Ancient history of London timeline: from the Romans to the Normans

September 21, 2017

The sun rises behind Tower Bridge, on the Thames, London. Ancient history of London, Britain — The sun rises behind Tower Bridge, on the Thames, London. Credit: Clive Jones/Alamy

Our timeline traces the history of London from its Roman origins to the Norman Conquest

While the banks of the winding Thames had already been occupied for millenia by people who would have worshipped the river as a divine being before the Romans arrived, modern London traces its roots back to the Roman conquest of Britain in AD43.

Here we trace the ancient history of London, from the founding of Londinium by the Romans through its Anglo-Saxon rule and Vikings invasion before the Normans took control of the city in 1066.

	AD 50
AD50 The founding of London (Londinium) by the Roman Governor of Britain, following the Roman invasion AD 43		C.AD60 Londinium is sacked by Boudicca in rebellion against Roman Rule Boudicca and her army. Credit: Mary Evans Picture Library/Alamy
C. AD180 A wall is built around the city		C. AD250 London flourishes with a population of around 45,000
AD407 The Roman army leaves Britain Credit: 2d Alan King/Alamy		C. AD600 The Saxons create a new town at Covent Garden, called Lundenwic
	AD600
AD604 The first St Paul’s founded, on the same site occupied by the current St Paul’s Cathedral		AD851 The Viking Danes burn London following years of raids
AD886 Alfred the Great reestablishes Anglo-Saxon rule over London Credit: ©VisitBritain/Daniel Bosworth		900s Back under Anglo-Saxon control, London is rebuilt and thrives as Lundenburh. A second fortified borough is established on the south bank at Southwark
1016 Danish King Canute takes control of London, and England		1066 William the Conqueror is crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey
1067 London receives a charter from William the Conqueror that guaranteed the rights of the city’s citizens
1078 Building work on the White Tower at the Tower of London begins
	1100
1123 Foundation of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in a wing of a church		1176 A stone bridge across the Thames replaces a wooden one