1600 years ago, a Roman arena dominated the city of Londinium, where the City Guildhall now stands. Here, Roman Britons could watch the hunting of wild beasts, criminal executions, and bloody gladiatorial combat. Each summer, we recreate this spectacle in the Guildhall yard, on the site of the ancient Roman arena. Watch the film to find out more about London's gory gladiatorial history.
We recreated the glamour and gore of the Roman gladiatorial arena from 25-29 August 2017, with our Gladiator Games festival. Visitors watched a staged performance by a troupe of gladiators, cheered to keep their favourite alive, and enjoyed a festival of Roman culture in the Guildhall Yard.
