Roman London self-guided walking tour

Nearly 2,000 years ago, London was a bustling Roman city called Londinium. But even today, you and your children can step back in time and discover fascinating remnants of this ancient past hidden throughout modern London. Let’s explore some of the best places to see Roman ruins and bring history and Londinium to life for your kids! This Roman London self-guided walking tour takes you on a route around London that takes in a number of Roman ruins and also takes you near a number of other London sights along the way.

Many of the Roman ruins on this walk are of the London Wall. The London Wall was constructed towards the end of the 2nd century AD and it enclosed a semi-circular area from the site of Tower Hill in the east, to Blackfriars in the west. The Wall was reinforced and repaired throughout the Roman and medieval periods, and bastions were added. The expansion of the city towards the end of the medieval period led to the decline of London Wall as a defensive feature.

Back in the 1980s the Museum of London devised The London Wall Walk that followed the original line of the Wall. Sites were marked by information panels. Many of these panels have disappeared over the years as a result of development and therefore whilst you can endeavour to follow the route, this may prove frustrating at times. The map is a useful indicator though of where the original London Wall ran (see below).

The walk we describe below will lead you to some (but not all) of the same sights as the Museum of London’s walk, but it also includes Roman ruins that aren’t just part of the wall. It is also more tourist-friendly as it takes you near or past some major London landmarks. Look out on your walk though for some of the blue and white information panels from the Museum of London’s walk.

History

The Romans founded Londinium around 50 AD. It quickly grew into an important port and trading centre. At its peak, Roman London had a population of about 60,000 people. The city boasted impressive structures like a forum (marketplace), amphitheatre, and even a massive fort. Londinium thrived for nearly 400 years before the Romans left Britain in the early 5th century.

Walk summary

Starting point: Moorgate Station

End point: Aldgate Station

Duration: The walk is around 5km and the walk itself should take around an hour. On top of this you should allow time to see the various sights en route. If you decide to undertake any of the side quests (i.e. something optional that you could choose to see that is on or nearby the walking route).

London landmarks you will see along the way: the Bank of England, Monument, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

Side quests: Barbican, St Paul’s Cathedral and St Dunstan in the East.

The route

Part 1 – Moorgate Station to Moorgate Ruins

Your starting point for this self-guided walk is Moorgate Station.

With your back to the new large entrance to Moorgate Station (pictured), turn right and head down Moorfields until you reach the main road. This is London Wall, so named because it runs along part of the course of the old Roman wall.

Turn right, walk straight until you pass under an overhead footbridge. Just past the overhead footbridge, turn right onto London Wall Place. With the ruins of the tower of the church of the medieval hospital of Elysing Spital on your left, walk straight and you should see a Minotaur sculpture on your left. Behind the Minotaur statue is a sunken garden – Salters’ Gardens. This is the first stop.

Salters’ Gardens are open to the public Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm (but you will be able to see into them outside these hours) and are owned by the Salters’ Company. The Salters’ Company has its origins in the salt trade of medieval London and it is one of the Great 12 Livery Companies. Livery Companies or Guilds were originally founded to protect the interests of various trades and their practitioners. They now exist in the City of London as charitable patrons and guardians of history as well as performing a role in the governance of the City.

The Southern boundary of the gardens is marked by the old London Wall.

If you look at the wall, you will note that the wall consists of a number of different types of materials. The Roman London Wall was originally built at the end of the 2nd century and this layer is at the base of the wall (below the present day street level). On top of that are repairs made in the Middle Ages. The brick section at the top is from a rebuilding during the War of the Roses (1455-1485).

Part 2 – Moorgate Ruins to Roman Bastion

From Salters’ Garden, head back to the Minotaur sculpture. Either head up the stairs or take the lift to St Alphage high walk.

Once up on the high walk the garden and Minotaur should be behind you.

SIDE QUEST At this point, you could choose to turn left and head into the Barbican to explore the Barbican. If you do, retrace your steps to this point and re-join the walk.

Turn right so that the Minotaur and garden are on your right hand side. At the fork in the highwalk, take a right turn.

In front of you to your left and below you there should be the ruins of the tower of the church of the medieval hospital of Elysing Spital.

Head straight on following the high walk. At the end of this section of the high walk, turn left which will take you into a covered section. With an entrance to the office building 125 London Wall on your right, turn right and you will head outside to another section of the high walk. The old Museum of London (currently shut as it is relocating) should be ahead of you.

To your right and below you, you should see another section of ruins.

This section of London Wall represents the north western corner of the Roman Cripplegate fort and includes the ruins and buried remains of the Roman and medieval Town Wall, the fort wall, two internal turrets and four bastions (a structure that projects outwards from a wall of a fortification). This is one of the bastions. The bastion is considered to be medieval construction over the remains of the Roman Wall. The external face of the bastion retains arrow slits within its fabric, whilst the interior is faced mainly with brick. Against the outer (north) face of the bastion is a stretch of medieval rubble core which has a 19th century brick arch inserted through it.

Part 3 – Roman Bastion to Roman Fort Ruins

From the bastion, keep heading in the same direction and you should see a footbridge up ahead that crosses the road. Cross this footbridge and head down the spiral staircase. As you exit the staircase, bear round to your right and you should be on Noble Street.

On Noble Street, just a stone’s throw away from St Paul’s Cathedral, the Roman Fort Ruins offer a fascinating glimpse into London’s ancient past. These well-preserved remains of the western gate of Londinium’s military fort date back to the late 2nd century AD.

These ruins include part of London Wall and part of the west side of Cripplegate fort. This section of ruins represents part of the western side of London Wall’s circuit and includes a section of Roman and medieval walling, approximately 80m in length, two internal turrets of Cripplegate fort, and the foundations of a bastion.

Walk down Noble Street along which there are various information boards.

SIDE QUEST At the bottom of Noble Street you could choose to continue straight on down Foster Street which will take you to St Paul’s Cathedral. If you do want to do this, after you have seen the Cathedral, retrace your steps to this point and re-join the walk.

Part 4 – Roman Fort Ruins to Roman Amphitheatre

At the bottom of Noble Street, turn left onto Gresham Street. Keep walking along Gresham Street until you come to the intersection with King Street. Turn left into Guildhall Yard.

Guildhall Yard is the location of the Guildhall Great Hall (home of the City of London Corporation, and has been the centre of City government since the Middle Ages) and Art Gallery.

In 1988, during excavations that were taking place in preparation for the Art Gallery building project, it was found that the capital’s only Roman amphitheatre was located in what is now Guildhall Yard. A black circle laid into the stone of the Yard now indicates where the amphitheatre stood.

You can also see the remains of the amphitheatre in the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery, in which you can stand where gladiatorial contests and public spectacles would have taken place. Opening hours are Monday to Sunday 10am to 5pm. (Last admission 4:45pm.)

Once you’ve passed through security to enter the Art Gallery, either turn left to take the lift down to the amphitheatre or go down the stairs just on the left hand side as you enter and you should see signs and a further staircase to take you down into the amphitheatre.

Part 5 – Roman Amphitheatre to Mithraeum

Leave the Guildhall Yard and head back out onto Gresham Street. Turn left and keep going until you reach a four way junction. Turn left onto Princes Street and head down to Bank junction (a big windowless concrete building will be on your left hand side – this is the Bank of England).

SIDE QUEST The Bank of England houses a small museum where you can learn more about the Bank and money. You can even touch a real gold bar! The entrance is on Bartholomew Lane. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm). If you do visit the museum, retrace your steps to this point and re-join the walk.

Bear round right onto Mansion House Street cross the road and head down Walbrook (the old City of London Magistrates’ Court should be on your right). Keep on straight and on your right after a new-looking entrance to Bank Station should be the London Mithraeum. Opening hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 6pm
Sundays 12pm – 5pm
Wednesday during term time 12.30pm – 6pm

Hidden beneath the bustling streets of modern London lies a remnant of the city’s ancient past – the London Mithraeum. Also known as the Temple of Mithras, this site offers families a unique opportunity to step back in time and explore one of Roman London’s most intriguing mysteries.

This Roman Temple was dedicated to the worship of Mithras. The mysterious cult of Mithras first appeared in Rome in the 1st century AD. It spread across the Empire over the next 300 years. This Temple was constructed around AD 240-250.

This structure is the only known Mithraeum from Roman London and one of only a handful discovered in Roman Britain. From the early 4th century it was probably dedicated to Bacchus until falling out of use in the late 4th century.

The Mithraeum was one of the most important and popular archaeological discoveries of the immediate post-War era. Now, the London Mithraeum at Bloomberg SPACE provides an immersive experience with its sound and lights, recreating the atmosphere of this mysterious ancient cult temple. The site also houses a display of over 600 Roman artefacts found during excavations at this location.

Part 6 – Mithraeum to Billingsgate Roman House and Baths

From the exit to the Mithraeum, turn right and continue heading down Walbrook until you reach the main road, Cannon Street. Turn left and walk along Cannon Street. After the first turning on your left (Salters Hall Ct) keep an eye out for the London Stone which is housed in an alcove in the wall of a building. Its origins are unknown, it may be Roman. It is surrounded by myths, one of which is that if it is ever moved the future of London would be in jeopardy.

Keep heading straight along Cannon Street until you need the junction with King William Street (the large street that then turns into London Bridge). Cross King William Street and turn right. You should then see Monument Street just ahead of you on the left. Turn down Monument Street. Ahead of you should be the Monument to the Great Fire of London.

SIDE QUEST You can climb the Monument if you wish (paid). Open daily from 09:30am – 1pm and 2pm-6pm. Last entry is at 12.30pm and 5.30pm.

Keep heading straight on along Monument Street. You’ll pass Pudding Lane – look out for a plaque that notes that it was the location where the Great Fire of London started. At the end of Monument Street you’ll reach a busy road, which is Lower Thames Street. Turn left onto Lower Thames Street.

Within a few minutes you should see Billingsgate Roman House and Baths on your left. Now located in the basement of an office block, Billingsgate Roman House and Baths are the remains of a Roman bath complex and associated building.

Roman bath houses were central to urban life in ancient Rome, serving as multifunctional spaces for relaxation, socialising, exercise, and hygiene. While primarily public, bath complexes were also found in private settings such as Roman villas and, less commonly, in town houses and commercial properties.

A typical bath complex consisted of several rooms with varying temperatures, each housing different types of baths. Visitors would progress from the frigidarium (cold room) through one or more tepidaria (warm rooms) to the caldaria (hot rooms). Additional facilities often included changing areas, toilets, saunas, massage rooms, and a palaestra for exercise.

Billingsgate Roman bath complex is one of the most significant Roman sites within the City of London. The monument is a rare example of surviving in-situ remains of a property with attached private baths within the Roman settlement of Londinium.

The design of the bath suite is unusual in that the arrangement required the bather to enter the complex through the heated rooms in order to reach the changing area in the frigidarium and then retrace their steps to use first the tepidarium and then the caldarium. It may have been due to an attempt to reuse part of an existing structure or to fit the bath into the internal area of the property.

Public tours take place on Saturdays between April and November, and advance booking is required. Tickets cost £12 per adult and £10 per child 14 years old or under (additional booking fee applies). But even if you don’t go inside, you can see some photos of the remains here, and outside you will find an image showing the layout of Londinium.

SIDE QUEST From here you are just minutes away from St Dunstan in the East, a public garden set within the ruins of a church that was bombed in the Second World War. It’s an ideal place to rest your feet for a short while if you need a break and is worth seeing as it shows some of the damage that was wrought on London during World War II. Just head up St Dunstan’s Hill and there are entrances on both sides of the old church. If you do visit St Dunstan in the East, retrace your steps to this point and re-join the walk.

Part 7 – Billingsgate Roman House and Baths to Tower Hill Roman Wall

With Billingsate Roman House and Baths behind you, cross the road at the traffic lights to your right and then turn right. Just past a pair of gates on your left should be Old Billingsgate Walk. Turn left here and walk down to the river.

NB. If you’re following the Google map route below, this will try and take you further along Lower Thames Street before turning. You’ll end up in the same place but it’s a longer route. Unfortunately Google doesn’t seem to recognise Old Billingsgate Walk as a possible option.

From here you should get a great view of Tower Bridge, the HMS Belfast and the Shard. It’s a good place for photos.

From here take the wooden walkway in the direction of Tower Bridge. Keep the river on your right.

Keep walking until you pass Coppa Club on your left and then you’ll be funnelled up left towards the Tower of London.

SIDE QUEST From here you could choose to visit the Tower of London (paid). Check website for opening hours.

Walk up the hill towards the ticket office. With the ticket office behind you and the Tower of London in front of you, head straight on and down the steps so you’re looking at the old moat. Turn left and follow the path, keeping the Tower of London and the moat on your right.

At the North side of the Tower of London you should encounter a foot bridge and the ruins of the Tower Hill Postern. This is not Roman but is instead a medieval stone gatehouse which is known to have been in existence in 1190, but which had collapsed by 1440.

Pass by the Postern and walk under the road overpass.

NB. If you’re following the Google map route below, ignore the fact that the route will try and take you on a little U-turn loop off to the right (a quirk of the map system seems to insist upon it but in reality it’s not necessary) just head straight on under the overpass.

Walk up the stairs in front of you. Halfway up the stairs you will find on your right an opening into a small square.

In the square you’ll find a statue and a section of the old London Wall.

The statue is believed to be the Roman Emperor Trajan.

The section of wall behind the statue is around 10.6 metres high. The original Roman wall would have originally been about 6 metres high. The remaining Roman section is today around 4.5 metres high and you can identify it as the part of the wall with flat red tiles running through it. These tiles would have added strength and stability. The top section of the wall dates from medieval times.

Part 8 – Tower Hill Roman Wall to Coopers’ Row Wall

From here, continue up the steps and turn left at the top. Keeping the Tower Hill Tube Station exit to your right, turn right around the corner and continue until you reach the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City. Walk through the covered walkway and you should see another section of wall ahead of you.

This section of wall is a continuation of London Wall and the section you saw behind the statue. As with the previous section, you will be able to see both the Roman part and later medieval additions. You can actually walk through this section and there are plaques on both sides of the wall the provide more information.

Part 9 – Coopers’ Row Wall to City Wall at Vine Street

From here, retrace your steps to the street and turn right. Head straight on and under the railway bridge. Turn right onto Crosswall and then take the first left onto Vine Street. Walk down Vine Street until you’re in the pedestrianised section and you should see a plaque on the left.

From this spot you will be able to view the section of City Wall and the remains of a bastion within the basement of the building.

If you want a closer look, you can get up close by pre-booking to see the City Wall at Vine Street. Entrance is free and entry times are from Monday to Sunday 9am – 6pm. They are closed Bank Holidays. The entrance can be found by walking round to Jewry Street (keep the building you’ve just looked in on your left).

This marks the end point of the self-guided walk!

Route

Have you done this walk and found somewhere cool along the way that others walking the route with kids should definitely see? Share in the comments!