Guided Tours

Take a guided tour of the Fort site with one of our volunteers who bring the story of Arbeia to life with their in-depth knowledge of Roman history.

Through the course of its history, Arbeia has taken on several guises: from the Roman Emperor's HQ for the Scottish invasion to a busy cosmopolitan port. It has hosted dramatic tales of murder and fire, and holds the key to ancient love stories. A huge supply base for the Roman army, it housed 600 Roman troops and is said to be the birth place of the Northumbrian King Oswin. 

Today, Arbeia is home to some of the finest full-scale Roman reconstructions and archaeological finds in the UK.

Not suitable for children aged 5 or younger.

Accessibility Information

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. 

The reconstructed West Gate has three floors. 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. 

Private tours

Guided tours for a minimum of 10 people can be arranged for a fee and need to be booked three weeks in advance. Please contact the museum to arrange this by calling (0191) 277 1409 or by emailing info@arbeiaromanfort.org.uk.