National park · United Kingdom
Hadrian's Wall
Walk the 20-mile central ridge between Chesters and Greenhead: free to walk, £9.90–£15 per fort, bus AD122 (£2.50) links the stops mid-Apr–Oct; go Apr–Jun or Sep for dry paths and fewer people.
Map to the park
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Area
5 km²2 sq mi
approximate
Established
1800
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 5 km²2 sq mi
- The wall runs 117 km (73 miles) coast to coast; the upland section in the care of the National Trust and English Heritage is roughly 20 miles (32 km) between Hexham and Gilsland. The 4.5 km² figure is the core World Heritage property, not the full line (check).
- Established
- 1800
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Hadrian's Wall is not a park with a gate: it is a 73-mile (117 km) line of stone, ditch and earthwork across northern England, built from 122 AD and free to walk end to end. Nearly everything that survives — the forts, milecastles and turrets, and the cliff-top stretch along the Whin Sill — sits in the central 20 miles between Chesters and Greenhead, which is why most visitors should treat that section as the whole trip. The two big ticketed sites, Housesteads and Vindolanda, are within a few miles of each other, and the AD122 bus links the stops so you can walk one way and ride back. The east end at Wallsend and the west end at Bowness-on-Solway are for completists: the stone is gone and the line is a low earthwork or a modern footpath.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1800.
Size and age
5 km²2 sq mi · national park since 1800
The wall runs 117 km (73 miles) coast to coast; the upland section in the care of the National Trust and English Heritage is roughly 20 miles (32 km) between Hexham and Gilsland. The 4.5 km² figure is the core World Heritage property, not the full line (check).
Why go
- The best surviving Roman frontier in Europe, with forts, milecastles and turrets still readable in the ground.
- The central ridge along the Whin Sill gives cliff-top walking with no wall needed — the landscape is the defence.
- Two world-class sites, Housesteads and Vindolanda, sit within a few miles of each other.
- It is free to walk the whole line; you pay only at the staffed forts and museums.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort days, ice on the crags, most sites weekends only
- FebCold and wet; AD122 bus weekends only
- MarMuddy; some sites still winter hours
- AprDry paths, longer days, AD122 daily from mid-Apr
- MayBest all-round walking weather
- JunLongest days; midge-free, unlike the west
- JulWarm but busy at Housesteads and Vindolanda
- AugSchool holidays; book parking and tours ahead
- SepDry, quieter, good light on the ridge
- OctAD122 daily until end Oct; early dusk
- NovSites weekends only; short daylight
- DecWet, windy, limited opening
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grazing sheep on the ridgeAll year · Keep dogs on leads and close gates; sheep are the main hazard to your walk and to them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Curlew, lapwing and skylark on the uplandsApr–Jul | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Adder basking on warm stoneApr–Sep · Rare; give them space and do not handle. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Newcastle
Train to Hexham (30 min), then bus AD122 or the 685 to the wall stops; or drive the A69 and B6318 (≈ US$8,500).
1–1.5 h
From Carlisle
Train to Haltwhistle (35 min), then AD122 or a taxi to Walltown and Greenhead.
1–1.5 h
From Hexham
AD122 bus to Chesters, Housesteads, The Sill, Vindolanda, Walltown and Greenhead.
20–60 min
From London
LNER or Lumo train to Newcastle, then local train to Hexham.
3.5–4.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| East end (Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall) | Segedunum fort at Wallsend, the start of the line, and the first surviving masonry near Heddon. | Open; Segedunum has an entry fee. |
| Corbridge and Chesters | Corbridge Roman town and Chesters fort on the North Tyne, with the best cavalry fort remains. | Both ticketed; Corbridge managed by English Heritage. |
| Central ridge (Housesteads to Greenhead) | The Whin Sill escarpment, Housesteads, Sycamore Gap, Crag Lough, Vindolanda and Walltown. | Open access on foot; forts ticketed. |
| West end (Gilsland to Bowness-on-Solway) | The wall becomes a low earthwork across farmland to the Solway coast. | Open; few facilities. |
Sketch map
- 1Wallsend (Segedunum) · Ranger station≈54.992, -1.532Map ↗
- 2Corbridge Roman town · Town≈54.978, -2.018Map ↗
- 3Chesters Roman Fort · Gate≈55.026, -2.139Map ↗
- 4Housesteads Roman Fort · Gate≈55.013, -2.331Map ↗
- 5Sycamore Gap · Viewpoint≈55.004, -2.373Map ↗
- 6Vindolanda · Gate≈54.990, -2.367Map ↗
- 7Haltwhistle · Ranger station≈54.971, -2.457Map ↗
- 8Greenhead · Village≈54.982, -2.525Map ↗
- 9Bowness-on-Solway · Village≈54.952, -3.217Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking the wall path | Free | person | The National Trail and the open ridge are free; parking charges apply at some car parks. |
| Housesteads Roman Fort (English Heritage) | GBP 9.9 | adult | Child £6, concession £9; 2026 estimate, check current prices. |
| Chesters Roman Fort (English Heritage) | GBP 9.9 | adult | Child £6, concession £9; 2026 estimate, check current prices. |
| Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum | GBP 15 | adult | Child £7; one ticket covers both sites for a year; 2026 estimate, check current prices. |
| Bus AD122 (Hexham–Haltwhistle) | GBP 2.5 | single journey | Daily mid-Apr to Oct, weekends mid-Feb to mid-Apr and Nov to mid-Dec; 2026 estimate, check. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Wall path access no permit
Fort entry permit or guide
Parking at popular sites permit or guide
Park rules
- Dogs
- Allowed on the wall path but must be on a short lead around livestock, especially April to July.
- Fires and camping
- No fires or wild camping on the wall or in the forts; use campsites and hostels along the line.
- Metal detecting
- Illegal on scheduled monuments and without landowner permission; report finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
- Drones
- Not over the forts or the World Heritage property without permission (check).check
- Stonework
- Do not climb on the wall or remove stone; the structure is a scheduled ancient monument.
Where to stay
Near the park
Hexham
Market town with the best range of hotels, pubs and a rail station on the Newcastle–Carlisle line.
Near the park
Haltwhistle
Closest station to the central section; guesthouses, pubs and a campsite.
Near the park
Once Brewed and The Sill
YHA hostel and the National Landscape Discovery Centre, right on the ridge between Housesteads and Steel Rigg.
Near the park
Greenhead and Gilsland
Village B&Bs at the west end of the central section, near Walltown and Thirlwall Castle.
Safety
Weather turning on the exposed ridge medium
Mud and steep steps medium
Livestock and dogs low
Getting caught out by daylight medium
Accessibility
- Housesteads has a steep 10-minute walk from the car park; a mobility vehicle runs to the fort on request (check).
- Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum have level paths, accessible toilets and wheelchairs to borrow.
- The Sill and its cafe are fully accessible and make a good base for a shorter visit.
Visiting lightly
- Use the AD122 bus or the train to Hexham and Haltwhistle instead of driving the B6318; parking at the popular sites is limited.
- Stay and eat in Hexham, Haltwhistle or Greenhead so the villages along the wall benefit.
- Do not pick up or pocket stone or finds; report anything unusual to the landowner or the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Hadrian's Wall?
Walking the wall path is free. You pay only at the staffed sites: Housesteads and Chesters are about £9.90 per adult (child £6, concession £9), and Vindolanda with the Roman Army Museum is about £15 per adult (child £7), with one ticket covering both for a year. Parking at the popular car parks is pay-and-display. Prices are 2026 estimates — check before you go.
What are the best hikes in Hadrian's Wall?
The best short walk is Housesteads to Steel Rigg along the crags, about 4 miles one way, taking 2.5–3.5 hours, past Milecastle 37, Sycamore Gap and Crag Lough. The full National Trail runs 84 miles from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, but the central 20 miles between Chesters and Greenhead hold nearly all the surviving wall and the best scenery.
When is the best time to visit Hadrian's Wall?
April to June and September give the driest paths, longest days and the fewest people. July and August are warm but busy at Housesteads and Vindolanda, and parking fills early. November to February is wet, windy and short on daylight, with some sites open weekends only.
Do I need a car to see Hadrian's Wall?
No. Trains run every 30 minutes between Newcastle and Carlisle, stopping at Hexham and Haltwhistle, and the AD122 bus links the main sites from Hexham to Haltwhistle. The bus runs daily mid-April to October and weekends in the shoulder months, so a one-way walk with a bus back is easy.
Can I walk the whole wall in a day?
No. The full National Trail is 84 miles (135 km) and most people take 6–8 days. For a day trip, pick the central section: Housesteads to Steel Rigg, or Steel Rigg to Walltown, and use the AD122 bus to return to your start.
Is Hadrian's Wall the same as the Antonine Wall?
No. Hadrian's Wall was built from 122 AD between the Tyne and the Solway. The Antonine Wall, built from 142 AD between the Forth and the Clyde in Scotland, was abandoned by about 162 AD and the frontier returned south. Both are part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go