Caerleon was one of the most important military sites in Britain under the Roman Empire, home of the 2nd Augustan Legion and housing 5,000 soldiers and horsemen, with Infomamphitheatre, baths, shops and temples.
Today Caerleon is an attractive historic town with a selection of pubs, restaurants and tea rooms.
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Visit the Fortress Baths (please note that entrance fees do apply)
See the Digital Roman Caerleon Trail for a walk through time - use the blue slider beneath the files to access further videos.
Download Trail leaflet 1 and Trail leaflet 2
Roman port found
In the summer of 2011, a team of volunteers and academics from Cardiff University found a Roman port in Caerleon, one of only two in Britain.
www.bbc.co.uk/news
Amphitheatre and barracks
The amphitheatre and barracks – currently the only Roman barracks block visible in Europe – are open free to the public all year unless an event is taking place.
The Legend of King Arthur
Legend has it that Caerleon was the first of King Arthur’s Courts, the Amphitheatre allegedly being the site of the famous Round Table.
Read about how the legend developed on the Caerleon Net website.
The Ffwrwm
The Ffwrrwm Arts and Crafts Centre has several craft shops, a tea-room and restaurant and art gallery. There is an unique sculpture garden with Arthurian and Roman carvings, and the largest lovespoon in the world!
Further information
Find information and images of Caerleon past, present and future on the Caerleon Net website.
The flourishing Caerleon arts scene is detailed on the Caerleon Arts website.
How to get here
Train: as far as Newport city centre and on by bus, bike or on foot
Bus: from Newport city centre bus station, services 27,28 and 28B
Bike or on foot: on the NCN route 88 from Newport city centre
Car: coming from the west, take Jct 26 from the M4, follow brown signs or coming from the east, take Jct 25 from the M4, follow brown signs.
Please note:
........if using Google directions to Caerleon, do not travel via Pillmawr Road. This is a single track road with passing places, tight bends and steep inclines and is not suitable for through traffic.Coaches in particular would find this road virtually impossible to access.
Contact
Local Visitor Information Centres
There are also several Visitor Information Points in Caerleon itself, at the following locations:
Caerleon Library, Town Hall, NP18 1AE
The Ffwrwm, High Street, NP18 1AG
Cooper's Vintage, High Street, NP18 1AG
Post Office, High Street, NP18 1AG
Roman Legion Museum, High Street, NP18 1AE
Cadw Fortress Baths, High Street, NP18 1AE
These points will have stocks of local information leaflets and some basic information about local amenities, but they do not provide the services which a Local or Tourist Information Centre would provide, such as bed booking.