Founded by the Romans around AD 50, London quickly grew into the most important settlement in the province with an array of fine public buildings. One of the largest and most impressive of these was the amphitheatre. First constructed of wood, the amphitheatre was partially rebuilt in stone and tile in the early second century. It is the remains of this structure that are preserved in the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery.
London’s Roman Amphitheatre offers schools an exciting opportunity to explore a real archaeological site and handle genuine Roman artefacts. The amphitheatre sessions, supervised by a trained archaeologist, provide an introduction to Roman London, the topography of the ancient city, and an insight into life in the capital almost 2,000 years ago.
