Bignor Roman Villa

Bignor Roman Villa is generally not boring for kids. It has the opportunity to get up-close to the mosaics in protected, covered areas (perfect for quick viewing), a small museum and several building, making it great for a 1–2 hour visit. It is good on rainy days as all mosaics are indoors. Open daily, March–October, 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm). It doesn’t have staged roman fighting but it does have occasional, specific historical events, such as the Ambarvalia agricultural festival in late May.

How to keep kids interested:

Unique Mosaics: The stunning, intricate floor mosaics (including Medusa and dolphins) are well-preserved under unique, old-school covering buildings.
Interactive Exhibits: The small museum has artifacts that show the “grind and grandeur” of Roman life, with opportunities to learn about daily activities and mythology.

The “Discovery” Factor: Children often enjoy hearing that the farm is still owned by the family who originally discovered the remains while farming.

Open Space & Nature: The site is set in the beautiful South Downs, allowing for running around, with a café, gift shop, and a 12-acre sunflower maze in August.

Rainy Days
It is suitable for a rainy day. The main attractions—the mosaics—are located inside special protective buildings. The cafe is small but offers a dry place to sit, though it is recommended to bring a picnic to enjoy under cover if needed.

Expect to spend about 1–1.5 hours wandering through the covered rooms, reading the signs, and visiting the gift shop/café. If you are really interested in history then you can easily spend up to 2 hours here, especially if you take a walk in the surrounding countryside.

Opening Times & Details:
Open: Daily from early March to the end of October.
Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM).

Cost: Generally affordable; £6 for adults and cheaper for children but the tea room offers great coffee and cakes so it’s highly likely that it will cost you more 🙂