April 4th 2024.
It's truly amazing what unexpected treasures can be found in the most ordinary places. Take, for example, the recent discovery of an actual King of England beneath a car park in Leicester. Ever since then, it's become clear that we should always expect the unexpected when it comes to multi-storey car parks.
In fact, tucked away in a nondescript car park in East London is a literal piece of history. It may not seem like much from the outside, but inside bay 54 of the London Wall Car Park lies a segment of London's ancient city walls, dating all the way back to Roman times. These walls, built around 200 AD, once surrounded the Roman settlement of Londinium, which is now known as the City of London.
Sadly, only a few small sections of the wall are accessible to the public today, with the most well-known being the ones outside of Tower Hill tube station. But hidden away in this unassuming car park is a secret that not many people know about. To get there, you have to enter through a set of double doors on the junction of London Wall and Coleman Street, navigate through a couple of corridors, and finally emerge into the car park itself.
And the best part? It's completely free to visit! The small piece of wall is protected by scaffolding, and you can see the terracotta tiles that were used by the Romans as a sort of spirit level to add stability to the structure. It's a fascinating find and has even gained popularity on social media, with a TikTok video about the ruins reaching over four million views.
But this isn't the only hidden piece of Roman history in the City of London. Just a short distance away, you can descend into the basement of an office block on Lower Thames Street and discover a 2,000-year-old Roman home and bathhouse. This remarkable find, first built around 150 AD and occupied until the early 5th century, is only accessible through pre-booked tours on Saturdays from April to November.
For those interested in more traditional Roman ruins, the Guildhall Art Gallery is home to a preserved Roman amphitheatre, where gladiatorial combat and executions would have taken place. Discovered in 1988 during excavation work for the gallery, the site also includes short stretches of Roman wall in Guildhall Yard.
And if you're looking for more ancient Roman structures, there are plenty of other locations to explore in the City of London. The city wall at Tower Hill, one of the largest construction projects in Roman Britain, is a must-see. And just last year, a large section of subterranean wall and bastion tower was put on display on Vine Street. You can view it through street-level windows or venture inside for a closer look.
For a truly unique experience, head to 111 Cannon Street and view the ancient Roman stone, known as the London Stone, through a wall. Legend has it that the future of London is at risk if the stone is ever moved. And if you're interested in the religious side of Roman culture, check out the Temple of Mithras at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, which was discovered in 1954 and is now open for free visits.
Even some of the oldest churches in the City of London have ties to the Roman era. The crypt at St Bride's Church, for example, houses fragments of a Roman tessellated floor and a domestic house. And at St Bride's Church, you can see remains of a Roman pavement dating back to 180 AD.
It's truly remarkable how much Roman history is still waiting to be discovered in the City of London. Whether it's hidden in a car park or preserved in a museum, these ruins offer a glimpse into the past and are a must-see for any history buff. So next time you're in the area, why not take a tour and uncover these hidden treasures for yourself?
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