Housesteads Roman Fort

High on a dramatic ridge, Housesteads is the best preserved of all the Roman forts along Hadrian’s Wall. See excavated remains of all the different types of buildings within a typical fort on view – barracks, headquarters block, commander’s house, granaries, hospital, toilets and a complete circuit of walls.

Surrounding the Fort itself is a fascinating Roman military landscape including the civilian settlement, the temple area, parade ground, cultivated fields and Roman roads.

Hadrian’s Wall itself runs across the north side of the Fort from where there are dramatic views across the Northumberland landscape into ‘barbaricum’ – where the barbarians lived! It is easy here to feel you are truly on the edge of one of the greatest Empires the world has seen, with the might of Rome in evidence all around you.

The Museum is a short uphill walk from the car park, along a grass path. Here you can explore the story of the Fort and its garrison through dramatic film footage including reconstructions of the original Roman buildings. A fascinating collection of finds is on display including altars, jewellery, tools and weapons.

At one stage the Fort was garrisoned by troops from part of what is now Holland – they brought their own distinctive style of cooking pot with them! Younger visitors can meet Felix, a character of the Fort who will guide them around the Museum – they will also find the soldiers’ loo in the Fort – quite an insight to life 2,000 years ago.

New for 2013, the Housesteads Visitor Centre adjacent to the car park has undergone a major transformation, and now has improved visitor welcome, orientation and facilities. Outside you can find a large 3D map detailing the scale of the Fort and the surrounding Whin Sill escarpment, and a glazed seating area perfect to enjoy refreshments on a sunny day.

Inside there are improved shopping and refreshment facilities, and the new mezzanine level gives you the chance to enjoy stunning views and images over a cup of tea. Housesteads is owned and managed jointly by English Heritage and the National Trust.