Housesteads Roman Fort
Vercovicium
The best-preserved Roman fort along Hadrian's Wall, set on a windswept moorland ridge. Its barracks, granaries and the famous public latrines are clearly visible.
Housesteads, known in antiquity as Vercovicium, was built around 124 CE and housed about 800 soldiers. Its walls, barracks, headquarters, hospital and public latrines, with flushing channels, are well preserved. A small museum displays excavated artifacts and reconstruction models. From the visitor center beside the B6318 road, it is about a ten-minute uphill walk. Parking costs extra. The site is run by English Heritage, and members enter free while non-members must buy tickets. You can climb onto the wall just north of the fort. A classic route runs west along Crag Lake to Steel Rigg.
Opening hours
About 10:00–17:00 (shorter hours in winter)
Nearby sights
- Vindolanda
- Sycamore Gap
- Steel Rigg & Crag Lough
- Allen Banks & Staward Gorge
- The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre
- Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh
- Cawfields Quarry
- Walltown Crags