Audio Guide Details
- Duration
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Product Type
- Audio Guide
- Venues
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- All Hallows by the Tower
- Tower of London
- London Bridge
- Guildhall
- Tower Bridge
Preview
Roman Remains in London Audio Guide
Start: Aldersgate Street
A section of the Roman fort wall
The London Stone
Photos & Highlights
Audio Guide Description
- Put your map away as you discover lesser-known spots in London's history, all on your own schedule
- Hit play together and stroll the city or wander solo, but always with an expert in your ear as your personal guid
Discover the secrets of ancient Londinium, the vibrant city founded by Romans almost 2,000 years ago, on this audio guide tour with Context Travel Expert Dr. Alan Montgomery, a guide, author, and scholar of Art History and Architecture, and Classical Civilization. While much of the Roman city has been destroyed or covered over by centuries of development, several impressive fragments of its public buildings, houses and streets survive, sometimes in surprising and unexpected locations. Join Alan as he shows you where to look for London‘s Roman remains, and brings Londinium back to life before your eyes.
Our audio guide tour starts on London Wall, a street where you‘ll quickly discover an old Roman Fort Gate and nearby Roman Fort Ruins, and hear about Londinium‘s early beginnings. You‘ll learn how a terrible fire wiped out much of the Roman city in the second century, and have an opportunity to see some of the surviving structures, including part of the Roman Amphitheatre hidden in the Guildhall Art Gallery. You‘ll see what’s left of London Mithraeum (or, the Temple of Mithras), and remnants of the fantastic mosaic in the Bank of England Museum. You‘ll also hear some of the urban legends that surround the London Stone (one of the city’s oldest landmarks), like how London will fall if the stone is ever removed. The audio guide tour ends with a fantastic view of Tower Hill and the Tower of London.
On this Roman London self-paced audio guide tour, you‘ll:
- Learn about the layout of the ancient city and get insight into the daily lives of Londinium‘s inhabitants
- Stroll along an impressive piece of the Roman wall, discovered during the construction of the London Wall in 1957
- Discover how a wooden Roman bridge across the River Thames was adapted into the medieval fortress that we know as the Tower of London
- Find out about the Roman arch nestled in a basement near Leadenhall Market
- Visit the oldest Roman arch in the city at All Hallows by the Tower church
- Find evidence of the diet that was enjoyed by the people of Londinium, which included wine and olive oil imported from the Mediterranean provinces, as well as walnuts, dates and figs, all of which would have arrived by boat
- See the first basilica at the center of Londinium that was built around 70 AD, and learn how it was the administrative heart of the ancient city, and used for all sorts of public gatherings
- Discover how the Blitz of 1940 to 1941 led to the discovery of many Roman remains as bomb sites were redeveloped in the decades that followed
- Delve into the city‘s sinister past, where the discovery of 39 human skulls suggested gruesome violence, telling a chilling story of ancient Londinium‘s darker days
Join Alan for a mind-bending 75-minute audio guide tour that‘ll transport you through time and leave you marveling at the layers of history hidden within London‘s vibrant streets. By the end, you won‘t just come away with a better sense of the history and layout of the ancient Roman city, you‘ll also have a richer understanding of the lives that thrived in the heart of Londinium.
Meet Your Expert
Alan was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. He then returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and later completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, he published his first book 'Classical Caledonia' in 2020. His latest book, 'Walking the Antonine Wall', recounts his journey on foot along a Roman frontier in Scotland.
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Is closed captioning (i.e. subtitles) available?
Yes! All of our audio guides have the option to turn on closed captioning should you have difficulty hearing the expert.
How long does each event last?
Our recorded audio guides typically run for 75 minutes.
How can I share this audio guide with friends or family?
You are welcome to listen together with friends or family, but each person listening to the guide on their own device will need to purchase the audio guide individually.
How long does my access to the audio guide last?
Once you purchase an audio guide, you are welcome to listen to it as many times as you would like. Your access to a purchased audio guide does not expire.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Sales for recorded audio guides are final upon purchase. Please contact us at digital@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase.
Can I purchase a gift card for a friend who is traveling?
Absolutely! Gift cards can be purchased here. Gift cards are good for 365 days from the date of purchase.
