Celebrating an astonishing 1,900 years because the Romans first began laying stones for his or her well-known border wall, there’s by no means been a greater time to go to Hadrian’s Wall for youths.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
Whether or not you’re seeking to uncover extra about Roman life, why the wall was constructed, or to take a stroll alongside it, it’s simple to spend a complete day at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland with children – or longer!
There are extra stretches of the wall to find in Cumbria too, in fact, together with different Roman websites within the north east, however with Northumberland’s key location clustered shut to one another, right here is my decide of the most effective locations to go to on Hadrian’s Wall for households.
Hadrian’s Wall for youths: the necessities
Hadrian’s Wall is well one of many best-known Roman websites within the UK, stretching for 73 miles and coast to coast.
As soon as the northern fringe of the Roman Empire, it’s named for the emperor Hadrian who ordered its constructing to maintain the Caledonian Picts on the opposite aspect out – for some time at the very least, earlier than a later emperor determined to push the borders a bit additional into what’s now Scotland.
You possibly can nonetheless stroll alongside sections of the wall, in addition to following the route from Northumberland to Cumbria (or vice versa) in the event you’re on the lookout for a critical household journey.
However in the event you solely fancy a straightforward stroll or an opportunity to find what life would have been like when the wall was newly constructed and the Roman Empire at its top, there are many websites to go to at Hadrian’s Wall for youths as effectively.
From forts to former cities, Roman baths to museums plus The Sill customer centre, the vast majority of the household days out in Northumberland are primarily based round Hexham.
Sadly the well-known tree of Sycamore Hole was reduce down in September 2023, though there’s hope that it’ll regrow on the spot, with saplings from the unique being planted across the UK
We managed to suit three locations into someday, which I feel is realistically the restrict of what’s potential whereas nonetheless having sufficient time to discover – we may fortunately have spent longer at every web site too.
However in the event you do solely have someday, the mixture of the Roman Military Museum, Vindolanda and Chesters Roman Fort is an effective one to provide an summary of life at Hadrian’s Wall, the navy aspect at one of many key forts and a style of Roman Britain in one among its cities.
English Heritage lists 20 websites on Hadrian’s Wall so you may have loads of selection although! There are few locations within the UK higher in case your children love the Romans.
If you wish to base your self within the space for greater than someday’s exploring within the space, YHA The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall has non-public rooms for as much as 4 folks or you could find self-catering lodging, glamping websites and resorts close by on reserving.com
Chesters Roman Fort
The stays of Chesters Roman Fort make a super location to get a way of how the legions would have lived – and it’s not all navy model effectivity.
Among the many ruined stone partitions, which might have been filled with round 500 troopers and their horses, there’s a extra luxurious home for his or her commander, full with underfloor heating, to not point out the baths down by the river.
With the same old succession of rooms at completely different temperatures, house to socialize in addition to staying clear, you possibly can nonetheless make out the outlines with indicators giving some extra info on what every part would have held.
Visiting within the faculty holidays, my daughter had a enjoyable path to finish, designed like a mini newspaper with quizzes, challenges and different puzzles to deliver the traditional stones to life, in addition to studying in regards to the man whose ardour for archaeology helped protect this historic spot.
And there’s additionally a powerful little assortment within the web site’s museum, with Roman objects and inscriptions from the fort but additionally from elsewhere alongside the wall.
Round six miles from Hexham, this web site is all outside aside from the museum however whereas it’s moderately unfold out, it’s additionally a superb possibility with youthful children because it’s extra sheltered than another spots, and never too arduous to stroll round.
Vindolanda, Bardon Mill
Life at Hadrian’s Wall wasn’t solely about armed troopers braving the climate to maintain out the ‘barbarians’ – and Vindolanda is likely one of the greatest locations to find this.
To begin the go to, you’ll discover some recreated buildings, together with a temple and shows on life for youngsters, which actually appealed to my daughter – nonetheless fascinating Roman historical past is, there’s nothing like with the ability to think about themselves dwelling within the Roman Empire to make Hadrian’s Wall for youths actually participating.
However when you’ve strolled round these, you possibly can head as much as uncover the stays of the city outdoors the fort, with outlets and homes, in addition to a temple to Jupiter, mausoleum and even an outdated effectively.
Excavations are nonetheless ongoing so who is aware of what else stays buried!
As a bonus, two towers from the wall have been recreated in wooden and stone to provide an thought of how the precise milecastles – the little fortified sections positioned one Roman mile aside alongside the wall – would have fared after they have been constructed.
Close to the little village of Bardon Mill, your ticket additionally will get you entry into the Roman Military Museum however there’s a fantastic museum at Vindolanda itself as effectively.
Together with numerous completely different finds excavated up on the windswept hill, together with footwear, cash and skulls, there have been additionally some nice reveals about faith.
Roman Military Museum
Should you’re combining the Roman Military Museum with among the different websites at Hadrian’s Wall with children, it’s effectively price beginning right here – though if, like us, you find yourself visiting it final, it’s nonetheless the most effective locations for households.
There’s a 3D movie together with numerous different interactive shows, so it’s a pleasant distinction to reveals behind glass and historical stones too.
And this museum actually brings house the truth of life on the outer fringe of the Roman Empire – whereas it’s been excessive on my wishlist to go to for years, Roman troopers would have been quite a bit much less enthusiastic!
A number of the movies embrace particular person troopers telling their tales, with every little thing from the hazard of assaults within the forest to life off obligation, playing with their fellow legionaries.
I virtually needed to drag my daughter away, in any other case I believe she’d have watched the movies from begin to end after which spherical once more. Whereas we stayed 90 minutes right here, after exploring Chesters Roman Fort and Vindolanda, we may simply have spent double.
There are shows of Roman artefacts as effectively, with an enormous emphasis on the navy aspect (as you’d count on from an Military Museum), but additionally some enjoyable touches just like the holographic instructor holding a Latin lesson in addition to the tent the place a Centurion tries to steer you to enroll in the military too.
Housesteads Roman Fort & Museum
Not removed from Vindolanda, you’ll discover the Housesteads Roman Fort & Museum, one of the vital full examples of a Roman Fort in Britain.
The fort was one among 16 everlasting bases alongside the wall with views out for miles, and as one of many greatest attracts at Hadrian’s Wall for youths, you possibly can see among the world’s oldest loos.
The Roman communal bathrooms listed here are the most effective preserved units, and assured to boost a fascinated euuuurgh!
There are additionally some nice views out throughout the countryside and the wall, you actually can see for miles right here and it’s a fantastic place for a picnic if the climate’s good. You possibly can even borrow picnic blankets.
The little museum has a movie with recreations of the unique Roman buildings – youthful guests are led round by Felix – together with a group of finds together with jewelry and weapons, plus some spectacular statues and the possibility to decorate up as a Roman soldier.
Corbridge Roman City
It’s simple to suppose that each one the Roman websites alongside the wall have been forts filled with troopers, however cities grew up right here as effectively – somebody needed to provide meals for starters!
And as at Vindolanda, Corbridge Roman City is a good place to see the non-military aspect of Roman Britain within the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall, with a settlement right here till the fifth century. You possibly can nonetheless wander alongside what would have been the principle road and even make out the place the outlets would have been.
Objects from the Corbridge Hoard – one of the vital necessary finds from the interval – are nonetheless on show on the museum, together with armour in addition to trinkets, writing tablets and different necessities of day by day Roman life. Don’t miss the well-known stone Corbridge Lion when you’re there.
It’s round eight miles from Chesters Roman Fort, so it’s simple to mix these two websites in the event you’re not planning to go to Vindolanda – though as with many of the locations to go to at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, you’re by no means too removed from the following one.
You can even observe the Corbridge Roman City path in the direction of Heddon-on-the-wall and Roman websites past
The Sill, Hexham
Near Housesteads and Vindolanda, The Sill is formally the Nationwide Panorama Discovery Centre – a stone’s throw from Hadrian’s Wall itself, it’s near Milecastle 39.
However in addition to being a fantastic place to begin a stroll to Hadrian’s Wall, with maps to select up, concepts for strolling routes and the choice to e-book guided excursions, there are additionally exhibitions to find.
Free to enter (though you must pay for parking (presently £3 for 2 hours, then £1 per hour as much as a most of £6), it’s additionally bought a enjoyable grassy rooftop to find plus a restaurant if it’s good to refuel earlier than or after your stroll by the wall.
In addition to common non permanent exhibitions, there’s a everlasting show showcasing the unbelievable panorama on this a part of Northumberland – a mixture of interactive shows, paintings, movies, and geological reveals.
Designed to assist guests be taught extra about life right here, you possibly can even design your personal digital panorama alongside the way in which.
Strolling Hadrian’s Wall with children
The Hadrian’s Wall Path is an 84 mile lengthy Nationwide Path working between Wallsend, Tyne & Put on, and Bowness-On-Solway in Cumbria – however when you may hike all the route, particularly with older children or eager hikers, the possibilities are you’ll be on the lookout for a shorter stroll to find Hadrian’s Wall with children.
One of many best choices is to begin from The Sill and stroll to Sycamore Hole and Milecastle 39 – Sycamore Hole itself is round 1.4 miles away, and you could find a loop strolling path to cowl each.
Don’t overlook to take the correct gear earlier than you set out on a hike, together with respectable strolling boots
In class holidays or when the climate’s good, you’ll inevitably discover fairly a number of folks with the identical thought, however there are another family-friendly walks alongside Hadrian’s Wall together with Cawfields Quarry and Walltown Quarry Nation Park, in addition to to Crag Lough.
You possibly can join a few websites at Hadrian’s Wall on foot too: this round stroll between Housesteads and Metal Rigg passes The Sill. Or there’s a strolling route from Hexham to Chesters Roman Fort, in addition to Hexham to Corbridge Roman City.
You can even discover strolling maps at The Sill for extra concepts.
For extra issues to do in Northumberland with children, try my prime picks
Hadrian’s Wall, Cumbria
Hadrian’s Wall famously stretches throughout the entire of northern England, so it’s not simply Northumberland which has websites to discover. And though the vast majority of locations to see alongside Hadrian’s Wall with children are within the North East, there are a number of nice websites for households in Cumbria too.
Tullie Home Museum, Carlisle, Cumbria
Carlisle was house to not one, however two forts alongside Hadrian’s Wall together with Uxelodunum, the most important of all of the forts on the Wall.
Sadly, this fort is buried beneath a suburb so it could’t be visited. Nonetheless, the close by Tullie Home Museum homes various wonderful Roman artefacts that embrace what stands out as the first written reference to the identify Britannia.
Whereas the Roman assortment is more likely to enchantment extra to older children, all the museum has acquired the Telegraph Youngsters in Museums Household Pleasant Museum Award.
Birdoswald Roman fort, Cumbria
For an thought of simply how spectacular Hadrian’s Wall would have been when it was at its top, you possibly can see the longest remaining stretch at Birdoswald Roman Fort.
There are additionally the ruins of the Roman fort to discover, together with a milecastle and turret, so that you get a way of all the important thing options of the Roman fortifications right here, plus a quest for youths with clues to crack as you discover.
There’s an exhibition within the gatehouse customer centre too to offer some extra background, with possibilities to get fingers on – together with getting the identical view as a Roman look-out peering out throughout the wall by peeking by the periscope.
Or take a quiz to search out out what your position might need been, play the signalling sport to marshall your troops and have a go along with a crane to see in the event you may have constructed the wall.
If you wish to make a day of it, you possibly can even observe the Birdoswald Roman path, taking you our throughout the Cumbrian countryside
Extra Roman websites within the North-East
Should you’re on the lookout for extra Roman websites to go to with children within the North East, there are a number of locations that are simple to mix with a visit to Northumberland in the event you’re on the lookout for extra issues to do close to Hadrian’s Wall.
Segedunum Roman Fort Wallsend, Tyne and Put on
On the japanese finish of Hadrian’s Wall, round half an hour from Corbridge Roman City, sits a garrison that was in use for practically 300 years – at this time it’s essentially the most totally excavated fort alongside Hadrians Wall.
There’s additionally an interactive museum at Segedunum, which features a full-scale reconstruction of a bathhouse and a 35-metre excessive viewing tower to look out throughout the World Heritage Website.
Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields, Tyne & Put on
20 minutes away from Segedunum, Arbeia is a tremendous reconstruction of a Roman Fort and a fantastic possibility in case your children are struggling to visualise how the ruins would as soon as have regarded.
You can even see among the stays of the unique barracks too, constructed to assist provide Hadrian’s Wall from the ocean.
There are additionally characters dotted across the fort, each historical Romans and native Britons, and it holds among the most memorable occasions you’ll discover at any Roman web site, together with gladiatorial battles, falconry demonstrations, and Roman re-enactments that each one ages will love.
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Chesters Roman Fort/Vindolanda/Roman Military Museum/signpost photos copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos/Adobestock/Picfair
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER