London Plan c. 190 CE

By 190 CE, Londinium had cemented its place as the capital city of Roman Britain. Although, following the Antonine plague, the city had passed its zenith in terms of size and population towards the first half of the second century, the infrastructure was demonstrative of its importance in the Roman northwestern frontier. At this time, the basilica and forum were both amongst the largest in the Roman Empire north of Italy. The original Roman settlement, dating back to 43 CE, had been rebuilt following its destruction during Boudica’s revolt around 60 CE, and took on the typical grid layout of a Roman town, with an outer defensive wall being added around 200 CE. Trade was key to the city’s success and its position on the Thames made it an important port. Londinium was also a vital hub in the Roman road network, connecting to seven of the fifteen major roads in the country.