wall and indeed the foundations of the Northern wall of the church incorporate some of the Roman wall.

This proximity to the wall meant that it managed to survive the Great Fire in 1666. It was rebuilt in 1765 by George Dance the Younger.

The section of wall by the entrance to the church is mainly 18th century but incorporates some of the old medieval wall. You can see the church tucked against the wall and bastion on the map below.

On the way to the next stop you’ll pass by the site of Moorgate. It is first mentioned in the early 15th century as a small postern gate and replaced with a bigger one around 1415. The name ‘Moorgate’ comes from the marshy land or Moorfields just outside the Northern wall.

St Alphage Wall

We now arrive at the site of the original Roman fort or ‘Barbican’. Built around 120AD, the Barbican was in place before the wall and would have housed 1000 Roman soldiers. You can see its location on the map above. When the wall was constructed it incorporated the Northern and Western walls of the fort into it.

Here you will find the ruins of the church St Alphage. Similar to All Hallows On The Wall, the first mention of the church was in the early 12th century and it was built adjoining the wall.

The church fell into decay and at the turn of the 20th century was partly dismantled. It then was gutted during the Second World War. The remains of the 14th century tower with its ghostly arches are now grade ii listed.

The former churchyard is bounded on the North by a significant remaining section of Roman and medieval wall, exposed partly by Second World War bombs. The upper portion of the wall is thought to have been added during the Wars of the Roses, when London really was under threat.

On the map below you can see the church.

Cripplegate

The Barbican we know today; the post-war brutalist social housing estate, was of course named after the fort. The fort is also remembered in the names of the walkways such as ‘The Postern’ and ‘Bastion Highwalk’.

You will first come across the site of the Cripplegate: a gate added into the Northern wall of the Roman fort.

The name is thought to come from either; the old English word ‘crepel’, meaning a low passageway, or named for the ‘cripples’ who would beg for alms here. In the reign of Charles II (1660-1685) all the gates were wedged open and doors unhinged. From then on they provided more of a ceremonial entrance than a defensive one.

You will see the church of St Giles without Cripplegate , originally built in 1090 (also on the map above). The Church has a fascinating history: Oliver Cromwell was married here and John Milton is buried here. Pop in and have a look around if you get the chance!

The Barbican Walls And Tower

The wall you can see here is predominantly medieval. Make sure you look out for the remains of some of the towers that would have punctuated the wall. The lake is a brilliant reminder of the defensive moat/ditch that ran around the exterior of the wall.

The medieval tower at one end of the wall marks the North Western corner of the fort and wall. It became largely buried over the years and was only uncovered by bombs in the Second World War. It was fully revealed during the subsequent building of the Barbican estate.

In peacetime the towers were used for all sorts of purposes, with this one thought to have been occupied by hermits.

Museum of London Tower

I believe you now have to circle back round onto Wood Street and then along London Wall but there may be a quicker way! (The Barbican can be a bit of a maze).

Here you will see another tower, added in the 13th century to strengthen the defences of the Roman Wall. It became a house in peacetime with the arrow-slits acting as the windows.

Again, Blitz bombs revealed this tower after it had been essentially incorporated into, and obscured by, buildings since the 18th century.

Barber-Surgeon’s Hall Tower

Here you will see another defensive tower installed in the 13th century. It became incorporated into the Barber-Surgeons Hall in the 17th century.

It was heavily damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and again the Blitz when both the hall and tower were pretty much destroyed. The new Barber-Surgeons Hall on your right was built in 1969.

Carry on walking round to see the Barbican medieval tower from another angle.

Before heading over to Noble Street for the final impressive section of wall, you can head into the subterranean depths of the London Wall carpark. In bay 53 you will find, not a car, but another section of the wall! Be warned, it is a very long carpark…

Noble Street Wall and Aldersgate

Here is the final section of wall that is visible to us now. It also was uncovered by World War Two bombs and Roman sections can be seen at the bottom.

Towards the end you will see the remains of a sentry tower that would have been used to access the parapet of the wall.

At the end of this stretch, turn right and you will come across the site of Aldersgate. This gate was added in the later Roman period.

End: Newgate, Ludgate and Blackfriars

We will now follow the line of the wall down past the final 2 gates: Newgate and Ludgate. Both were similarly imposing gates with a double roadway and flanking guard towers. Newgate was used as a prison from at least the 12th century.

The name Ludgate is thought to probably derive from ‘flood gate’ or ‘Fleet gate’ as it led out to the, now buried, River Fleet . Alternatively it may come from ‘ludgeat’, meaning back gate. The statue of Queen Elizabeth I, on the outside of St Dunstan in the West on Fleet Street, used to be on the Ludgate. It was carved in her reign and is the only public statue of Elizabeth in London.

You can see a plaque denoting the site of the Ludgate on the side of St Martin Within Ludgate.

We finish the walk down by Blackfriars station. The Romans did also build a stretch that ran along the banks of the Thames in the late 3rd century but none of this remains to be seen today. It is thought that this was eroded and destroyed by the river in the subsequent centuries.

The Blackfriars Monastery, eventually dissolved in the 16th century under Henry VIII, was set up in 1278 outside the city walls. However, later on in the 13th century, the walls were moved westwards to incorporate the monastery.

So there we have it! I hope you enjoyed.

If you go on the walk, do let me know!

More London history walks and hidden gems below!

Five London Streets Named After Inspirational People

St Mary Woolnoth: One Of The City’s Most Striking Churches

If Walls Could Talk… A Look Inside The Old War Office

My Top Ten Historic Churches In London

A Visit To London’s New Roman Wall Museum

A Wonderful Day Trip To Historic Hastings

Share this:, 18 thoughts on “london’s roman wall: a self-guided walk”.

Thank you Jack! I enjoy your posts!

You are very welcome, I’m glad you are enjoying them!

Love your posts, so interesting. X

Hi Debbie, thanks so much! Really glad you’re enjoying them 🙂

Thank you so much-very interesting!

Another great post! It is getting hard to say which one is my favorite! Travelling around with this one! Thank you for sharing the pics and the maps!

Hi Priscila! Thank you, really pleased you liked it 🙂 it’s a fun walk!

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I have been researching our trip to London in June of this year and found you on Twitter. I have been reading all of your older posts and am so excited to discover that the hotel we are booked to stay in- The Leonardo Royal London City- is home to such a well-preserved bit of Roman wall. Wow! Thank you so much for your well researched and interesting posts; I’m finding so much to see when we are in town! I am also hoping to snag some spots on your Secrets of the City tour while we are in town. When will you be listing the walk dates for June 2023?

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We did it as a team activity last Week and we really enjoyed it.

Thanks for this. Your post really facilitated it for us.

That is great to hear thank you! Really pleased you enjoyed the walk. Best, Jack

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Roads to Rome

Self-guided walk.

The City of London is the oldest part of London, dating back to AD50. Roman invaders built a bridge over the River Thames - the only crossing into the City for 1700 years - and created a settlement around it, named Londinium. The new settlement was well placed on the river, and traders soon flocked to Londinium to buy and sell goods, making it an important commercial centre.

This walking trail explores Roman Londinium, taking in 13 sites along the way including some of the remains that are still visible today, and also provides the spark for you to imagine what the ancient settlement looked like. 

There are two ways you can follow this trail: half-way through you can choose to either take a short-cut to rejoin the trail nearer the end (taking approximately 90 minutes in total), or continue on for another hour to discover more of the City's most striking Roman remains.

• London's Roman Amphitheatre
• Billingsgate Roman House and Baths

Roman Ruins to Blitz Bombings: A Walking Tour of London's Fiery History

• Tower of London - Admission not included
• St. Dunstan in the East
• The Monument to the Great Fire of London - Admission not included
• The london stone
• Bank of England Museum - Admission not included
• Guildhall - Admission not included
• St. Paul's Cathedral - Admission not included
• St Bride's Church
• Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

How to get there?

38 Trinity Square

Select date and session

No booking fees

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5 of the Best London to Rome Tours

The zenith of cultural tourism, any journey from London to Rome is one of outstanding beauty and historical significance, passing through countless other world class destinations and bookended by two dazzlingly different capitals.

Amsterdam, one of the first stop offs for most London to Rome trips ( Courtesy Bookmundi )

All roads lead to Rome, as they used to say, which today is another way of expressing that when it comes to routes to choose on your way from London to the Eternal City, your options are eyewatering. Below we’ve listed both more meandering tours that strike out east, as well as some the shorter, more direct ones, which still can’t help passing through a breath-taking breadth of culture.

London to Rome Highlights A tour that doesn’t mess about. Reasonably priced and direct, this ten day journey nevertheless scales some of the highest peaks of European culture, places whose names alone are enough to inspire the most romantic of dreams: London, Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome. And because you’re travelling overland, there’s no shortage of stunning natural vistas to gaze on as well, from the White Cliffs of Dover to the vineyards of Burgundy and the Swiss Alps. Accommodation is modern and comfortable; what you’ll experience, unforgettable. From 1,407 euros

Book at Bookmundi

Trekking Through the Continent

London, still the biggest city in Western Europe ( Courtesy Bookmundi )

Taking a slightly more meandering approach, by pitching east out of London to head first to Amsterdam, this tour really highlights Europe’s extraordinary variety. From the multicultural buzz of Britain’s capital to the watery ordered beauty of the Dutch one, then down into the chic sophistication of Paris. As you head further south, so the culinary wonders really take hold as you head through French wine country and into Lyon, one of the undisputed gastronomic capitals of the world. Then, it’s back into the modern clean metropolises of Switzerland before settling into Italy’s baroque indulgence. You’ll find it hard to believe so much contrast can be fitted into such a short space and time. From 1,924 euros

Book at TourRadar

European Flair

Because as well as history and culture, Western Europe is also one of the great homes of luxury. Sumptuous is the byword for this journey, which makes its way even further east into the chocolate box elegance of Salzburg and Prague. An excellent year round trip this is even more evocative in winter, when the Christmas lights and markets shine. By the time you make Venice, you’ll feel like you’re drowning in honey, awed that Rome still awaits. From 3,456 euros

London to Rome Vistas

Paris, always a good idea ( Courtesy Bookmundi )

One for younger travellers, richer on time than on money. This twenty day trip is London to Rome the long way round and a real European starter pack. From the bars of Berlin to cruising on the Danube through Budapest to cycling through the natural beauty of the Austrian Tyrol, this is a journey of experience, one that will make you grow as an individual and might just make you see the world in a different way. And all while making friends for life, and having no small amount of late night fun. Accommodation is basic, though mostly avoids hostel dorms. From 2,931 euros

European Traveller

And here’s the one for people with a surplus of money over time, threading as straight a line as you can between the two capitals – with only a slight detour to go to Venice, because when in, or at least on your way to, Rome, why not? With slightly higher end accommodation, it’s a week that takes you through more than two thousand years of European history, from Big Ben to Saint Peter’s basilica with the Eiffel Tower, the Alps, and the Grand Canal in between. From 1,995 euros

Book at Trafalgar

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Walking tours gaining popularity in European cities, says travel company

Thursday, 25 Apr 2024

If you want to visit tourist sites on foot, Rome may be your best bet, as there are tons of historical sites like the Roman Forum that are within city limits. — AFP

When it published its latest guide, Lonely Planet highlighted the trend to visit tourist sites on foot or by bike, as optimal means for slowly voyaging through unknown regions and really taking the time to discover them. Of course, some destinations are more suitable for this kind of travel than others.

Locals know that if you’re cycling in Paris, France you can usually outpace the cars. But using your legs is also a good way to get around. While this type of vacation is feasible in the City of Light, it’s less the case in other major tourist destinations around the globe such as London, England unless you concentrate solely on the must-sees around Big Ben and Westminster (but that would be a shame!).

The slower pace of travel on foot is in fact an approach gaining ground, and not only among backpackers, as spotted by the Lonely Planet guide at the end of 2023. So-called “soft” travel, or travelling “on foot or by bike”, is truly in vogue. For instance, the Portuguese Way, which links Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela, was an unprecedented success last year, according to Lonely Planet.

For a city break all on foot, Spain offers the most opportunities, according to searches and bookings made on the Guruwalk platform, which organises free pedestrian tours worldwide, spotted by The DailyMail.

In this Top 100 list of the best destinations to explore without ever relying on the metro or bus, Spain appears 28 times!

It’s worth remembering that the methodology of ranking is based above all on popular walking tours.

Other popular Spanish cities for these types of visits include Seville (15th), Toledo (16th), Valencia (21st) and Granada (27th).

France is another option for visiting the sites by foot. There are seven possibilities, including Paris (11th), Bordeaux (47th), Strasbourg (51st), Toulouse (67th), Nice (81st), Marseille (82nd) and Lyon (95th).

However, it is Rome that really stands out as the most popular destination for a visit without any means of transport.

Meanwhile, the only United States city on the list is New York in the 53rd spot. – AFP Relaxnews

Related stories:

Tags / Keywords: Paris , Bordeaux , Walking Tours , Spain , Historical sites , Cycling , New York , France , Tourism , Rome

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