Walk through modern London and it’s easy to forget that beneath the coffee shops and Tube stations lies a city built by Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. When the Romans arrived in AD 43, they didn’t just set up a trading post-they built a capital. Londinium became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain, with roads, baths, temples, and even a grand amphitheatre. Today, you don’t need a time machine to see it. The remains of Roman London are still here, waiting to be discovered-right under your feet.
The Roman Amphitheatre: Where Gladiators Fought
The most striking piece of Roman London isn’t a statue or a coin. It’s the amphitheatre. Located just steps from the Bank of England, this was the heart of public entertainment in Londinium. Built around AD 70, it could hold up to 10,000 people. That’s more than half the population of the entire city at the time.
Here, gladiators battled, criminals faced wild animals, and soldiers celebrated victories. Unlike the Colosseum in Rome, this one was made of timber and earth, later reinforced with stone. It wasn’t just for bloodsport-religious ceremonies, public trials, and even political rallies took place here.
Today, the amphitheatre is part of the Roman London Amphitheatre a partially reconstructed Roman amphitheatre in the City of London, originally built around AD 70 and rediscovered in 1988. You can walk down into the excavated arena, stand where spectators once sat, and look up at the original stone foundations. The site is free to visit, open daily, and surprisingly quiet-even in peak tourist season.
What Else Did the Romans Leave Behind?
The amphitheatre isn’t the only relic. Roman London was a bustling city with infrastructure that still influences the modern layout. The original Roman road, Watling Street, runs right through today’s London. It’s now part of the A5, but if you walk from St. Paul’s to Ludgate Hill, you’re following the same path a Roman merchant took in the 2nd century.
Remains of the Roman Wall a defensive structure built around Londinium in the late 2nd century AD, parts of which still stand in the City of London are visible in several places. Near Tower Hill, you can see a 12-foot-high section of the original stone wall. It’s not the grand fortifications of Hadrian’s Wall, but it’s real-built by Roman laborers, cracked by time, and still standing.
Under the Guildhall, archaeologists uncovered the Roman Basilica a large public building in Roman Londinium, used for commerce and legal proceedings, whose foundations were discovered beneath the modern Guildhall. It was the administrative center of the city-think city hall, courthouse, and marketplace rolled into one. Only the foundations remain, but they stretch over 100 meters long. You can see them during guided tours of the Guildhall Art Gallery.
And don’t miss the Roman Baths public bathing complex discovered in 1954 beneath the London Mithraeum, part of the Roman religious and social infrastructure beneath the London Mithraeum. These weren’t just for washing-they were social hubs. Men gathered here to talk politics, trade gossip, and relax after work. The bathhouse was heated by a hypocaust system, the same one used in Pompeii.
The London Mithraeum: Temple of a Secret God
One of the most haunting Roman sites in London is the London Mithraeum a temple dedicated to the god Mithras, discovered in 1954 and rebuilt on its original site in 2010. Discovered in 1954 during post-war construction, it was moved to make way for a new office block. In 2010, it was painstakingly returned to its original location, reconstructed with the same stones and orientation.
Mithras was a mystery god-his cult was only open to men, and rituals were held in total darkness. The temple was built underground, like a cave, to mimic the myth of Mithras slaying a bull in a cavern. Inside, you’ll find replicas of the original statues, altars, and the sacred bull relief. The lighting is dim, the air cool, and the silence eerie. It’s the closest you’ll get to stepping into a Roman secret society.
Where to See the Best Roman Artifacts
Most Roman objects found in London aren’t on display where they were found. They’re in museums. The Museum of London a major museum housing the largest collection of Roman artifacts from Londinium, including the London Wall, pottery, and the famous London Stone has the best collection. You’ll see Roman helmets, jewelry, coins, and even a wooden writing tablet with a shopping list from AD 80.
The London Stone a mysterious limestone block in the City of London, possibly a Roman milestone or ceremonial object, referenced in medieval legends is another must-see. It’s not much to look at-a chunk of limestone behind glass on Cannon Street-but it’s been here since Roman times. Medieval writers claimed it was the center of Britain. Some say it was a Roman milestone. Others think it was a religious object. No one knows for sure. That’s part of its power.
At the British Museum a world-class museum with a significant collection of Roman artifacts from Britain, including inscriptions, statues, and everyday objects from Londinium, you’ll find larger pieces: a statue of Minerva, a Roman altar dedicated to Jupiter, and a beautifully preserved mosaic from a Roman villa. But for context, the Museum of London tells the full story of Londinium-how people lived, worked, and died here.
How to Plan Your Visit
Here’s how to see it all without getting lost:
- Start at the Roman Amphitheatre-it’s free, open daily, and right next to the Bank of England. Spend 30 minutes walking the arena.
- Walk 10 minutes to the London Mithraeum. Book a free timed ticket online in advance. The experience lasts about 45 minutes.
- Head to the Museum of London (just across the street). Their Roman galleries are excellent. Don’t miss the writing tablet and the London Stone display.
- Take a 15-minute walk to the London Wall remains near Tower Hill. You can see the stones up close and even walk along a section.
- End at the Guildhall Art Gallery. The Roman Basilica foundations are visible in the basement, and the gallery itself has a great collection of Roman pottery.
Most sites are within a 1-mile radius. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a water bottle. And don’t rush. Roman London isn’t about grand monuments-it’s about quiet moments of connection. Standing where a Roman soldier once stood, or tracing the same path a merchant took to sell fish from the Thames.
Why This Matters Today
These ruins aren’t just old stones. They’re proof that London has always been a city of people-traders, soldiers, slaves, and settlers-building something new on top of what came before. The Romans didn’t just conquer Britain. They made it part of a vast empire. And their legacy isn’t in textbooks. It’s in the street layout, the building materials, and the way we still gather in public spaces.
When you visit the amphitheatre, you’re not just seeing ruins. You’re standing where people laughed, screamed, and cried 1,900 years ago. That’s the magic of Roman London. It’s not about grandeur. It’s about humanity.
Is the Roman Amphitheatre in London open to the public?
Yes, the Roman Amphitheatre in London is free and open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No tickets are required. It’s located beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery and is accessible via a short staircase. The site is small but well-preserved, with clear signage explaining what you’re seeing.
How old is the Roman amphitheatre in London?
The amphitheatre was built around AD 70, making it nearly 1,950 years old. It was used for over 300 years before falling into disuse after the Romans left Britain in the early 5th century. It was buried under layers of soil and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1988 during construction work.
Can you visit the Roman Wall in London?
Yes, several sections of the Roman Wall still stand. The most visible part is near Tower Hill, where you can see 12-foot-tall stone blocks. Other fragments are embedded in later buildings along London Wall Road and near the Museum of London. These aren’t full walls-they’re fragments-but they’re original Roman stonework from the late 2nd century AD.
What’s the difference between the London Mithraeum and the Roman Amphitheatre?
The amphitheatre was a public venue for entertainment-gladiator fights, animal hunts, and public events. The Mithraeum was a private religious temple for a secretive cult that worshipped the god Mithras. Only men could join, and rituals happened in darkness. One was loud and crowded; the other was quiet and sacred.
Are there any Roman artifacts you can touch?
No, original Roman artifacts are preserved behind glass in museums like the Museum of London and the British Museum. But at the amphitheatre and Mithraeum, you can walk on the original stone foundations and touch the same walls Romans walked on nearly two millennia ago. The stones themselves are the artifacts.
Is it worth visiting Roman London if you’re not a history buff?
Absolutely. You don’t need to know the names of emperors to feel something here. The amphitheatre’s empty seats, the eerie silence of the Mithraeum, the mystery of the London Stone-they all create a powerful sense of time. It’s like walking through a forgotten chapter of your own city. Most visitors say it changes how they see London forever.
Next Steps for Explorers
If you’ve seen the amphitheatre and the Mithraeum and want more, here’s what to do next:
- Take a guided walk with London Walks-they offer a dedicated Roman London tour that covers hidden sites most tourists miss.
- Visit the Thames foreshore at low tide. Metal detectors have found Roman coins and pottery along the riverbank. (Always check tide times and get permission before digging.)
- Read London: A Biography by Peter Ackroyd. It’s not a textbook-it’s a story of the city’s soul, and the Romans are its first chapter.
- Go back at night. The amphitheatre is lit softly after dark. No crowds. Just you and 2,000 years of history.
Roman London isn’t a museum exhibit. It’s alive. And if you listen closely, you can still hear it breathing beneath the city’s noise.