Vindolanda Roman Fort and Museum
Roman fort and museum near Hadrian's Wall with live excavations and the Vindolanda writing tablets, run by the Vindolanda Trust.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vindolanda is a Roman fort and civilian settlement just south of Hadrian's Wall, on the earlier Stanegate frontier road. It was built before the Wall, became a garrison base for it, and was demolished and rebuilt nine times. After the Roman army left it stayed in use for more than 400 years before being abandoned in the 9th century.
The Reverend Anthony Hedley dug at the site in the 1830s and built Chesterholm cottage, which is now part of the museum. More scientific excavations began under Eric Birley in the 1930s, and the Vindolanda Trust was founded in 1970 to excavate the site for public education; it has dug continuously since. Visitors can see the remains of bath houses, commanding officers' houses, barracks, a headquarters building and village workshops, plus full-size replicas of Hadrian's Wall in turf, timber and stone. Excavations take place every year between April and September.
The museum is best known for the Vindolanda writing tablets, thin slivers of wood with ink writing that are the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain. They survive because the early layers of the site contain no oxygen. The tablets returned on loan from the British Museum in 2011 and are shown in a sealed case. The Wooden Underworld gallery, added in 2018, shows 2,000-year-old wooden finds, and the museum also has leather shoes, armour and weapons.
Highlights
- Vindolanda writing tablets, Britain's oldest surviving handwritten documents
- Live excavations between April and September
- Wooden Underworld gallery of 2,000-year-old wooden finds
- Remains of bath houses, barracks and a headquarters building
- Full-size replicas of Hadrian's Wall in turf, timber and stone
Permanent exhibitions
- Vindolanda writing tablets – Wafer-thin wooden tablets with ink letters from the Roman garrison, shown in a sealed case that protects them from oxygen and humidity.
- Wooden Underworld – Gallery of waterlogged wooden finds about 2,000 years old, including a toilet seat and a toy sword.
- Archaeological site and replicas – The fort and civilian settlement with bath houses, barracks and a headquarters building, plus full-size replicas of sections of Hadrian's Wall.
- Founded
- 1970
- Operated by
- Vindolanda Charitable Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £16 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £7.50Ages 5 to 18 in full-time education. Children with a Blue Peter badge enter free. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £13 per personAdult group rate; child group rate is £6.25. |
| Families | £402 adults and up to 3 children. |
| Saver ticket for Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum: adult | £22One visit to each site; the visits need not be on the same day. |
| Saver ticket for both sites: child | £12 |
| Saver ticket for both sites: family | £552 adults and up to 3 children. |
Tickets bought online in advance are 10% cheaper than the standard prices shown. Online tickets can be used any day within 12 months of purchase. Friends of Vindolanda have unlimited visits for 12 months. The facilities (café, shop, toilets) are for ticket holders only.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The museums are free of architectural barriers, and paths on the archaeological site allow wheelchair and mobility scooter users to see more of the remains. There is a steep hill between the fort remains and the museum, and staff can suggest alternatives. Listening posts on site describe the remains in six languages, transcripts are available for most audio in the museum, and audio description recordings, a visual story and a sensory map can be used to prepare for a visit. Gender-neutral baby changing is available. Only assistance dogs are allowed.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £40 · 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
Family tickets cover 2 adults and up to 3 children. Hands-on archaeology activities and trails run during holidays and events, and the website offers free downloadable activities and crafts. Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bardon Mill
The nearest railway station is Bardon Mill, with connections from Carlisle and Newcastle. The local bus 685/85 between Newcastle and Carlisle stops at Bardon Mill, and the seasonal AD122 Hadrian's Wall bus also serves the area.
By car
Free parking
Free parking is provided at the site, with accessible parking.
- Accessible parking
Leave the A69 following brown signs for Vindolanda near Bardon Mill, about 13 miles from Hexham, or approach from the B6318. Satnav postcode NE47 7JN, but follow the road signs to the main entrance. There is cycle parking and an e-bike charging shelter at the west entrance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The café offers hot and cold drinks, snacks, lunches and afternoon tea and caters for food intolerances and allergies; there are toilets at both entrances, a museum shop and picnic tables in the grounds.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is allowed in the museum without flash or tripods; filming is not allowed. Drones are not permitted. |
| Good to know | The museum suggests allowing at least two hours, and some visitors stay four hours or more. Free guided tours of the fort are listed on the events pages. Groups of 15 or more and school groups book in advance. The sites are smoke-free and only assistance dogs are allowed. |
