Wroxeter Roman City (ancient name: Viroconium Cornoviorum) is the site of the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, managed by English Heritage. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was last updated in March 2026 to reflect the 2026/27 admission prices, valid from 28 March 2026. The reconstructed Roman town house — built for a Channel 4 series in 2010 — requires crossing a small road to access; this is not mentioned in many visitor guides. There is no café; only a hot drink machine is available.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Wroxeter, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 6PH |
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm (summer); reduced days in winter (see below) |
| Adult ticket | £8.50–£10.79 depending on date and day |
| Nearest train | Shrewsbury (~5.5 miles); Wellington Telford West (~6 miles) |
| Parking | Free on-site car park (25–30 spaces) right by the entrance |
| Time needed | 1.5–2.5 hours |
Wroxeter Roman City opening hours
The 2026/27 schedule (28 March 2026 – 16 March 2027): 28 Mar – 24 Oct, daily 10am–5pm; 25 Oct – 1 Nov, daily 10am–4pm; 2 Nov – 12 Feb, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 13–21 Feb (half-term), daily 10am–4pm; 22 Feb – 16 Mar, Sat–Sun only, 10am–4pm; 24–26 Dec, closed. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Opening hours last updated in March 2026.
Wroxeter Roman City ticket prices
English Heritage members enter free. Concessions apply to visitors aged 65+, students with a valid ID, and jobseekers with relevant ID. A free audio tour is included with admission. Groups of 11 or more receive a 15% discount (not 10% — Wroxeter uses a higher group discount rate than most English Heritage sites), plus free entry for one tour leader and one coach driver.
Super Saver — Mon–Fri, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; daily, 2 Nov–16 Mar
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.50 |
| Concession | £7.65 |
| Child | £4.25 |
Saver — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 28 Mar–22 May & 1 Sep–1 Nov; Mon–Fri, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £9.26 |
| Concession | £8.50 |
| Child | £4.59 |
Standard — Sat–Sun & bank holidays, 23 May–31 Aug
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.79 |
| Concession | £10.03 |
| Child | £5.35 |
Not included in any city pass scheme. Ticket prices last updated in May 2026.
Is it worth paying for English Heritage membership?
Entry prices for English Heritage sites, including Dover Castle, Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, can seem extremely expensive. This is clearly a deliberate ploy to push visitors towards taking out annual English Heritage membership.
Membership gives free access to more than 400 sites across the country, and costs £82. That is, unless you get a special deal – there was a 25%-off Black Friday deal in November 2025, for example.
Whether that £82 is worth it depends on how many sites are near you (there are lots in the south of the country, not so many near me in Yorkshire). And, critically, whether you’re going to visit them with children.
Each member can take up to six children with them free of charge. Given the steep one-time entry fees, an adult member with two children is likely to recoup the cost of their membership by visiting just two or three sites within the year.
For an individual without children, I’d say English Heritage membership is worth it only if you’re planning to blitz a few sites in one year. For an individual with children, membership is a smart investment that will likely pay itself back within one school holiday. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
The real question is whether it’s worth renewing English Heritage membership after a year. That’s debatable, as you’re unlikely to go to many of these sites twice. I eventually renewed after I was offered 20% off the price. I’ll probably recoup the membership price visiting two sites in summer next year, even if I’ve ticked off most of the best ones near me.
If you buy membership through this link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to get to Wroxeter Roman City
Wroxeter Roman City is 5 miles south-east of Shrewsbury on a minor road signposted from the B4380, in rural Shropshire.
By train and bus: The nearest stations are Shrewsbury (~5.5 miles) and Wellington Telford West (~6 miles, on the Telford-Shrewsbury line). Arriva bus 96 (Telford–Shrewsbury, passing close to Telford Central railway station) runs along the B4380 and stops near the site. Check traveline.info for current timetables and stop locations before travelling.
By car: Use postcode SY5 6PH, signposted from the B4380. No ULEZ charges apply. Cycling routes at sustrans.org.uk.
Parking at Wroxeter Roman City
Free parking for 25–30 vehicles is located right by the entrance to the site — one of the few English Heritage properties where parking is free for all visitors, not just members. Disabled parking is 8 metres from the entrance on an uneven surface. Coach parking is adjacent to the site. Note that access to the Roman Town House requires crossing a small public road from the main site.
How long to spend at Wroxeter Roman City
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The Old Work, bath house remains, reconstructed town house, museum, forum colonnade, and audio tour can all be seen within this time. Ample picnic space is available; allow extra time if combining a picnic visit with the full museum.
Accessibility at Wroxeter Roman City
The site is mostly accessible, with ramped access to the visitor centre. Most of the historic site is reachable via smooth grass, cobbles, and loose and compacted gravel paths; some slopes and uneven areas exist. Manual wheelchair users are advised to bring an assistant. Accessing the Roman Town House requires crossing a small road. Disabled parking is 8 metres from the entrance but note the surface is uneven. Benches are at intervals around the site. No stairs are involved in the main circuit. Toilets including an accessible toilet are in the visitor centre.
Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds but are not permitted inside the museum. A water bowl is available outside the shop entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout. A Social Story for the site is available from English Heritage to help visitors with autism or sensory needs plan their visit — email [email protected] to request it. Picnic benches are in two areas: one overlooking the historic site and one near the Roman Town House.
Inside Wroxeter Roman City: what to see
Wroxeter was founded as a legionary fortress in the mid-1st century AD and became a full civilian city — Viroconium Cornoviorum — in the 90s AD, serving as regional capital of the Cornovii. At its peak it housed an estimated 15,000 people, making it the fourth-largest city in Roman Britain. Its exceptional preservation is the result of remoteness — unlike most Roman towns, Wroxeter was never built over, leaving the archaeology largely undisturbed.
The centrepiece is the Old Work — a 7-metre-high wall of the basilica and the largest piece of free-standing Roman wall in England. Look for the double bands of orange-red tiles, used to stabilise and level the masonry. Stone discs mark the positions of the basilica’s original columns. The bath house complex is extensive; the adjacent market hall and the remains of the forum colonnade are also visible.
The reconstructed Roman Town House was built in 2010 by six builders using only Roman tools and materials, for a Channel 4 television series. It comprises a dining room, bedroom, and bath-suite with replica furniture; one room is left at various stages of completion to reveal the layers beneath the plaster. Access requires crossing a small road from the main site.
The museum displays Roman jewellery, amulets, tools, and a handling collection including writing implements and a reconstructed strigil. The site is also on the Bloomberg Connects app. There is no café; a hot drink machine is in the visitor centre and two picnic bench areas are available. The gift shop sells Roman-themed souvenirs.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parking is free for everyone | Unlike most English Heritage sites, parking at Wroxeter is free for all visitors including non-members. |
| 15% group discount | Wroxeter offers a higher group discount than standard EH sites (15% for 11+ paying visitors, not 10% for 15+). |
| Town House requires crossing a road | The reconstructed Roman town house is across a small public road from the main site. Take care, particularly with children. |
| No café | Only a hot drink machine is available. Bring a picnic — two bench areas are provided. |
| Social Story available | Request the Wroxeter Social Story from [email protected] to help plan a visit for visitors with autism or sensory needs. |
| Bloomberg Connects app | Download before visiting for the best experience of the digital audio guide and curator commentary. |
Frequently asked questions about Wroxeter Roman City
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there parking at Wroxeter Roman City? | Yes. Free parking for 25–30 vehicles right by the entrance — free for all visitors, including non-members. |
| Is there a café at Wroxeter Roman City? | No. A hot drink machine is in the visitor centre. Bring a picnic — two bench areas are available. |
| Is Wroxeter Roman City suitable for children? | Yes. Open grassed areas, the reconstructed Roman town house, and the museum’s handling collection all appeal to children. |
| Is Wroxeter Roman City accessible for wheelchair users? | Mostly, with assistance. The site is largely flat with ramped access to the visitor centre. Manual wheelchair users should bring an assistant. Some surfaces are uneven. |
| Are dogs allowed at Wroxeter Roman City? | Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds. They are not permitted inside the museum. A water bowl is available outside the shop. |
| Is Wroxeter Roman City free for English Heritage members? | Yes. Members enter free and can bring up to six children free. |
Things to do near Wroxeter Roman City
Shrewsbury (~5.5 miles) is a medieval market town with a castle, independent shops, and riverside walks. The Wrekin (~5 miles east) is a prominent Iron Age hillfort with free access and panoramic views. Attingham Park (National Trust, ~4 miles) is an 18th-century mansion with parkland; charges apply. Ironbridge Gorge Museums (~10 miles east) are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with multiple paid museums covering the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
More West Midlands travel
Other West Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for Stokesay Castle in Shropshire.
- What you need to know before visiting Buildwas Abbey in Shropshire.
- Review of the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley.
- Lichfield Cathedral: Ticket prices, opening hours & visitor guide.
- Plan your visit to Dudley Zoo and Castle.
