Visitor Information

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.

Toilets and baby changing

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.

Breastfeeding 

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. 

Group visits

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. 

Dogs

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.

By Metro

Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort is a 10-15 minute walk from South Shields by Metro. 

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.  

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 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.

Car 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.