Rituals and ruins: folklore and remainders of Roman London
Details
Which little-known landmark hidden in plain sight cannot be moved lest London shall fall? In the HQ of which international financial conglomerate can you find the ruins of a secret cult temple built on a lost river? And in the crypt of which church can you find the remains of an ancient Roman house?
The city of London is built, quite literally, on its Roman past. For this event, we will be visiting some of the city’s most fascinating ruins and exploring corresponding areas of Roman folklore such as bathing and social rituals, ancestor and spirit worship in the home, protective talismans, gods and cults, and rituals and beliefs around combat and death.
Most of these sites are free to enter, however one of them, the Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, requires a ticket purchase. So we will start there at 11am for all who wish to see it. If that's you, please purchase a ticket for the 11am slot on 27/9/2025 as soon as possible at:
For anyone who doesn't want to see this site or pay for it, that is absolutely fine!
We will meet you afterwards at 12pm outside the Billingsgate baths and continue the event from there!
In your RSVP, please confirm whether you'll be joining the bath house tour at 11 or will be meeting us afterwards at 12 so we know who to wait for.
The route contains approximately 40 minutes of city walking outdoors with several stops to explore ruins. Please bring water and sunscreen and dress comfortably. We can stop for snacks if people wish, and will decide these stops as and when. There may also be a pub/park social afterwards depending on weather and if people wish to continue chatting!
See you there!