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Discover England's history with these Roman Routes

Why not embark on a journey through the rich history of Roman England via ancient roads that were laid almost 2,000 years ago, providing a glimpse into a wealth of historic sites along the way? Many of these old thoroughfares can still be traced today, creating unique road trips to pique the interest of any history buff.

The Romans ruled England for almost four hundred years and paved more than 3,000 kilometres of roads, connecting formative settlements and impressive fortresses. Most of the original roads have been overlaid and altered over the centuries, but there are still certain routes where you can retrace ancient footsteps for an authentic Roman journey. From the famous Ermine Street linking London and York, to Fosse Way, the longest route leading from Exeter to Lincoln, these roads connect towns and cities with a rich Roman heritage – great if you’re wanting to delve into England’s unique and colourful history.

1

Ermine Street

Bishopsgate, London

A road in Lincoln, leading to the historic Lincoln Cathedral.

Length: 311 km (London to York)

Ermine Street, connecting London to York, was one of the major Roman routes through England, and remains a key route in modern times. To retrace this Roman journey, start at Bishopsgate. Here, parts of the original road can be found in the now very trendy neighbourhoods of East London, including Shoreditch and Stoke Newington.

Moving north from the capital, Ermine Street largely follows the modern-day A10 and sections of the A1, a route that passes important Roman towns and cities, including Royston, Godmanchester and Lincoln. If you’re dreaming of exploring the charms of the cathedral city of Lincoln, add historic sites such as the Newport Arch of Roman North Gate, Lincoln Castle, and the Medieval Bishop’s Palace to your century-spanning itinerary.

Continue the ancient route to its finishing line at York, before marvelling at York Minster, a site that has been admired since the 7th century, or stepping into the sights, sounds and smells of Viking-age York at the Jorvik Viking Centre.

2

The Fosse Way

Exeter

The Roman Baths in Bath, England.

Length: 370km (Exeter to Lincoln)

For a lengthy Roman road trip across England, dream of driving the longest remaining Roman road, the Fosse Way. Built to connect Exeter to Lincoln, it is possible to drive almost end to end on (what were once) the original Roman roads, passing a selection of spectacular scenery and historic sites along the way…

Exeter, a gem of the southwest, is the Fosse Way’s starting point. Begin your history-themed road trip by exploring Exeter Cathedral and the city’s medieval underground passes, or by following the city wall trail - parts of the wall are almost 2,000 years old.

Next on this route, Bath boasts several historic attractions that no Roman road trip should be without. Brimming with places to explore, dream of tracing historic footsteps through the Roman Baths, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world. Another ancient settlement stop-off is the Cotswold town of Cirencester, a spot that makes dreaming of visiting a Roman amphitheatre a reality. Delve further into English history at the nearby Rodmarton Manor, a great historic house and garden of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Before finishing in the Midlands’ city of Lincoln, this route passes Leicester, a city bursting with centuries of heritage. An itinerary here could include seeing the imposing spire of Leicester Cathedral or the 14th century timber-beamed Guildhall, once a police station and now a museum.  Leicester is also home to the archaeological gem of Grey Friars, a former medieval priory and final resting place of a royal – a story told in great detail at the King Richard III Visitor Centre.

3

Ermin Way

Gloucester

Length: 77km (Gloucester to Silchester)

If you’d prefer a shorter Roman adventure, take a road trip along Ermin Way. Start your trip from Gloucester (known for its ancient waterways and Roman origins), and head along this well-trodden path is the town of Cirencester, often referred to as the capital of the Cotswolds. Once a bustling Roman settlement, it later featured in the Domesday Book and is home to an authentic ancient amphitheatre, as well as a sea of fascinating Roman artefacts housed in the Corinium Museum.

This route then comes to the Hampshire village of Silchester, where you can explore original Roman city walls, as well as the nearby amphitheatre.

4

Watling Street

Dover

Historic timber-frame buildings in the City of Chester, England.

Length: 444km (Dover to Wroxeter)

First used by ancient settlers to travel between the key settlements of Canterbury and St Albans, and later connecting Dover with Wroxeter, in Shropshire, this route travels through modern day Westminster and can be followed via the A2 and A5 roads.

If you’re dreaming of exploring this ancient thoroughfare from start to finish, you can look forward to marvelling at the coastal town of Dover. Its breath-taking white cliffs have acted as a symbol of arrival in England for many centuries, while the imposing 12th century Dover Castle has helped to shape history since its construction, having fended off invaders in medieval times and having played a pivotal role in both World Wars.

The Roman road then leads to the historic cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canterbury. The city offers a plethora of attractions that span the centuries; from the splendour of Canterbury Cathedral to the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey and the Roman Museum.

Once in London, seek out a section of the road that still exists, close to Mansion House Underground station, and visit London's Roman Amphitheatre. Here, it’s easy to close your eyes and visualise the capital as Londinium, a major commercial hub during the Roman era.

Formerly the fourth largest city in Roman Britain, Wroxeter traditionally marks the end of this historic route. And never is the Roman era easier to imagine than when exploring Wroxeter Roman City, where you can walk through the remains of a Roman bathhouse and experience a reconstructed town house from 2,000 years ago.

A spur route of Watling Street continued to the walled city of Chester, where you can retrace Roman footsteps under the Eastgate and Eastgate Clock, which stands on the original entrance to what was the Roman fortress of Deva Victrix. Other unmissable historic places to plan into a Roman-themed itinerary include the family-friendly Dewa Roman Experience, Chester Cathedral and the largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain.

19 May 2021(last updated)

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  • 1

    Bishopsgate, London

  • 2

    Exeter

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    Gloucester

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    Dover

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