Museum of London - London Wall

What was life like in Roman London?

Londinium (Roman London) was founded in about AD50 and soon became the centre of administration for the province of Britannia. The population was a mix of civilians, families, soldiers, sailors, workers and slaves. Many of them were from all parts of the Roman Empire, but the majority were native Britons.

Daily life in Roman London was hard. Most Roman Londoners had to work long hours to make a living, rising at dawn and stopping only for a lunchtime snack. They worked a seven-day week, but there were numerous festivals and feast days in honour of the gods, which enabled them to have a break.

So, although the workers lived and worked in small cramped houses and workshops, they also knew how to enjoy themselves and would go to the baths and taverns or seek entertainment at the amphitheatre.

Roman London was finally abandoned in AD410.

1. Introduction (this page)
2. Who lived in Roman London?
3. What was it like to live in Roman London?
4. What was family life like?
5. What sort of jobs did Roman Londoners have?
6. What did Roman Londoners believe in?
7. Further information

Download 'What was life like in Roman London?'' (PDF, 273KB)