The fort is open to the public every year, from Easter weekend through to 30 September. Opening hours daily 11.00am to 5.00pm from Easter to the end of June, and through September. It opens from 10.00am to 5.00pm in July and August.
Binchester Fort is situated in the centre of County Durham, approximately one and a half miles north of Bishop Auckland. Car parking is available on site and the fort is signposted from the A690 Durham-Crook, from A688 Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland road and from Bishop Auckland Town Centre. Alternatively, the fort is a 20 minute walk along the banks of the River Wear from Bishop Auckland Market.
Come and see for yourself
Explore the impressive remains of a Roman bath house with its amazing 1,700 year old under floor heating system. Find out why taking a bath in Roman times was about more than just getting clean! Walk in the footsteps of the soldiers around the remains of the Commander's House - see if you can find the beast of Binchester among the ruins.
Visiting Binchester Roman Fort - background history
Binchester was once the largest Roman fort in County Durham. A small part has been excavated and is open to view and to visit. However, most of the fort and the remains of the nearby civilian settlement still lie buried in the surrounding fields.
Binchester Fort was built in the second half of the first century AD, when the Roman army was asserting its power in the North East of England. Originally, the fort was built in wood: when the Romans knew they would be in the area for a long time, it was rebuilt in stone. The soldiers in this fort did not come from this area, they came from all over the Roman Empire. We know that a cavalry unit from Spain was here in the 2nd century AD and that a unit originally made up of Dutch tribesmen was here in the 3rd century AD.
Public excavation 2009
Binchester excavation project 2009-2014 is a new programme of excavation which started in June 2009. This is a joint project with our partners at Durham University
; Stanford University (California)
, and the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Northumberland and Durham
. Part of the project will include a phase of public excavation in late June through to the middle of July. A booking system will be in place for this and further information is published on the Binchester Excavation Project webpage (please click on the above link to go to the webpage for further details).
Visitor information
Visits can be arranged by appointment for school groups, small and large parties.
Admission charges
- Adult: £2.25
- Child (aged 5-16): £1.00
- Concessions (OAP's, unemployed, students (with NUS card)): £1.00
Accessibility
The site has been specially laid out with level access for people in wheelchairs and those pushing prams. An accessible toilet and parking bays are provided. The site has a shop, toilet and limited refreshment facilities.
Education
A school room, workshop activities and guided tours can be pre-booked in advance for school groups and small parties (up to 50).
Group bookings
For group booking information to visit the fort or if you require any other information about the fort, please contact the Visitor Assistants on-site 01388 663 089 during opening hours. At all other times please contact the Archaeology Section.