London Before London

450,000 BC – AD 50

Medieval London

410-1558

Roman London

AD 50-410

Discover how Londinium came to life and what daily life was like for Romans in the city 2,000 years ago

The Romans built the city where London now stands, bridging the Thames and creating Londinium. From around AD 50 to 410, this was the largest city in Britannia and a vital international port.

Not to be missed on your visit

View slideshow

Tombstone of Claudia Martina, Roman Britain’s youngest recorded wife.

Tombstone to Claudia Martina, AD 150-200

At 19, Claudia Martina is Roman Britain’s youngest recorded wife. Her husband spared no expense on her tomb – even though he was a slave working for the local government.

Roman tile with a name scratched into the surface.

Austalis tile, AD 50-410

Working in a local brickyard, Austalis left his name scratched in to one of the bricks. Read what one of his co-workers added afterwards to see what they thought of him!

Carved orange gemstone showing a Roman warship, rowed by four marines.

Carved intaglio jewel, 3rd century AD

This carved gemstone shows a Roman warship, being rowed by four marines. Somehow, this precious object ended up in the river Thames, and was found buried in the foreshore.

Hoard of 43 Roman gold coins dating AD65-147

This hoard of golden coins was buried sometime in the 3rd century, probably to keep it safe from thieves. The owner never retrieved the hoard, and it was discovered in 2000.

View from outside Roman London looking into what was once the fort and later part of the city wall.

View of the wall, AD 120-1900

From the gallery you can view what remains of London’s city wall, a mix of Roman, medieval and Victorian building. 2000 years ago, this was a fort guarding the edge of the city.

A tessellated Roman pavement. The design of red, white, yellow, black and green tesserae is surrounded by a plain red border.

Bucklersbury Mosaic, AD 250

This mosaic caused a sensation when it was discovered in Queen Victoria Street in 1869. Over the three days before it was removed from the ground 50,000 visitors came to see it.

A model of the first bridge across the River Thames, where London Bridge now stands.

Londinium Bridge

This model shows how the Romans built the first bridge across the River Thames, where London Bridge now stands.

A statue from the temple of Mithras showing Mithras plunging his dagger into the neck of a bull.

Temple of Mithras, AD 240-410

The discovery of a Temple to Mithras in 1954 was a London sensation. This men-only mystery cult worshipped in a building on the banks of the Walbrook River for 100 years.

The head and shoulders of a stone statue of a Roman soldier.

Stone figure of a soldier, 1st - 2nd century

This statue represents one of the Roman legionary soldiers who occupied Britain from AD 43. After the Romans departed, it was re-used as building material for a Saxon house.

A stone table showing the first written record to use the word ‘Londoners’.

Londiniensi inscription, AD 160-170

This inscription is the first written record to use the word ‘Londoners’.

Gallery access

The gallery is open during the museum's normal hours:

10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday)

The gallery is on the entrance floor and can be accessed by lift.

Free entry, timed ticket

Roman London also of interest

Enclosed boot from London, c.75-125 AD: 20004

These boots were made for Romans

What can we learn from these important finds?

Find out more

Roman London family walk

Walk the streets of old Londinium from the lost fort to the hidden amphitheatre.

Book now

School workshops

We offer a range of interactive sessions for schools to help students learn about the Romans.

Book a school visit

Discover London Through History

London Eats: Collecting Londoners’ relationship with food and drink

Black & British: A Fashionable Windrush Story

Conservation en pointe: The treatment and mounting of Anna Pavlova’s Dying Swan costume

Taking London reggae to Asia

Reach every London schoolchild

Celebrate the London collection

A new museum for London