The Romans certainly left their footprint on the Isle of Wight (which they named ‘Vectis’) during their 400-year stay here.

If you book for fewer than fifteen people

On the Island, we have two Villas which are open to the public (and more yet to be excavated). A visit to these two Villas can be a stand-alone tour or be combined with other attractions.

As an example, the tour lends itself well to combine with a visit to The Garlic Farm and/or Adgestone Vineyard. Both are situated on Roman soil close to the Brading Villa. Indeed, it was the Romans who first taught Islanders how to produce the fine wine that they are still making today! A visit to Carisbrooke Castle, which has evidence of Roman remains built into the outer medieval Castle walls, also makes a good fit.

If you book a tour for fifteen people or more

We can offer you a special package, designed in conjunction with Vectis Archaeological Trust (VAT). The Trust is made up of Island archaeologists, historians and experts in heritage and education. Its Chairman David Reeves has put together a wonderful tour for us, facilitating an exclusive visit to:

Landguard Manor

The Manor is over 300 years old and has a link to British Roman History. It is the birthplace of Charles Roach Smith, born in 1806. He was a well-known antiquarian, whose catalogued collection contained over 5000 objects. These were eventually transferred to the British Museum and formed the nucleus of its national Romano-British collection. However, if you are not wishing to include the Manor in your tour – you can simply substitute it with lunch in a local historic pub.

Special Tour for 15 people or more

The tour starts at 10 a.m. at Newport Roman Villa. (Please note - even when the Museum is officially closed, David can open it specially for you.)

1. Newport Villa was discovered in 1926. Enjoy a guided tour of the ancient remains led by the curator.

2. Carisbrooke Castle. From the Villa, you then travel the short distance to Carisbrooke Castle to see the evidence of Roman remains built into the outer medieval Castle walls. Just below the Castle are the remains of another Roman Villa, which has sadly been re-buried.

(A visit inside Carisbrooke Castle, for the purposes of this particular tour, is weather-dependent and is therefore not included.)

*3. We then proceed to Landguard Manor, Shanklin.
You will be greeted at Landguard by one of the present-day owners who will give a brief history of the house’s Victorian past. This will be followed by a talk on the Roman way of life by another expert.

After this, a delicious buffet lunch will be served at the Manor. 

Before you leave, you will have the thrill of handling genuine Roman artefacts.

4. Depart for Brading Roman Villa (discovered in 1879). The modern Museum covers and preserves the West Range of a courtyard Villa complex built around AD 300, housing some of the best mosaics in the UK.

The foundations of two earlier North and South Ranges are now outlined in chalk outside.

The Chairman of the Friends of Brading Roman Villa will give you a tour which takes you from prehistory right through to the modern day.

The tour finished at 4 p.m. when the Museum closes.

N.B.
*If you have substituted Landguard Manor with a pub lunch, you will not experience what is described in section 3.
In this case, your tour will finish an hour earlier, at 3 p.m.  

There is a tea/coffee shop at the Museum which is open until 4 p.m. should you wish to visit it.

Please note - the tour starts in one place and finishes at another.
We would also like to make you aware that the two Museums are quite different - you will not be seeing the same things twice over.