Europe for Visitors logo


Home Main Index Site Search About Us

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall, Hexham, Northumberland, England LEFT: Hadrian's Wall by Houseteads Fort near Hexham, Northumberland. (Note: Walking on the wall is now discouraged by preservationists.)

Hadrian's Wall is one of the major attractions in Northern England. The surviving portions of the ancient Roman stone wall run across the Border Country of Northern England from Carlisle to Newcastle upon Tyne.

The wall was intended to protect occupied Britain from the unruly Picts, who--in Rome's view, at least--preferred savagery to civilization. Work began under the Emperor Hadrian in 122 A.D., and the 74-mile (119-km) wall was completed in just six years.

Today, the best-preserved sections of wall are in a 20-mile (30-km) section between Hexham and Haltwhistle in Northumberland. You'll find walls, fortresses, camps, and other ruins (some restored) along with museums and information centers.

Reaching the wall

Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, England

Buses run from Carlisle and Newcastle to the main attractions and visitor centers along the wall in summer, making it practical to combine public transport with point-to-point walks.

Trains are another option. The scenic Tyne Valley Line connects Carlisle, Brampton, Hexham, Haltwhistle, and Newcastle upon Tyne. In summer, you can change to the Hadrian's Wall buses at the Haltwhistle and Hexham stations.

If you're driving, follow the B6318 "Military Road" along the wall or head north from the A69 at Haltwhistle.

Continued on page 2


In this article:
Hadrian's Wall - introduction
History and tourism links
Accommodation, photo, and humor links

"Best of the Web"
- Forbes and The Washington Post


Our most popular topics:

  • Europe (Index)
  • Paris
  • Venice
  • Rome
  • Germany
  • Cruises in Europe



(c) iStockphoto.com/Robin Ahle

Need a car in Europe?

Auto Europe guarantees the lowest rental rates for standard cars, sports cars, SUVs, luxury cars, chauffered sedans, and RVs. Its Web site also has driving information for 38 countries.

If you live outside the EU, a tax-free Renault or Peugeot tourist lease can be cheaper than renting. Minimum driver age is 18, there' s no upper age limit, and rates include insurance. See: Short-term car leasing.


European train

Traveling by train?
Rail Europe has schedules, maps, and guides for 50+ European railroads. (Residents of North and Central America can buy tickets and rail passes online.)


From Europe for Cruisers:


Travel and cruise news:


Quantcast