Fishbourne Roman Palace

Proof that Roman luxury reached the south coast of England early. Fishbourne, near Chichester, is the largest known Roman residential palace north of the Alps, and it holds the largest collection of mosaics still in their original place anywhere in the UK. The star is the Cupid on a Dolphin floor, but the pleasure is walking along raised walkways over room after room of patterned floors under one modern roof. Outside, the replanted formal garden follows the original layout and is the earliest garden yet found in Britain. It is a compact, rain-proof visit that balances the military sites on the Wall.