Visitor Information
Everything you need to help plan a great day out at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort.
Before you visit
Where is Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort and how do I contact you?
Our address is:
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
Baring Street
South Shields
NE33 2BB
We’re located between South Shields town centre and the sea front at the top of the Lawe Top.
You can contact us by telephoning 0191 277 1410 during museum opening hours or by emailing info@arbeiaromanfort.org.uk
When is the museum open?
From Monday 31 March until Sunday 28 September 2025 we are open:
- Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm
- Saturday, 11am – 4pm
- Sunday, 1-4pm
How much does it cost to visit?
The museum and the fort site are free to visit.
Do I need to book a ticket to visit?
No, you don’t need to book a ticket to visit the museum or the fort site, but you may need to book to take part in a special event. You can find out more about special events by visiting our What’s on page.
How do I get to Arbeia?
On foot
We’re a 10-15 minute walk away from South Shields Metro Station. Leaving the town centre, head along Ocean Road towards the sea front. You will see a stone pillar with a Roman soldier on it at the corner of Ocean Road and Baring Street. Turn left here and follow the road until you see the Fort.
By public transport
You can make your visit an even greater value day out by travelling to Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort by Metro. Up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on the Metro and the Shields Ferry when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
You can save on adult fares too by using Pop Pay As You Go. Save up to £1 on single tickets and up to £1.60 on day tickets.
Those who are 21 and under can get around for just £1 on single fare bus, Metro and Shields Ferry journeys, and for £3 all day. Plan your journey in advance and track your Metro train in real time with the Pop app. Search ‘Pop Nexus’ in the Play Store or the App Store.
By rail
Mainline rail connections to Newcastle upon Tyne arrive at Central Station. From there, you can take the Metro on the yellow line to South Shields Metro Station, a 10 – 15 minute walk from Arbeia.
Lumo is our national travel partner. Lumo is committed to providing sustainable train journeys – its trains are electric powered and 25 times cleaner than flying.
Buy train tickets from London, Edinburgh or Stevenage to Newcastle from Lumo.
More information about Northern Rail train services to Newcastle Central Station.
Buy train tickets with National Rail.
Buy train tickets with Trainline.
Is there parking?
Street parking is available, but it can be busy during school run times, as we are directly opposite Hadrian Primary School. There are two coaching bays on Baring Street. Coaches and taxis can drop off at the main gates.
Can I visit as part of a group?
Yes, we offer the following for organised groups of 10 plus people, if a booking is made in advance of visiting:
- Free admission
- Free coach parking – two coaching bays are marked out on Baring Street
- Free familiarisation visit for the group organiser and one other
- Pre-booked guided tour at £4 per person
Please book your guided tour at least three weeks prior to your visit by emailing info@arbeiaromanfort.org.uk
Payment should be made at the museum on the day of your visit and there is a cancellation fee of 50% of the guided tour if you cancel your booking with seven days or less notice.
Can I bring my dog?
Well behaved dogs are welcome on the fort site. Water bowls and complementary treats are available, please ask at reception.
Arbeia is a World Heritage Site, and we insist that dog owners follow our guidelines to keep the site tidy and make everyone’s visit enjoyable:
- Dogs must be on a short lead and controlled at all times
- Owners must clean up after their animals and dispose of waste in the bin provided. Waste bags are available at reception.
- Dogs are not allowed into any building apart from the Entrance Building Assistance dogs can accompany their owners at all times
- We occasionally have events which feature live animals or combat demonstrations – please bear in mind the temperament of your pet and monitor them accordingly
If your dog becomes aggressive or disruptive we’d politely ask that you leave the site.
During your visit
Is there a café?
We don’t have a café but do sell snacks and cold drinks in the shop.
You are welcome to bring your own food and drink to eat on our lawn or in our picnic area.
Where are the toilets?
Public toilets are located at either end of the fort site.
Standard accessible toilets, which include baby changing facilities are located at the east end of the site.
The nearest Changing Places toilet is located at Asda South Shields, Coronation Street, South Shields, NE33 1AZ.
Where can I breastfeed?
Breastfeeding is welcomed across the site.
If you would like a private space, please ask at reception and a member of staff will make a room available.
Can I take photographs or film on site?
We encourage you to take photographs and film your personal experience of your visit to share on social media, provided it is for private, non-commercial purposes.
If you are taking photographs or making films in our venues, we ask that:
- You are considerate and respect the privacy and safety of those around you, including our staff.
- You do not touch, mark or damage the objects on display
- You do not use specialist photography equipment such as tripods, stands, external flashes and drones without contacting us first
- You only photograph or film people in your group. For safeguarding reasons you must not photograph people you do not know, including children, young people and adults at risk. We will ask you to stop if we think you are doing this. We will ask you to leave if you continue to photograph people you don't know.
- You credit the copyright holder for any in-copyright works featured in your photographs or films
- You do not use flashes in areas where there are artworks or objects that may be sensitive to light conditions
- On the rare occasion that all photography and filming is prohibited within an exhibition or specific parts of the museum/grounds, you respect those conditions.
Accessibility information
Are there places to sit?
There is a range of seating across the fort including a wheelchair accessible area with picnics and benches.
Can I borrow a wheelchair?
A wheelchair is available for visitor use. Please ask a member of staff who will be able to help.
The paths around the site are narrow which may restrict access for larger motorised mobility vehicles, please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Getting around
Entrance
There is a perimeter fence surrounding Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort with the main gates situated on the Baring Street side opposite Hadrian Primary School.
The approach to the main entrance to the museum building entrance is flat tarmac and concrete. There is a short flight of steps leading to the building as well as an accessible ramp to the right. The doors entering the museum are heavy double glass swing doors. There is also a set of these doors exiting the building on the other side which takes you to the main fort site.
Fort site
The surface around the fort is generally flat but uneven and can vary from grass to gravel. The main paths throughout the site remains are original Roman roads covered with gravel and stones so please take great care when exploring and making your way to the reconstructed buildings.
There is a level path to the remains in the north part of the fort, and a viewing platform over the central remains.
Directly outside the museum building is the Herb garden which has flat level access and bench seating.
Reconstructed buildings
There is flat level access around the Commanding Officer's house and barrack block but some of the floors are uneven.
The reconstructed West Gate has three floors. There is a single step up into the ground floor of one of the gate towers. The next two floors are accessed by a steep, narrow wooden staircase inside. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access inside the reconstruction but video views and images of the interior are available in the Commanding Officer’s House.
The Barrack Block is accessed along a flat gravel path and all on ground level. Viewing of the barrack rooms is accessible from the doorways. Some of the rooms can be entered but the ground within is uneven and the lighting levels are low.
TimeQuest is accessed via a small set of steps but there is a flat access route if needed. Please speak to a member of staff for guidance. Inside TimeQuest there is a short section of steps leading to the interactive excavation area.
Museum
Inside the museum building is flat level access.
