Roman London: Hidden Secrets of Londinium

Hidden beneath London’s bustling streets lies a world waiting to be discovered. On this new tour to Britain’s capital, we will uncover the often overlooked Roman ruins that lie concealed amongst towering skyscrapers, museums and galleries.

Overview

In 43 CE, Emperor Claudius launched a decisive military campaign to expand the Roman Empire and finally establish a permanent Roman province in the British Isles. ‘Londinium’, or Roman London, emerged as the capital of Roman Britain and, following its brief abandonment and destruction during the failed rebellion of Iceni queen Boudica, the city flourished as Britannia’s largest city and a central trade and commercial hub.

Beneath the soaring modern metropolis, London conceals a wealth of archaic remnants, often overlooked, embedded underneath the foundations of modern office blocks, churches and hotels, offering a tangible glimpse into Britannia’s ancient capital.

 
On this new tour, we will trace the parameters of the ancient fort and settlement, from segments of the wall at Vine Street and St Alphege to magnificent tessellated floors at St Brides Church, revealed after damage to the church from World War II, and All-Hallows-By-The-Tower, thought to have been the floor of a domestic home. Also at All-Hallows-By-The-Tower, we will marvel at a stunning model of Roman London, which showcases the principal layout of the ancient city.

 
Within the port of St Magnus-the-Martyr Church lie the remains of the Roman Wharf, a rare 2,000 year-old remnant of Londinium’s original riverbank, whilst St Michael’s Cornhill was built over the remains of the basilica from the 1st century CE. At St Mary Axe, widely known as ‘The Gherkin’, we will pay homage to the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Roman Girl’. Her memorial sits amidst the rush and hustle of London’s financial district, a silent tribute to one of the city’s earliest inhabitants.

While many remnants of Roman London are seamlessly embedded within the cityscape, we will also visit spaces dedicated to larger archaeological discoveries. At the captivating London Mithraeum, we will explore a Roman Temple and delve into the secrets of the mysterious cult of Mithras. Equally compelling, at the Guildhall Art Gallery, we can evoke the roar of the crowd while viewing the excavated remains of a Roman amphitheatre. We also hope to include a private visit to Billingsgate Roman House and Baths – home to some of the best-preserved ruins in London and the only accessible insight into a private domestic house from Londinium.

We will also explore the vast archaeological wealth of Londinium at the Bank of England Museum, which showcases numerous Roman artefacts discovered beneath the site, highlighting the luxurious life of the capital and its status as a commercial hub. Furthermore, we hope to include a private, after-hours visit to the Roman exhibitions at the British Museum to consider Roman London in the context of the greater Roman Empire and Romano-British identity.

Cost Details

Roman London: Hidden Secrets of Londinium