Hadrian’s Wall is Britain’s greatest Roman monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Wall was a man-built frontier of the Roman Empire. It stretched from coast to coast in what is now the far north of England.
Hexham is sited five miles south of the Wall and roughly in the middle of the 73-mile stretch. This central Northumbrian section is widely recognised as the most scenic and so unspoilt that you will easily be able to imagine it in Roman times.
Why not take in the Wall plus the Roman forts and temples dotted around the glorious countryside here, whilst enjoying all of the fun and facilities of this market town? Hexham is one of the best places to stay for Hadrian’s Wall.
Roman Britain and Hexham
Hexham is a Medieval town not a Roman one – the Romans built the supply town of Coria between Hexham and Corbridge, our nearest modern-day neighbour.
However, Medieval builders couldn’t resist good-quality, quarried stone and St Wilfrid’s Crypt at Hexham Abbey was built entirely from the remains of Corbridge Roman Town. You can see frieze patterns plus a leaf and berry design on some stones in down in the crypt. Look up to see inscribed stones – one dedicating a granary and the other a fragment of an altar to Maponus Apollo.
What did the Romans do for us?
The Romans finally abandoned their ambitions here in the 5th century. They left behind a wealth of sites to explore whilst enjoying unspoilt Northumbrian landscapes.
Roman highlights with typical drive times from Hexham:
Tombstone of Flavinus and St Wilfred’s Crypt, Hexham Abbey
Central Hexham – no driving required. An imposing, first-century memorial to a Roman standard bearer called Flavinus stands at the bottom of Hexham Abbey’s wonderful Night Stair. Take a tour of the Abbey’s Medieval crypt to spot repurposed Roman building materials.
Corbridge Roman Town and Museum (8-minute drive)
Walk in the steps of the Romans in the ruined streets of this garrison town. The remains of temples, markets, workshops and temples have been unearthed. The on-site museum’s prize possession is the Corbridge Hoard, the belongings of an unknown Roman soldier, found here in 1964.
Chesters Roman Fort and Museum (11-minute drive)
Chesters is the most complete Roman cavalry fort in Britain. It features an unusually well-preserved bath house where soldiers relaxed close to the River Tyne. Chesters Museum holds the famous Clayton Collection. Discover a wide-range of finds from graffitied pottery to jewellery.
Carrawburg Fort and the Temple of Mithras (15-minute drive)
Stop at Carrawburg to enjoy the broad vistas to the south of the Military Road (there’s often a coffee van here for a caffeine fix in the wilds). Soldiers built the temple around AD200.
Housesteads Roman Fort (20-minute drive)
Walk in the footsteps of the Romans in the barracks and the hospital or to admire the oldest toilets you’ll ever see at one of the Wall’s best-preserved forts. Wonderful panoramic views.
Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum (20 minute + 8-minute drive)
We’d highly recommend including both of these in your schedule if possible. The Vindolanda Tablets, the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain, are on display. Voted ‘Britain’s Top Treasure’, the tablets are a fascinating glimpse into everyday life for the men and women who lived here centuries ago. Run by the Vindolanda Trust.
Money-saving tip
Numerous Roman sites close to Hexham including Corbridge Roman Town, Housesteads and Birdoswald are run by the charity English Heritage. If you are visiting more than one English Heritage location then becoming a member, which gives you free access, may work out cheaper than paying for each visit.
Hadrian’s Wall for families
In our experience, kids love visiting Roman sites. There’s lots of outdoor fun to be had (and English Heritage sells a fine line of ‘Roman dress up’ at their gift shops).
Want to have Roman Britain brought to life? Vindolanda is great for this. English Heritage also put on regular events at their sites. How about a Hail Hadrian! Day, for example? Kids can try chariot racing (minus the horses), take part in an army drill or fight it out in a battle.
Studious teens will love the many museums whilst the non-studious will thank you for staying in or near Hexham. Reward them for their patience with trips to our cinema, swimming pool, ten-pin bowling, escape rooms, funky cafés or a vintage shopping trip.
Can you visit Hadrian’s Wall by public transport?
Are you looking for a car-free holiday? The AD122 bus is a hop-on hop-off bus (great for walkers) that runs seven days a week all year. It travels from Hexham Train Station to Walltown and back. Stops include Chesters, Housesteads Roman Fort, The Sill, Vindolanda Roman Fort, the Army Museum and Greenhead.
To visit Corbridge Roman Town from here by public transport, take a bus from Hexham to the centre of Corbridge. It’s just over half a mile to walk to the site. (There is a direct train from Hexham to Corbridge, but the train station is further away than the bus stop).
Other commonly asked questions about Hadrian’s Wall
Which cities are nearby?
Carlisle and Newcastle-upon-Tyne sit roughly at either end of the Wall. Newcastle has an international airport and both cities have mainline train stations. Hexham sits roughly halfway between these two cities.
The town just 23 miles from Newcastle Train Station and 20 miles from Newcastle airport. There is a motorway all the way from Newcastle to Hexham. The journey from the city centre should take 30-45 minutes depending on the time of day.
Trains run between Newcastle and Carlisle and stop at Hexham. Carlisle is a little further away from Hexham than Newcastle. However, it’s a longer drive as the A69 is (largely) not dual carriageway from Hexham to the west.
Does Hadrian’s Wall divide England and Scotland?
No, it lies entirely in England, south of the border with Scotland.
(You can enjoy a lovely drive from Hexham up to the border with Scotland. It’s just 38 miles away through Northumberland National Park).
How old is the Wall?
Over 1,900 years old. It was begun in AD122 and making it took a lot of human ingenuity and effort. Experts believe that it took 15,000 soldiers six years to complete this amazing feat of engineering.
Can you still see Hadrian’s Wall?
Yes, you can: in fact, it’s the best preserved frontier of the Roman Empire . However, long after the Romans left, the stone was repurposed by enterprising locals. As a result, the Wall is lower than it was originally. Removal of the stones went on roughly from the medieval period until conservation efforts began during the 18th century.