This newly opened Roman experience has immediately become one of the leading attractions along the wall. Now in the heart of the ubanized sprawl of greater Newcastle, Wallsend was, as its name implies, the last stop on Hadrian's Wall. Recent excavations have revealed much of the old Roman fort here and, as well as viewing the foundations on the ground, you can now take to the skies in a soaring air-traffic-control-type tower to get a real overview of what went where and how everything interconnected. There is a great interactive 'museum' with lots to do, as well as see, in order to understand how the Roman army lived and worked. The central area imitates the courtyard of the excavated headquarters building with the Imperial Chapel and treasure room at one end. The model of the fort in the centre allows you to view each street exactly as it would have been and a computer screen takes for a walk right down them! There is a good shop and excellent cafe. Don't miss out on the full-scale working reconstruction of a Roman bath-house, based on the one at Chesters, over at the far side of the site though. It's quite incredible. Watch out in the Caldarium. Phew! It's hot. It is apparently planned for booked groups to actually use it properly in the future.

The site is run by Tyne & Wear Museums & there is an entry fee.