Do Not Miss the Unique Guildhall Art Gallery and the Underground London Roman Amphiteatre When in London

The Guildhall Art Gallery was constructed in 1999, replacing a building that was destroyed in The Blitz in 1941.  It was intented to house the art collection of the London.  It was built in a semi-gothic style, adjacent to and in harmony with the nearby historic Guildhall, to which it was connected internally.  Within the art gallery, sightseers can witness an amazing display of some of the masterpieces of great artists, which are dated from 1670 to the 21st century. 

A different kind of display, however, can be seen underground. Beneath the Guildhall Complex lies the remains of an old Roman Amphitheatre.   It was discovered in 1988, when the old Guildhall Art Gallery was being redeveloped.  Today, the remains of the ampitheatre are displayed on site in the basement of the art gallery. The Romans established the first major settlement along the River Thames during AD43, which they called Londinium. 

It was suspected for a long time that the Romans had built an amphitheatre in old Londinium, but it wasn't until the remains were found that this theory was validated and the site determined.  It was previously thought that the amphiteatre was built outside of London's city limits. Much of the ruins are still remarkably well-preserved.  It was a circular, 80-m structure that would have accommodated around 6,000 people.  During that time, Londinium's population would have been around 20,000-30,000.  Today, many of the amphiteatre's original structure remains - and one can see portions of the original circular walls, its drainage system, and even the sand that filled the arena. 

In it heyday, it featured gladiator combats, public executions, wild animal fights, and even religious activities.  When the ancient Romans left, the amphiteatre was abandoned, and lost for centuries until recently. There are various ways by which a sightseer can join a tour of the old amphiteatre - admission to the Guildhall Art Gallery includes entry to the amphiteatre, but there are also tours conducted by other bodies such as the Museum of London, although general admission is free. 

Booking a tour is highly recommended, however, as this would enable the spectator to learn more and gain some experience from lectures or reconstructions conducted by the guides.  Aboveground, a wide circular design on the stones of Guildhall yard marks the outline of the amphitheatre below.

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