Aspects of London's History

Aspects of London's HistoryAspects of London's HistoryAspects of London's History
  • Home
  • London through the ages
    • Roman Londinium AD47-410
    • Medieval London
    • Tudor & Stuart London
    • Georgian London
    • Victorian London
  • Themes
    • A few funky facts
    • Songs of London
    • A few of London's artists
    • Books about London
    • Museums in London
    • London Blogs & Podcasts
  • Walks
    • London Guided Walks
    • A 1600s to 1800s wander
    • The Great Plague 1665
    • The Great Fire 1666
    • The 17th century city
    • A Shakespearean Walk
    • A Samuel Pepys Walk
    • A Covent Garden Walk
    • A Roman Londinium Walk
    • Sherlock Holmes' London
    • A London Materials Walk
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • London through the ages
      • Roman Londinium AD47-410
      • Medieval London
      • Tudor & Stuart London
      • Georgian London
      • Victorian London
    • Themes
      • A few funky facts
      • Songs of London
      • A few of London's artists
      • Books about London
      • Museums in London
      • London Blogs & Podcasts
    • Walks
      • London Guided Walks
      • A 1600s to 1800s wander
      • The Great Plague 1665
      • The Great Fire 1666
      • The 17th century city
      • A Shakespearean Walk
      • A Samuel Pepys Walk
      • A Covent Garden Walk
      • A Roman Londinium Walk
      • Sherlock Holmes' London
      • A London Materials Walk
    • Contact

Aspects of London's History

Aspects of London's HistoryAspects of London's HistoryAspects of London's History
  • Home
  • London through the ages
    • Roman Londinium AD47-410
    • Medieval London
    • Tudor & Stuart London
    • Georgian London
    • Victorian London
  • Themes
    • A few funky facts
    • Songs of London
    • A few of London's artists
    • Books about London
    • Museums in London
    • London Blogs & Podcasts
  • Walks
    • London Guided Walks
    • A 1600s to 1800s wander
    • The Great Plague 1665
    • The Great Fire 1666
    • The 17th century city
    • A Shakespearean Walk
    • A Samuel Pepys Walk
    • A Covent Garden Walk
    • A Roman Londinium Walk
    • Sherlock Holmes' London
    • A London Materials Walk
  • Contact

ROMAN LONDINIUM (AD47-410)

A 1-minute summary

The Romans implemented many good practices for urban development around the world, including the groundwork to what we know today as London.


It is generally agreed that at around AD50, the Romans created a city next to the Thames and called it Londinium. For some 350 years it this was the largest city in Britannia, and a vital international port. 

Londinium was established as a civilian town by the Romans about four years after the invasion of AD43. As was the case with Rome, the city was founded on the point of a river where it was narrow enough to build a bridge. The strategic location of the city provided easy access to Europe. 


Early Roman Londinium was a relatively small area, about the size of Hyde Park. In around AD60, it was destroyed by the Iceni tribe, led by their queen, Boudica (the Romans would have their revenge later). The city was quickly rebuilt as a planned Roman town and recovered after perhaps 10 years; the city grew rapidly over the following decades. 


By around AD120, it is estimated that Londinium had a population of some 45,000 people. However, it would be abandoned by the Romans in the 5th century and it would take some time to see the city revived.


Brief information for a Londinium Walk is available on this Walk details webpage.

Explore some useful links

A Roman Forum is found

Where to see Roman Londinium

Where to see Roman Londinium

A discovery underneath the basement of an office block is an important part of Roman history in the City of London...

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Where to see Roman Londinium

Where to see Roman Londinium

Where to see Roman Londinium

The Londonist provides some fine advice on where to see different aspects of Roman Londinium...

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London Mithraem

Where to see Roman Londinium

More visiting points

The free to visit London Mithraeum Bloomberg Space shows aspects of the Roman Temple of Mithras discovered in the City...

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More visiting points

On The Encyclopedia Britannica

More visiting points

Scroll through this article on My London to uncover more places to visit...


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Advice from the Time Out team

On The Encyclopedia Britannica

On The Encyclopedia Britannica

The team at Time Out also provide some suggestions of where to find traces of historical London Roman life...

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On The Encyclopedia Britannica

On The Encyclopedia Britannica

On The Encyclopedia Britannica

Learn about London's early origins through the Britannica website...


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How London became the capital

This piece from The Independent newspaper describes findings from the Museum of London Archaeology team in 2020...

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From the team at Wikipedia

It's always useful to consult Wikipedia for facts and information...


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Explore on foot

Sign up to a great London Walk

Sign up to a great London Walk

Sign up to a great London Walk

The team at London Walks are renowned for the excellence of their walking tours, with highly knowledgeable guides...

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Visit the British Museum

Sign up to a great London Walk

Sign up to a great London Walk

Noting that the Museum of London's Smithfield site will open in 2026, why not visit the British Museum in the meantime...

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The Strand Lane Roman Baths

Sign up to a great London Walk

The Strand Lane Roman Baths

The baths are managed for the National Trust by Westminster Council. To view them,  an appointment is required...

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