Fishbourne Roman Palace

The Fishbourne Roman Palace was actually discovered by accident by workmen digging in 1960. Modern excavations have revealed that the site shifted from a military base at the time of the Roman invasion in AD43 to a glorious Palace by the end of the first century! Now available for your family to explore ad arbitrium!

The known story of the buildings and the times is told in an accessible audio-visual programme with families in mind, and the site museum offers up fascinating artefacts from the excavations plus plans, reconstruction drawings and models! The remains of the North Wing of the Palace are enclosed within a cover building so you're immune from the weather here too. Kids can see the UK's largest collection of mosaics including the famous Cupid on a Dolphin!

Outside, the northern side of the formal garden has been replanted as they have evidence it was originally, so you're looking at a real Roman garden with the exact range of plants known to have been grown there at the time. Next door is a Roman Garden Museum that includes a reconstructed Roman potting shed with a selection of antique gardening tools! Can you work out what they each were for?