Where to find London's Roman Wall (The Walk and the Hidden Bits!)

London was once surrounded by a 20ft high wall, built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans.
Amazingly, large chunks of it remain. Some are obvious - like right outside Tower Hill Tube Station. However there are also hidden sections which most people don't know about - like the piece under an office by St Paul's, or in a car park!
In this video I'm tracing the visible remains of London's Roman Wall from Tower Hill to Ludgate, sharing the best places to find this incredible bit of history.
You can can follow the route on the google map here; www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edi...
IMAGE CREDITS:
Roman London Graphic - Wikimedia Creative Commons
Inside All Hallows London Wall - John Conroy / Geograph
Bank of America Roman Wall - David Farrell
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[@joannafitzpatrick88]

We are so lucky like you said that we still have some of these walls remaining, if only walls could talk.

[@LookUpLondon]

Oh man, if only! Yes the more you look for the pieces them more you realise there is left!

[@Kerri6024]

OMG the remnant of Roman wall in car bay 52 in a city parking lot - that just blew my mind LOVE the Brits commitment to maintaining this history. We Aussies (such parvenous though, sheesh ... we're kids compared to the Brits) we'd have bulldozed it and that's that. Onya!

[@user-ng8lx3rz2w]

I can’t stop watching all your videos, how interesting is this city with all your thorough insight ❤

[@unimatrix501]

I love your video i took a pic with that statue of trajan one thing i noticed with my pics then and your now is the wall back then was longer it was close to the roadway but looked like construction was going on as someone drilled a big hole into the wall i took home a small piece that was on the ground. Upset that anyone would destroy something so rare. Thank you for the video!

[@GetDarker]

Not sure why I’m so fascinated about the part you mentioned the ‘only surviving blitz bomb site in London’. That has wow’d me more than it should. Great video!

[@LookUpLondon]

Thanks! Probably in the City of London, but sure there's more. It's unusual to see 'wasted' space with no development right?!

[@elguapo42]

This makes me want to visit London

[@TheSpikehere]

The bulk of the ragstone was quarried just south of Maidstone which then was a tiny settlement. When my late father was a teenager there was a cider house on the site. The owner turned a blind eye to the licensing laws, so it was a popular place to drink on a Saturday afternoon.

[@colleennobbs7218]

Thank you for this video. I am an Anglophile but haven’t visited….yet. Armchair travel works until then. 😊

[@Stone_on_Nat_Sec]

This was a very interesting video. What amazing history!

[@lynnesullivan49]

I especially love your videos about much older periods of London's history and architecture. Thanks for sharing!

[@LookUpLondon]

You’re welcome Lynne! Yes the older stuff is just mind-blowing to think it’s survived this long!

[@ChicagoMovieTours]

The car parking garage!! 😮😮😮 Thanks, Katie!

[@LookUpLondon]

Ha! I know right? So bonkers!

[@ThatRomyKate]

I’m saving all these places on my google maps for when I can go back to London and find them. Am so missing exploring the city!

[@LookUpLondon]

Thanks Romy, If you're after more sights of interest I have a bespoke google map on my blog with 100+ points of interest. Should keep you busy! You can read more here; lookup.london/blog/

[@theoldbuilding4818]

It’s so good that so much still exists when you think of the bombing and redevelopment. Great video

[@LookUpLondon]

My thoughts exactly and it's funny about the bomb damage catch-22 isn't it? Same thing with various crypts of City churches, we only discovered their earlier history because of terrible bomb damage!

[@williamkelly9859]

Im delighted to have come across your site.wonderful information and fascinating . I'll be visiting some of the places featured.london provides endless interest.thank you.

[@kenmannagh7788]

Excellently informative and so interesting , thankyou for that 😊

[@despazapryanova3811]

One of my favourite walks, really like the part around Barbican and Salters gardens especially during spring with the blooming trees and plants around.

[@LookUpLondon]

Absolutely, the City has so many small (but perfectly formed!) gardens

[@denisef2845]

This was fantastic! I didn’t know about any of that. Thank you for doing these!

[@LookUpLondon]

You're welcome Denise, there's so much hiding underground isn't there? Incredible to think of it all built up over time!

[@charlesperez9976]

I will be in London in late September to mudlark,but in between low tides,I need to see these Roman walls!!!! Especially the one in the car park,that’s shocking. In 2016,I walked the entire length of Hadrian’s wall,it was incredible!!

[@zonabrown9241]

Im very interested in Roman history thx for this video I recently found you

[@menhirjp9319]

Oh! Wonder! and good information. I'll visit from JAPAN Thank you

[@calamitysi]

Fantastic video! Thanks so much!

[@davidseetvsierra123]

I'm a little half way through the video. I can tell you, it is really fantastic. I enjoy the way you've explained the tour! I've been reading Dan Cruickshank's book on Cruickshank's London: A Portrait of a City in 13 Walks, and I'm at the Roman Wall Chapter. You've just brought this chapter to life! I've subscribed, and look forward to other informative videos like this one! Thank you for getting us a little bit closer to London.

[@LookUpLondon]

HI David, so sorry for not replying sooner and really thrilled you enjoyed the video. I have that book too and love it! Highly recommend his other books on Soho and Spitalfields too :)

[@paullokre7630]

Love this thank you !

[@judithbarnett2966]

I would love to walk the wall one day so thanks for this. How hilarious to have a tiny piece in the wall of the tube station AND under a bank!!

[@LookUpLondon]

It's a nice route (although lots of construction on the Eastern side at the moment) and very short and doable!

[@virtualassistant4670]

Brilliant thank you

[@50025600]

Your channel is a gem!

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you! That's so kind of you to say!

[@gabrielaroca8366]

Incredibly interesting as always! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you Gabriela :)

[@shaffar100]

Loving your videos Katie. Would love to come and do a tour one day when you’re up and running again

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you! We await an update from 22 February so hopefully after that I'll have an idea of when I can start the outdoor walks again :)

[@shaffar100]

@@LookUpLondon awesome I’ll keep an eye out. have you got any videos/tours planned about old historical pubs? That would be really cool. I love the Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street x

[@valerievalise]

Great video! I have a blog post all about walking the London Wall and knew most of these, but I can't wait to book an appointment for that one inside the bank on my next visit.

[@LookUpLondon]

Thanks Valerie, that's the classic thing about London, there's always something new, even when you think you know a spot!

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

This incredible. I look forward to visiting again. I was in a church that preserved some Roman walls in the foundation. I can’t recall which one that it was as it was 25 years ago.

[@Paseosguiados]

Thank you!!

[@jillwallace5866]

Again Katie, a brilliant video in your youtube series. This time about the Roman wall and I had no idea about the visible piece in the Tower Hill tube station! Thank you so much. Am looking forward to series 6 of Look Up London virtual tours....Best wishes Jill W

[@LookUpLondon]

Thanks Jill! I'm putting together the long list for series six at the moment so hoping to email out options in the next newsletter :) So glad learnt something new from the video, in Tower Hill Station you really could blink and miss it!

[@studogable]

On the other side of the Tower Hill Wall is a children's playground. Very poetic demonstration of how life continues to flourish in the shadow of the ancient.

[@LookUpLondon]

Such a good point! It’s so nice to see people playing there

[@alexball5907]

These have all been great. Thanks for putting them up.

[@LookUpLondon]

Thanks Alex!

[@cindyjewett603]

Always fantastic and interesting! You do such a wonderful job. We are all so lucky that you share your knowledge of London😀❤

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you Cindy, that's so lovely of you to say :)

[@cindyjewett603]

@@LookUpLondon it is very true😀

[@JAB771]

Thankyou Katie for another fab vlog. Your knowledge is astonishing & I’ve learnt so much since I’ve began viewing your channel 😊

[@thetallguy182]

Thanks for a great video! So much I didn't know.

[@LookUpLondon]

You're welcome Henry :)

[@scallopohare9431]

I may yet get back to jolly, olde England. Enjoyed Bath, Cheddar, and Winchester so far.

[@blueclocks8816]

Loved it. Thank you.

[@daveloweuk]

Great vid.

[@TheRealMisterProtocol]

Dear me. The first walking tour I ever took in London was given by the now long gone "Off Beat Walking Tours" company, which I'm going to bet is partially responsible for the whole Blue Badge machinery. Other tour guides referred to them as "cowboys", but my they gave great tours, such as "The Loos of London". The one I took was of Southwark, including Southwark Cathedral, the site of the Old Globe, and Clink Street. The guide pointed to one section of wall surrounding the old churchyard, and claimed it was part of the Roman Wall. Certainly the churchyard was far, far below street level today. The fact that you didn't include this section of wall indicates to me that the claim was likely bogus. Certainly it's a very old section of wall. Must have been medieval.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

I am so glad that this all still stands! Is there a town or a village in England that still has most of her walls above ground and visible?

[@jeremybuck1818]

York, Chester and Chichester have good stretches....

[@stephenchappell7512]

Although not in England the best preserved Roman city wall in the country surrounds the small village of Caerwent in South Wales whereas the best (and only) surviving Roman gateway is the Newport Arch in Lincoln (there is one in Colchester too but that was originally a triumphal arch that was later adapted into a city gate)

[@roc2256]

Great work. Nice to learn sthg.

[@currymonster6516]

First time watching one of your videos.. Brilliant.. And subscribed

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you! And welcome :)

[@thewiex]

I can't believe the roman wall in the parking jajaja amazing

[@LookUpLondon]

Haha it's great isn't it? Pretty sure you can hear my excitement!

[@kindle7191]

Oh my, this was very helpful. I will add this to my next future trip to the UK from Canada. Merci. Are there any Roman baths left in London?

[@LookUpLondon]

So glad you found it helpful! There is actually, the one you can visit is run by the City of London, I've been on a tour and it's great. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/attractions-museums-entertainment/visit-billingsgate-bathhouse There's also another under an office block on a street called Huggin Hill which isn't accessible.

[@edanabrown9061]

Awesome video!

[@LookUpLondon]

Thank you Edana!

[@Nick-13]

Impressive once again Katie. The below ground section at St Paul’s/Bank of America is now on my visit list ! (Assume booking is by asking at reception ?)

[@LookUpLondon]

There might be an email too? Post here from the great IanVisits which I'm sure you're familiar with; www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2018/09/10/museums-by-appointment-the-london-roman-wall-and-bastion/

[@DavidB5501]

I know it isn't part of the Roman Wall, but some time it might be interesting for you to cover the Temple of Mithras. For a while I worked at the Legal and General building in Queen Victoria Street, which at that time had the remains of the Temple in its grounds, but I think since then it has been relocated to its original site in Walbrook.

[@LookUpLondon]

Good suggestion David, It's a fantastic bit of history! I have a blog post about it here; lookup.london/roman-temple/ but definitely think it could be part of a future video too! Such a great experience to visit too!

[@InWhoseOpinion]

The top section of the window is rapidly blinking in some parts of your video.

[@mancula]

The better question to ask is why London Wall is the way it is today,

[@terry9965]

My favourite part of London the square mile,i would like to live in the Barbican sadly i cannot afford it.

[@LookUpLondon]

Me too! It's a wonderful place and I personally like the architecture!

[@terry9965]

A trip around Smithfield is great when market is on

[@terry9965]

Clerkenwell is another area I enjoy

[@LookUpLondon]

@@terry9965 indeed, did an early morning tours once a few years ago which was interesting and Smithfield and Clerkenwell is one of my favourite areas for walking tours.

[@terry9965]

There is something very atmospheric about those places,you can imagine Bill Sikes and Bullseye coming around the corner,when this lockdown ends i will come on a few walks,even as a Londoner there is always much to learn.

[@vincezaaa]

I recognise you ... have we met before?

[@LookUpLondon]

Unless you've been on a tour or seen me on Instagram I don't think so?

[@vincezaaa]

@@LookUpLondon strange... have u worked with primary school trips before?

[@LookUpLondon]

@@vincezaaa Have done lots of London tours with student groups but it's always been secondary school level or college/university

[@leave-it-outuk3432]

A black Roman Emperor had the wall built to protect the City Of London. His name was Severus.

[@ijeshwardhillon4927]

A black roman king from North Africa made the walls