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Museum of London
Permanent galleries

Roman London

AD 50-410

Discover how Londinium came to life and what daily life was like in the city 2000 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.

  • At 19, Claudia Martina is Roman Britain’s youngest recorded wife. Her tombstone suggests her husband spared no expense – even though he was a slave working for the local government.
  • 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!
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  • Looking from the gallery over the remains of London’s wall you are looking at a mix of Roman, medieval and Victorian building. Here you are outside of Roman London, looking in to what was once the fort and later part of the city wall. 2000 years ago who might have been looking back?
  • Bucklersbury Mosaic, AD 250
  • This model shows how the Romans built the first bridge across the River Thames, where London Bridge now stands.
  • 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 Walbrork River for 100 years. Ulpius Silvanus set up a dedication in the temple that showed Mithras slaying the bull whose blood brought eternal life.
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  • This inscription is the first written record to use the word ‘Londoners’.

Not to be missed on your visit

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Gallery access

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

10am-5.40pm

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

Entry is free, no ticket required.

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Revealing the Past

See how our conservators work to save and restore archaeological objects

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Dr. Rebecca Redfern installs a skeleton to the Written in Bone display.

Meet Roman Londoners

Learn about research at the Museum of London which reveals the inhabitants of Londinium.

Discover our Londoners