Yorkshire was a rather important region for the Romans when they came to the British Isles. While many other areas were settled to exploit local resources, the emphasis on Yorkshire was defence. There would have been resources to extract from old York, which had a much different name in their day, but predominantly the Romans wanted an extra strategic buffer zone to hold back the marauding masses to the north and protect the riches to the south.
This premise makes Yorkshire fascinating as a place to discover more about the Romans in Britain. Plus, it left behind more than enough points of interest and artefacts to be collected and explored in Yorkshire. With a grand assortment of findings in a designated gallery as well as an increasingly popular annual event, the area has a lot to offer anyone who’s fascinated with this pivotal time in local history.
Covering Everything from Pre-Romans to their Stolen Gods
Source: Unsplash
Easily the best place to witness the impact and continued stay of the Ancient Romans in York is at the Yorkshire Museum. It examines the empire at the height of its powers, showcasing the many treasures found both in the local area and far beyond to showcase a unique look at the times of Eboracum. Central Hall features Roman columns, Roman York citizens, and even mosaics, frescoes, and statues showcasing their gods.
Chief among these grand attractions is the mighty statue of Mars. Being a gallery collected by 1800s historians fascinated by the worlds of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, you can expect a lot of crossover. After all, much of what we see as the Roman gods and their mythology was stolen and adapted from those of the Ancient Greeks. There are some differences to be explored, however – especially as the Greek side is so well known.
To this day, it’s the Greek pantheon that reigns supreme in the public consciousness. For films and TV shows built around this collection of deities, be it something like Kaos or Clash of the Titans, the focus is generally on the Greek interpretation. This is true elsewhere across media, such as in the case of online progressive slots. The Age of the Gods series, which spans the God of Storms, Helios, Midas, Olympus, and Medusa titles, are all Greek. No matter where you get your classical history from, Rome’s interpretations of the Greek gods still remain a novelty to many without them even necessarily realising it.
The Return of the Eboracum Roman Festival
Source: Pexels
While the Yorkshire Museum is open throughout the year to showcase the brilliance of the Roman Empire and its stay in the area, there’s also a grand festival that looks to make its return in early 2026. Last year, the Eboracum Roman Festival ran from 19 to 31 May, with locations across York to celebrate the days of Ancient Rome here. The festival combines living history with bombastic events and lectures.
In 2025, we saw the mighty parade take to the streets of York as well as the organisers set-up a living history encampment to explore in the York Museum Gardens. As for lectures, the slate ran from May 21 to 28, including a conversation with professor Mary Beard and one entitled ‘A Gladiator Cemetery in York’. Add in the walking tours and the reconstruction of Roman York tour at the York Library, and it was a stacked festival that hopes to return next year.
There’s plenty to explore for a unique and in-depth exploration of the Roman Empire in Britain in Yorkshire, and in 2026, we may just be treated to the grand Eboracum Roman Festival once again.
