Binchester Roman Fort

About

Explore the bustling Roman fort and town buried unearthed beneath tranquil fields.

The major Roman fort of Binchester was the largest military installation in the North East. It guarded Dere Street, the main Roman road from York to Hadrian’s Wall. Around 1,000 cavalry soldiers called it home, and people from across the Roman world came to live and trade in the bustling town that developed around the fort. Together the fort and town dominated this part of northern England for well over 400 years.

Archaeologists have been exploring Binchester’s extraordinary hidden history for hundreds of years – though only a tiny amount of the site has been unearthed.

Today, visitors can explore the exceptionally well-preserved remains of not just one but two bath-houses, where you can step inside the Roman spaces and discover how soldiers and civilians lived 2,000 years ago.

Having been run by Durham County Council for many years, The Auckland Project took on Binchester Roman Fort in 2026. As well as updating the visitor facilities and catering offer, a new scheme of interactive interpretation makes the site even more inviting to families and explorers of any age.