Official Website of Hadrian's Wall Country

The fort at Carvoran is visible only as earthworks. But it’s what the museum contains that really grips the imagination. 35 years of excavation of nearby Vindolanda has yielded the most amazing haul and allows the Roman Army Museum to take you into the land of the legioniares. Real-life treasures and fantastic replicas compete for attention. There’s a real plume from a real helmet and there’s an entire collection of replica armour including shields, swords, body armour and javelins (and shoes - most important for all that tramping). Standards fly and chariots are ready to leap into action.

Step into a barrack room and listen to Gaius as he tells you about his storeroom. Watch the Join the Roman Army film as Centurion Quintus Petronius tells recruits just how life is going to be, how much they’ll get paid for doing it, what training will be like and even what they can do off-duty.  And then learn to fly with the Eagle’s Eye film. It scoops you up for a unique aerial journey from the fort at adjacent Magna to Roman Vindolanda,. Once you reach Vindolanda, the Roman world is reconstructed before your eyes as the eagle takes you back in time.

There’s an added bonus here; Carvoran is situated by one of the best-preserved sections of the Wall itself. Stride across Walltown Crags as the Wall snakes along, add together with the fabulous insights of the Roman army Museum and you’ve got it - a kaleidoscope of images and imprints that is the next best thing to having lived 2,000 years ago yourself.