Questions people actually ask

The Wall is 73 miles long, which is 80 Roman miles. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs UNESCO gives its length as 118 km. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Frontiers of the Roman Empire (list 430)

It runs from Wallsend in Newcastle upon Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria in the west. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs

The Wall was built almost entirely by soldiers of Britain’s three legions: the Second (Caerleon), the Sixth (York) and the Twentieth (Chester). English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs The legions were helped by auxiliary soldiers and by the British fleet. English Heritage: History of Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was built on the orders of the emperor Hadrian after his visit to Britain in AD 122. English Heritage: History of Hadrian’s Wall Building probably began in AD 122 and took at least six years. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs

English Heritage says Hadrian wanted to bring order to the frontier and reduce raids by Caledonian tribes to the north; the Wall let the Romans control movement across the border. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs Hadrian’s biographer recorded that he ordered his army to “build a wall, 80 miles long, to separate the Romans from the barbarians”. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs

At its tallest the Wall stood about 15 feet (4.6 metres) high. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs It was planned to be 10 Roman feet (3 m) wide but was finished at 8 Roman feet (2.4 m) or less. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs

English Heritage counts 16 forts, 80 milecastles and 156 turrets. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs Before the work was finished, 14 new forts were added, together with an earthwork to the south called the Vallum. English Heritage: Description of Hadrian’s Wall

Mainly built by legionaries, the Wall was manned by auxiliaries, in regiments nominally 500 or 1,000 strong. English Heritage: History of Hadrian’s Wall Soldiers and civilians came to the Wall from as far away as modern Syria, Romania and North Africa. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall, History and Stories

The Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is 84 miles (135 km) long, coast to coast. National Trails: Hadrian’s Wall Path, trail information National Trails suggests experienced walkers allow 6 or 7 days for the whole Trail. National Trails: Hadrian’s Wall Path, trail information · checked 29 Oct 2026 Northumberland National Park says it takes approximately 6–8 days. Northumberland National Park: 20 facts about the Hadrian’s Wall Path · checked 29 Oct 2026

National Trails recommends walking between May and October, when the ground is normally dry and damage to the buried archaeology is less likely. National Trails: Hadrian’s Wall Path, trail information · checked 29 Oct 2026 GOV.UK says the Trail is open all year, and for conservation reasons recommends visiting between Easter and October. GOV.UK (Natural England): Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail · checked 29 Oct 2026

Hadrian’s Wall became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs Since 2005 it has been part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site. North East Museums: Segedunum, the fort site (teacher notes)

Most of the Wall is privately owned, by several hundred owners; English Heritage and the National Trust look after well-known sections. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs · checked 29 Oct 2026 English Heritage cares for twenty free-to-enter sites along the Wall. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs · checked 29 Oct 2026

English Heritage says the AD122 bus runs between Hexham and Walltown, stopping at sites including Chesters and Housesteads. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs · checked 29 Oct 2026

English Heritage says the Wall is generally not wheelchair-accessible, but Chesters and Birdoswald have flatter, more accessible areas. English Heritage: Hadrian’s Wall FAQs · checked 29 Oct 2026