Roman cities in Britain facts for kids
This article lists cities in Great Britain from when the Romans arrived in 43 AD until the 5th century. The Romans called their cities civitas. These were often strongholds where local tribes lived, ruled by Roman officials. Many of these cities were once important places for Iron Age tribes. Others were built along main Roman roads or were busy trading spots.
Some Roman cities were completely new settlements. A famous example is Aquae Sulis, which we now call Bath. At least 26 of today's 63 cities in England and Wales were Roman civitates. Camulodunum (modern Colchester) was the first capital of Roman Britain. Later, Londinium (modern London) became the capital. Today, London is still the capital of England and the UK.
This list covers cities across Great Britain. It does not include Cornwall or Scotland, as the Romans had less control there. The list shows the modern names, the old Brythonic names, and the Roman names. Brythonic names often started with "Caer," meaning "stronghold" or "fortress." This word later became "-caster," "-cester," or "-chester" in English names.
An author named Nennius wrote about 28 civitates in the 8th century. Most of the cities on this list are from his writings. Many Roman civitates continued to be important towns or cities after the Romans left. Others became ruins, with only small villages nearby today.
Contents
What Was a Roman City Like?
Roman cities, or civitates, were important places. They were usually protected by walls. These cities were centers for local tribes, but they were governed by Roman officials. This helped the Romans control the areas they had conquered.
How Did Roman Cities Start?
Many Roman cities began as places where local tribes already lived. These were often tribal capitals. Other cities grew up in important locations. Some were built along the main Roman roads for easy travel and trade. A few were new settlements built by the Romans themselves.
What Happened to Roman Cities?
After the Romans left Britain in the 5th century, many of these cities changed. Some continued to grow and became the cities we know today. Think of places like London or Chester. However, other Roman cities were abandoned. They slowly fell into ruin, and now only their remains can be seen, often near small villages.
List of Roman Cities in Britain
This table shows many of the important Roman cities in Great Britain. It includes their modern names, their older Brythonic and Roman names, and which tribe was linked to them. You can also see if they were mentioned by Nennius, the old Welsh writer.
Modern Name | Brythonic Name | Roman Name | Associated Tribe | Historic County | Flag | Current Status | Image | Mentioned by Nennius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcester | Caer Alen | Alauna | Local Tribe | Warwickshire | Town | No | ||
Aldborough | Caer Isurion | Isurium Brigantum | Brigantes | West Riding of Yorkshire | Village | ![]() |
No | |
Bath | Caer Baddon | Aquae Sulis | Roman Settlement | Somerset | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
No |
Brough | Caer Petuar | Petuaria | Parisi | East Riding of Yorkshire | Town | ![]() |
No | |
Builth Wells | Caer Peris | Unknown | Ordovices & Silures | Brecknockshire | Town | Yes | ||
Caernarfon | Caer Segeint | Segontium | Ordovices | Caernarfonshire | Town | ![]() |
Yes | |
Caistor (Thancaster) | Caer Correi | Caistor | Corieltauvi | Lincolnshire | Town | No | ||
Cambridge | Caer Grauth | Duroliponte | Catuvellauni | Cambridgeshire | ![]() |
City | Yes | |
Canterbury | Caer Ceint | Durovernum Cantiacorum | Cantiaci | Kent | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Cardiff | Caer Teim | Tamium | Silures | Glamorgan | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
No |
Carlisle Capital of Britannia Valentia | Caer Ligualid | Luguvalium | Carvetii | Cumberland | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Carmarthen | Caer Merddyn | Moridunum | Demetae | Carmarthenshire | Town | Unlikely | ||
Catterick | Caer Catarauc | Cataractonium | Brigantes | North Riding of Yorkshire | Village | Yes | ||
Chepstow (Caerwent) | Caer Guent (possibly) | Venta Silurum | Silures | Monmouthshire | Town (Village) | ![]() |
Yes | |
Chester | Caer Legion | Deva Victrix | Cornovii (Midlands) | Cheshire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Chichester | Caer Cei | Noviomagus Reginorum | Regni | Sussex | ![]() |
City | No | |
Cirencester Capital of Britannia Prima | Caer Ceri | Corinium Dobunnorum | Dobunni | Gloucestershire | Town | No | ||
Colchester Early Capital of Britannia | Caer Colun | Camulodunum | Trinovantes | Essex | ![]() |
City (2022) | Yes | |
Conwy (Caerhun) | Caer Canovion (Informally) | Canovium Deceangorum | Deceangli | Denbighshire | Town (Village) | ![]() |
No | |
Doncaster | Caer Daun | Danum | Roman Settlement | West Riding of Yorkshire | ![]() |
City (2022) | Yes | |
Dorchester | Caer Durnac | Durnovaria | Durotriges | Dorset | Town | No | ||
Dunster | Caer Draitou | Unknown | Dumnonii | Somerset | Village | Yes | ||
Durham (Binchester) | Caer Weir | Vinovia | Brigantes | County Durham | ![]() |
City (Village) | ![]() |
No |
Exeter | Caer Uisc | Isca Dumnoniorum | Dumnonii | Devon | ![]() |
City | No | |
Gloucester Capital of Britannia Secunda | Caer Glout | Glevum | Dobunii | Gloucestershire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
No |
Hereford (Kenchester) | Caer Fawydd | Magnae Dobunnorum | Dobunni | Herefordshire | ![]() |
City (Village) | No | |
Ilchester | Caer Pensa vel Coyt | Lindinis | Lendinienses, part of Durotriges? | Somerset | Village | Yes | ||
Leicester | Caer Lerion | Ratae Corieltauvorum | Corieltauvi | Leicestershire | ![]() |
City | Yes | |
Lichfield (Wall) | Caer Luit coyt | Letocetum | Cornovii (Midlands) & Corieltauvi | Staffordshire | ![]() |
City (Village) | ![]() |
Yes |
Lincoln Capital of Britannia Flavia | Caer Lind-colun | Lindum Colonia | Corieltauvi | Lincolnshire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
No |
City of London Later Capital of Britannia | Caer Londein | Londinium | Catuvellauni & Trinovantes | Middlesex | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Manchester | Caer Maunguid | Mamucium | Roman Settlement | Lancashire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Monmouth (The Doward) | Caer Guorthigirn | Blestium | Silures | Monmouthshire / Herefordshire | ![]() |
Town (Village) | Yes, Probably | |
Norwich (Caistor St Edmund) | Caer Guin Truis (possibly) | Venta Icenorum | Iceni | Norfolk | ![]() |
City (Village) | No | |
Newport (Caerleon) | Caer legion guar uisc | Isca Augusta | Silures | Monmouthshire | ![]() |
City (Town) | ![]() |
Yes |
Portsmouth (Porchester) | Caer Portus | Portus Adurni | Belgae | Hampshire | ![]() |
City (Village) | No | |
Rochester | Caer Dourbruf | Durobrivae Cantiacorum | Cantiaci | Kent | Town | ![]() |
No | |
Salisbury (Old Sarum) | Caer Sallwg | Sorbiodunum | Atrebates | Wiltshire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Shrewsbury (Wroxeter) | Caer Guricon | Viroconium Cornoviorum | Cornovii (Midlands) | Shropshire | Town (Village) | ![]() |
Yes | |
Silchester | Caer Celemion | Calleva Atrebatum | Atrebates | Hampshire | Village | Yes | ||
St Albans | Caer Municep | Verulamium | Catuvellauni | Hertfordshire | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Yes |
Whitchurch | Caer Meguidd | Mediolanum | Cornovii (Midlands) | Shropshire | Town | Yes | ||
Winchester | Caer Guent (possibly) | Venta Belgarum | Belgae | Hampshire | ![]() |
City | Yes | |
Worcester | Caer Guiragon | Vertis | Dobunii & Cornovii (Midlands) | Worcestershire | ![]() |
City | Yes | |
York Capital of Britannia Maxima | Caer Ebrauc | Eboracum | Brigantes | North Riding of Yorkshire | ![]() |
City | Yes |