Often think about the Roman Empire? Well, most men are thinking about it weekly, according to the latest TikTok trend! The experts at Uswitch Temporary Car Insurance have mapped out the UK’s ultimate Roman road trip for those who just can’t stop thinking about it.
The new trending TikTok, revealing how often men think about the Roman Empire, has over 1.4 billion views and has seen Google searches for ‘Roman Empire TikTok’ skyrocket by 2,373%.. Not only this, searches for ‘Roman fort near me’ have also increased by 247% in the past month.
This ultimate eight-day long road trip visits ten of the best Roman landmarks in the UK as well as follows key Roman roads where possible so people who just can’t stop thinking about it can be fully immersed in the history.
The UK’s ultimate Roman road trip following 2,000-year-old roads
Day I: Kent to London (following Watling Street)
Starting in the town of Sandwich, visit Richborough Roman Fort’s triumphal arch before driving into Westminster in London, heading for Vine Street. There you’ll be able to see the Capital City’s Roman Wall, built to protect the ancient city of Londinium from attack.
Distance: 69 miles Time: 1 hour 50 minutes Stops: Richborough Roman Fort and London’s Roman Wall Cost: £7.70[4] (Richborough), free of charge[5] (City Wall at Vine Street)
Day II: London to West Sussex (following Stane Street)
Make tracks south out of London towards Bignor, where you can visit the village’s Roman Villa, originally believed to have been spread across 65 rooms. Then continue on to Chichester and Fishbourne Roman Palace, the largest known Roman residential building in Britain, to look at beautiful mosaics and gardens.
Distance: 79 miles Time: 2 hours 35 minutes Stops: Bignor Roman Villa and Fishbourne Roman Palace Cost: £10 (Bignor), £13 (Fishbourne)
Day III: West Sussex to Somerset
Head west towards Somerset and arrive in Bath. Pay a visit to the ancient Roman Baths, which attract 1 million visitors every year. It is one of the 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK, but the water is untreated, making it unsafe to touch, never mind bathe in.
Distance: 109 miles Time: 2 hours 20 minutes Stops: Roman Baths Cost: £26
Day IV: Somerset to Gloucestershire (following Fosse Way)
After leaving Bath, drive towards Gloucestershire, following the path of the Roman road known as the Fosse Way. Make another stop at Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds, which was built in the 3rd century and occupied for over 300 years. Its features include a temple and mosaic floor.
Distance: 47 miles Time: 1 hour 25 minutes Stops: Chedworth Roman Villa Cost: £12 (for National Trust non-members)
Day V: Gloucestershire to Shropshire (following Fosse Way)
You’ll be able to follow the Fosse Way, thought to be 220 miles long, as you head for Wroxeter Roman City near Shrewsbury. Take in all the reconstructed ancient city has to offer, including a basilica and forum.
Distance: 102 miles Time: 1 hour 50 minutes Stops: Wroxeter Roman City Cost: £8.50
Day VI: Shropshire to Cheshire (following Watling Street)
At this point you’ll rejoin what was known as Watling Street (on its general route) to get to Chester. There lies the UK’s largest known Roman amphitheatre, used for gladiatorial contests and other public events. The amphitheatre is thought to have housed around 10,000 spectators at one time.
Distance: 49 miles Time: 1 hour 5 minutes Stops: Chester Roman Amphitheatre Cost: Free
Day VII: Cheshire to Cumbria
Heading North up the modern-day M6, you’ll be traversing routes the Romans would have used. In Bowness-on-Solway you’ll find the start of Hadrian’s Wall on the West coast, which has racked up 11.6m views on Tiktok and 49,000 Google searches in the last month. The full 73-mile wall is no longer fully intact, but you can walk it via Hadrian’s Wall Path that follows the route for its entire length and takes 6-7 days to complete.
Distance: 161 miles Time: 2 hours 55 minutes Stops: Hadrian’s Wall Cost: Free
Day VIII: Cumbria to Northumberland (following Stanegate)
The final leg of your journey will follow the ancient Roman road Stanegate, which predates Hadrian’s Wall and goes via Vindolanda. The fort now has a modern museum, hosting various Roman artefacts including the Vindolanda tablets. These delicate pieces of wood have writing that offers a glimpse of Roman life- previously voted as Britain’s top treasure by experts. Make a final stop in Wallsend, where Hadrian’s Wall originally ended.
Distance: 79 miles Time: 2 hours Stops: Vindolanda Cost: £12.50
Total journey distance: 695 miles
Total journey time: 16 hours
Uswitch Temporary Car Insurance expert Leoni Moninska shares her tips for anyone thinking about taking any long-distance car journeys to explore the Roman landmarks:
Uswitch Temporary Car Insurance expert Leoni Moninska says: “The UK is home to lots of Roman landmarks and no matter where you live, you‘re never far away from one. While a day trip can be fun, it’s important to check your car before embarking on any long-distance adventures.
“Before setting off, ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, that you have a spare tyre in your car and that your engine oil levels are correct.
“It’s also important not to drive while tired, so adequate rest before a long journey, and frequent breaks, are often a good way to avoid this.
“If you don’t own your own car then taking out a temporary car insurance policy on a family or friends’ vehicle can be a great way to explore the UK. It’s worth running a comparison at Uswitch.com as you’ll get a quote in under 30 seconds.”
Experts at Uswitch Temporary Car Insurance have shared five top tips for anyone setting off on the UK’s ultimate Roman road trip:
- Carry out all necessary checks before a long journey. Test your windscreen wipers and fill up your screen wash, check all lights and indicators, oil levels, engine coolant, brake fluid, tyre tread depth, tyre pressure, and fuel supply.
- Plan ahead and designate two drivers if you are travelling longer distances. This is especially important if travelling for three hours or more.
- Make sure you are well-rested and able to maintain your concentration. Driving while tired is dangerous, so don’t put yourself or others at risk if you don’t feel 100% alert.
- Don’t drink before driving. Although this seems obvious, don’t take any chances.
- Ensure your driving licence and insurance is valid and in date. Your driving licence needs to be valid and in date, and you must ensure your insurance details are accurate.
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