Fishbourne Roman Palace

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Fishbourne Roman Palace Part of Sussex Past, this unique Roman site brings to life Britain's earliest Palace Welcome to the largest Roman home in Britain.
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Imagine the luxury that would once have surrounded the proud owner of this lavish Roman residence. Stroll around the recreated Roman gardens – the earliest gardens found anywhere in the country – and enjoy the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK. No matter what the weather is like, there is plenty to see and do:

-Explore 2,000 year old remains of a uniquely lavish building
-Marvel at the largest collection of in-situ mosaics in the country
--Find out about life at the Roman Palace through the objects we found here
-Take a glimpse behind the scenes at the Collections Discovery Centre
-Have a stroll around a recreation of Britain's first gardens
-Relax and enjoy a rest in our cafe
-Take part in one of our special events and demonstration that bring history to life
-Watch our film to see a virtual reconstruction of the Palace in its heyday

Or simply soak in the atmosphere of a very special place!

Did you know?There are lots of offers available at Fishbourne Roman Palace. We collaborate with a number of wonderful or...
15/10/2026

Did you know?

There are lots of offers available at Fishbourne Roman Palace. We collaborate with a number of wonderful organisations to give our visitors access to the Palace for less.

🎟️ Take a look at our offers!

We need you!This October half term, Fishbourne Roman Palace is seeking new recruits to join the ranks of the Roman Army!...
13/10/2026

We need you!

This October half term, Fishbourne Roman Palace is seeking new recruits to join the ranks of the Roman Army!

From Monday 26th to Friday 30th October our young visitors can join up as a trainee Roman soldier. Once enlisted the new recruits will take part in military exercises in the Palace Gardens and get stuck into daily activities.

From writing their name in Roman letters to mastering sword and shield practice the new recruits will learn what it was like to be a Roman soldier and the skills they needed for combat!

As well as dressing up in uniform, they will learn about the medicines used 2000 years ago and how soldiers would spend their leisure time.

🎃 There will also be a Pumpkin Trail through the Palace gardens – a gentle nod to Halloween's ancient roots in Samhain, the Celtic festival marking the turning of the year.

This event is suitable for all ages.

📅 Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October
⏰ 10am to 4pm
🎟️ Admission: Included with general admission tickets. Members go free
Activities: Additional £1 per participant, purchased upon arrival.

Visit the link in our bio for more details 👆

If you like a Sussex pub you won't want to miss Dr Janet Pennington's brilliant talk about Sussex inn signs and their hi...
02/10/2026

If you like a Sussex pub you won't want to miss Dr Janet Pennington's brilliant talk about Sussex inn signs and their history!

Dr. Pennington - a respected Sussex historian, archivist and author - will take you on a captivating journey through the intriguing history of Sussex inn signs.

Her talk will delve into the deep significance these signs hold in the realms of architecture and social history. You'll gain insights into how they reflect the rich tapestry of local heritage and culture. This is a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of the region's past and its enduring impact on the present.

We can't wait to welcome you!

📆 When: Sunday 11th October
⏰ Time: 10am - 11.30am
🎟️ Tickets are £10 and selling fast!

Council for British Archaeology South-East and Sussex Archaeology & History are putting on a conference celebrating the ...
02/10/2026

Council for British Archaeology South-East and Sussex Archaeology & History are putting on a conference celebrating the life and work of Ivan Margary this Saturday October 3rd, 2026, at Kings Church, Lewes.

Speakers will include Dr Miles Russell about the legacy of Fishbourne (see focus below); Dr David Rudling about the Life, Work and Legacies of Ivan Margary; Professor Naomi Sykes on her researches into the Animal Bone finds from Fishbourne, and Professor Tony King regarding the Iron Age and Roman routes to the west of Fishbourne. There will also be a display of recent finds from the Roman roadside settlement at Bridge Farm, near Barcombe, two book launches, and various new and second-hand book stalls.

For further details about the conference and to book a place in advance (otherwise tickets on the door):

https://tixoom.app/sussexarchaeology

Lecture Focus: 'At the heart of the kingdom? The legacy of Fishbourne and beyond'
Speaker: Dr Miles Russell (University of Bournemouth)

Fishbourne Palace is one of the undoubted marvels of Roman Britain, its preservation and presentation due to the generosity of Ivan Margary who bought the land and paid for the cover building and museum. A popular tourist destination since 1968, Fishbourne has remained the focus of considerable investigation. Much of this work has treated the palace as if it were a one-off: an oasis of Mediterranean culture set within an overtly Iron Age landscape. Archaeological fieldwork, however, has indicated that Fishbourne was not in fact unique, but part of a wider zone of early Romanitas. Unfortunately, the absence of a benefactor such as Margary meant that comparable Roman structures have been poorly recorded or lost. This paper celebrates the role Margary played in saving Fishbourne whilst highlighting other sites in Sussex and eastern Hampshire which help define the relationship between the provincial elite and the imperial first families of Rome.

Join us for this exciting talk where award-winning novelist and Booker Prize nominee Linda Proud will explore the little...
01/10/2026

Join us for this exciting talk where award-winning novelist and Booker Prize nominee Linda Proud will explore the little known "Great King" Togidubnus (Fishbourne's very own king), as well as digging into the role of the novelist to fill in the gaps when writing historical fiction.

Linda is an award-winning novelist and author of four books set in the Florentine Renaissance – a world full of martial conflicts, murders and conspiracies that was the nursery to Botticelli’s mythological paintings. Her book A Tabernacle for the Sun - the first book in the Boticelli series - was long-listed for the Booker Prize.

We'd love you to join us!

This 90 minute talk will also include a Q&A.

📆 When: Saturday 10th October
⏰ Time: 3pm - 4.30pm
🎟️ Tickets are £10.

Join Jackson van Uden, AKA History with Jackson, for this fascinating talk about Julius Caesar and the link to modern da...
30/09/2026

Join Jackson van Uden, AKA History with Jackson, for this fascinating talk about Julius Caesar and the link to modern day politics. Discover what makes political figures through the ages more similar than we might think, and the differences that prevent history from repeating its self.

Jackson will delve into the man, the myth, the legend - Julius Caesar. From his military successes to his politics, from his treatment of his friends to his affairs, Caesar is a man who has always demanded our attention, and we have always given it! However, we have very rarely thought about what we would do if someone similar emerged on the world stage...

Join us for this interesting and thoroughly relevant talk.

The talk with be 45 minutes with an extra 45 minutes for a Q&A.

📆 When: Friday 9th October
⏰ Time: 1pm - 2.30pm
🎟️ Tickets are £10 and selling fast so grab one whilst you can.

Come and join us for Kevin Newman's lively, funny and interactive talk where he will take us on a tour through his bests...
29/09/2026

Come and join us for Kevin Newman's lively, funny and interactive talk where he will take us on a tour through his bestselling book of 2023 (now in its second edition), The Little History of Sussex.

Whether you are a visitor to the county or a die-hard Sussexian of old. Kevin will take us through millennia of Sussex history in 90 minutes, whilst also making us smile and answering our questions!

The talk with be 45 minutes with an extra 45 minutes for a Q&A. Copies of his book will be available to buy after the talk.

📆 When: Friday 9th October
⏰ Time: 10am - 11.30am
🎟️ Tickets are £10 for non-members.

Buy tickets for this talk here https://tickets.sussexpast.co.uk/event-tickets/81114?branches.branchID=3988

We were delighted to receive this message from the Herculaneum Society following their recent visit to Fishbourne Roman ...
25/09/2026

We were delighted to receive this message from the Herculaneum Society following their recent visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace.

We welcomed their group of 14 members on Saturday 19 September for a guided tour with Andie (pictured), our Learning Officer and a qualified Classics teacher. Afterwards, Samantha, their UK Events Co-ordinator wrote to us:

"...I would especially like to thank Andie for an excellent tour. Her knowledge of the Palace is remarkable, but what impressed us most was the way in which she shared it. Andie has a real gift for teaching: clear, engaging, generous, and always attentive to her audience. Andie brought the Palace, its archaeology, mosaics, and wider Roman context vividly to life.

Our members are a curious and knowledgeable group, and Andie handled their questions with confidence, insight, and good humour. Several people commented afterwards on how much they had learned and how much they had enjoyed the tour. For a Society with such a strong interest in the Roman world, it was a particularly rewarding experience.

Please do pass on our sincere thanks to Andie and to the reception team. Their knowledge, warmth, and professionalism made Fishbourne Roman Palace a highlight of our outing."

Across all six of the Sussex Archaeological Society properties including us here at Fishbourne, our teams welcome everyone from school groups and families to specialist societies like this one. This wonderful feedback is testament to the passion and expertise that make all our sites such special places to explore.

Thank you to the Herculaneum Society for taking the time to write, and congratulations to Andie and the whole team.

If you’re interested in a group visit or guided tour, you can find out more on our website https://sussexpast.co.uk/our-historic-sites/fishbourne-roman-palace-gardens/.

25/09/2026

🎟️ There is still time to book tickets for talks at the first ever Arts & Literature Festival at Fishbourne Roman Palace being held on the 9-11 October 2026.

Sessions include:
Dr Jess Venner diving into her new book The Lost Voices of Pompeii
Kevin Newman talking about his book The Little History of Sussex
History with Jackson discussing Julius Caesar and modern politics
Lindsey Davis talking about her acclaimed latest novel Murder in Purple and Gold
Andy Burnham (Megalithic Portal) sharing fascinating discoveries from his book The Old Stones
Linda Proud exploring her fascinating book The Albios Way
Dr Janet Pennington talking about Sussex Inn signs and their history

All talks also include a Q&A so come and join us for a very special weekend.

📆 Dates: 9 - 11 October 2026
🎟️ Tickets: £10 for non-members, £7.50 for members.

Further details and ticket booking can be found on our website.

We so happy that Sarah Caws - textile and mixed media artist - will be hosting a botanical printing workshop at the Arts...
23/09/2026

We so happy that Sarah Caws - textile and mixed media artist - will be hosting a botanical printing workshop at the Arts & Literature Festival in October

Sarah lives on the West Sussex coast, where the local beaches and surrounding landscape are a constant source of inspiration for her artwork. Over the years, her passion for textiles has led her on a journey from sewing to exploring a variety of textile and mixed media processes.

In this workshop you will explore the alternative process of 'eco printing', using the natural pigments found in plants to produce beautiful botanical images on paper, discuss different methods and explore using a variety of plants. You will make a selection of 'eco prints' to take home.

No previous experience is needed. Please see our website for further details of what to bring and what no to bring to the workshop!

Come along and let your inner artist loose!

📆 When: Friday 9th October
⏰ Time: 10.30am - 1.30pm
🎟️ Tickets are £40

Please visit the events page on the website to book.

Address

Roman Way
Chichester
PO193QR

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10am - 4:30pm
Friday 10am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4:30pm
Sunday 10am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441243785859

Website

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