Top North East England Archaeology Tours

2000 years ago this was a frontier, a place where two cultures collided. Your guide can happily weave a narrative from both the Roman perspective and the native perspective, providing both viewpoints. The Romans always intended to conquer Britain. Julius Caesar wrote about the riches of the British Isles... and also of giants and monsters. While Caesar made initial contact with the peoples of Britain, a full scale invasion would take another 90 years. Political turmoil in Rome was the catalyst for the new emperor, Claudius to bring his forces to the shores of Britain, changing the country forever.

Explore the hidden gems and iconic sites of beautiful Northumberland on this 2-hour guided walking tour. Learn about the rise and fall of one of Rome’s most famous constructions at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall. Discover why Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. See romantic moorland, sweeping coastlines and medieval villages. This tour brings the places you visit to life, by telling you the secrets tales and anecdotes that archaeologists usually keep to themselves. The tour is perfect for visitors who want to get off the beaten track to explore the history and culture of rugged Northumberland.

This is a self guided audio tour around the ruins of Housesteads Roman Fort, one of the original forts built along Hadrian's Wall. On this tour I will show you where soldiers and civilians lived, and explain how to understand the remains of the best-preserved Roman fort in Northumberland.

Hadrian’s Wall, the UNESCO world heritage site is the frontier of the Roman Empire. The frontier extended for 80 roman miles and covers many landscapes. Segedunum was the first fort on the wall, so why not visit it first? The fort is home to fantastic reconstructions of the Roman way of life - such as a section of the wall which can be viewed and walked along and a museum that brings the Roman world to life. You will be able to step into the Roman world and learn about this fantastic, ruthless but creative culture that conquered much of the known world. The fort was home to the mixed cavalry and infantry unit of troops from France- the fourth cohort of Lingones. It was their job to defend the river and to ensure that the frontiers wild Britons were policed. Your guide will explain and share the stories that the fort has and give you an insight into Roman life at the Northern frontier of the Empire. The tour can be booked at 10:00 am or 2 pm.

South Shields and Jarrow contain fantastic history from before the Romans and, today, are vibrant towns in the North East of England. On this tour, you’ll hear the story of the Roman Fort of Arbeia and the Anglo-Saxon story of the North East at Jarrow Hall. At Arbeia, you’ll discover the stories of soldiers and civilians alike – with dedications to Middle-Eastern traders, slaves and native Britons, all living together at this frontier. At Jarrow Hall, you’ll explore the story of the Germanic Anglo-Saxons through the museum dedicated to the Venerable Bede. Bede is arguably the greatest scholar of the Dark Ages, not only a monk, but also a teacher, scientist and historian in a time most believe to be violent, uneducated and unrecorded. Both sites have fantastic reconstructions of buildings from their periods, including a Roman gatehouse, barracks block and commanding officers’ house. What 3 Words starting location: ///rocky.move.wide

Visit World Heritage–listed Hadrian’s Wall during a 3-hour walking tour of Arbeia and Segedunum (aka Wallsend), two of the Roman forts at the east end of the wall. Both settlements are excellent reconstructions, and with a guide on hand you’ll gain specialized insight. This tour is ideal for history buffs who want to learn more about the frontier of the Roman Empire, all within close proximity to urban Newcastle.