This 5-night and 6-day tour traces the dramatic events of the Boudican Revolt (60/61 AD) when the native Celtic Iceni tribe revolted against the occupying Roman Empire under their formidable queen Boudica. From the Iceni heartlands in what is modern Norfolk through to the fascinating Roman cities of Colchester, St Albans and London, the tour explores the remains of towns, forts, temples and an amphitheatre to illuminate these shady events. This is augmented by visits to some of the UK’s best regional museums where we admire artefacts from the period to gain a clearer understanding of the background to the revolt. The tour culminates in a visit to the site of what is thought to have been the final battle between Queen Boudica and the Romans, her tragic demise cementing her place in the nation’s psyche as brave freedom fighter, warrior against oppression, and modern-day female icon.

Boudica, or to give her the Victorian variant Boudicea, has long been seen as a pivotal character in British history. When she raised her rebellious standard in 61 AD the Queen of the Iceni unleashed a torrent of violence that exceeded anything seen in these islands until William the Conqueror’s ‘harrying of the north’. Her vast army of native tribesmen and women utterly destroyed the provincial capital at Colchester (Camulodunum), annihilated a vexillation from Legion IX Hispana, marched upon London (Londinium), which was also given to the flames, and finally blitzed what is now St. Albans (Verulamium). Very possibly it was just outside the wrecked town that her host faced a disciplined Roman army, led by Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. This was to be the decisive battle, though not as she’d hoped. Outclassed and outfought, her native forces were cut to shreds and the rebellion crushed. What became of the rebel queen we cannot say but her final glory was to cheat the Roman general of his triumph. The brave Iceni leader remains lodged in our national psyche to this day.

Day 1 – Arrival: Meet at midday for a sandwich lunch and introductory talk at our hotel in London. Spend the afternoon on a walking tour (approx. 4km) of Roman London visiting the remarkable Roman amphitheatre below the city’s Guildhall, the 3rd century AD temple of Mithras and the new Museum of London (due to open in 2026). We will also admire the celebrated bronze statue of Boudica and her daughters on the Thames Embankment, created for the Great Exhibition of 1851 by the engineer and sculptor Thomas Thorneycroft. Hotel in London – I night. (L, D).

Day 2 – An Ambush and a Defeat: we leave London and travel to Peterborough, on the edge of historic Iceni territory. Here we visit the Longthorpe Vexillation Fort which may have been built in response to the Iceni revolt of 48 AD. This was the probable start point for Petillius Cerealis and four cohorts of the Legion IX (Hispana) and location of his prepared rally point and stand after the Colne Valley ambush. We visit the Peterborough Museum to view its Roman collection and pause for lunch in the city. In the afternoon we make the short journey to Stonea camp and site of the Iceni defeat in 47 AD. Continue to Norwich and our hotel for 1 night. (B, D).
Day 3 – The Iceni heartlands and Britannia’s first capital: from Norwich we travel to the site of Venta Icenorum (‘the market of the Iceni’), connected to Boudica’s revolt of 60/61 AD. Returning to Norwich we visit the museum with its informative Boudicca Gallery and can take lunch from a choice of many cafes and restaurants. We then proceed to Colchester, the first capital of Roman Britannia, and considered the oldest recorded town in Britain, having been mentioned by Pliny the Elder. Hotel in Colchester – 1 night. (B, D).

Day 4 – Camulodunum: we spend most of the day exploring this fascinating city and tracing the fall of the colonia to Boudica during the revolt. We visit the amazing Castle Museum, a Norman keep built on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius, the Roman Walls, built in response to Boudica’s rebellion, and the extant Roman street layout. In 2014 the famous Fenwick Treasure was discovered here, buried beneath a building destroyed by the Iceni, reflecting the desperation of those faced by imminent destruction. Drive to St Albans and our hotel for 2 nights. (B, D).

Day 5 – Verulamium and the final battle: we spend the morning exploring the Roman town of St Albans (Verulamium) and its destruction in Boudica’s revolt. After lunch in the town we drive to one of the suggested sites of the final battle between the Roman armies under Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Governor of Britannia, and Boudica, who perished.

Day 6 – Departure: after breakfast guests disperse. St Albans is well connected by rail to other parts of the country and the average journey time to London St Pancras is only 28 minutes. (B).