- Play Hard
- 29th Oct 2026
- 0
- 0 minute
Vindolanda excavations 2027: why Northumberland’s most sought-after dig is worth celebrating
- Advertisement Feature
Always fancied yourself as an archaeologist? The Vindolanda excavations are one of the most sought-after experiences in the North East, and places for the 2027 season go on sale at 12pm on Tuesday 3rd November 2026.
Every year, volunteers from across the globe head to this Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall to dig alongside professional archaeologists, and every year places are snapped up in record time. The trenches have even welcomed a few famous faces, from Alison Hammond to Robson Green and Countryfile’s Charlotte Smith, so you never know who might be kneeling next to you with a trowel.
So what makes a fortnight of muddy knees in rural Northumberland one of the hottest tickets around? Let’s dig in.
WHY VINDOLANDA IS NO ORDINARY DIG
Tucked into the Northumberland countryside just south of Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort and bustling settlement for more than 300 years. What makes it extraordinary is what lies beneath. Its waterlogged, oxygen-free soil has preserved things that simply rot away almost everywhere else, from leather shoes and textiles to wooden combs.
Its most famous treasures are the Vindolanda writing tablets, wafer-thin wooden letters that give us a gossipy glimpse into Roman life on the frontier. Among them is a birthday party invitation written by one officer’s wife to another, often cited as one of the earliest known examples of a woman’s handwriting in Latin.
Finds are still turning up every single season. That’s why people come back year after year.
LIFE IN THE TRENCHES
This isn’t a gentle afternoon of sieving. Each place is a fully supported two-week field experience, with excavators trained and supervised by the Vindolanda archaeological team throughout. Volunteers spend their days outdoors in all weathers, kneeling, lifting, and scraping their way through layers of Roman history.
The volunteer fee helps fund a professional research excavation, which means everyone digging is genuinely contributing to new discoveries. There’s a real sense of community too, with many excavators returning season after season and the most dedicated invited to become Excavation Ambassadors in recognition of their skill and teamwork.
And yes, everyone gets the coveted excavation T-shirt. Around Hadrian’s Wall, it’s a badge of honour.
CAN’T DIG? COME AND WATCH
You don’t need a place on the excavations to be part of the excitement. Visitors to Vindolanda can watch the archaeologists and volunteers at work during the digging season, which runs from late March to early October 2027, and there’s something special about seeing history come out of the ground in real time.
Pair it with a wander around the site’s museum, packed with finds from previous seasons, and a trip to the nearby Roman Army Museum at Magna for a full day out on the Wall. With Hadrian’s Wall Country on the doorstep, it’s easy to turn it into a weekend away too.
Who knows? One visit might be all it takes to have you queuing for a trowel next year.
FANCY GRABBING A TROWEL YOURSELF?
If you’re set on joining the dig, bookings open online only at 12 noon on Tuesday 3rd November 2026, with a virtual queue going live five minutes before. The 2027 season is split into 11 two-week periods, so it’s worth knowing your preferred dates in advance.
Excavate Only places cost £290 and include two weeks of digging, your T-shirt, and professional training. Excavate & Stay adds 12 nights of self-catering, en-suite accommodation at the Hedley Centre, priced at £1,425 for a single room or £2,050 for a twin, double, or suite. If you’d rather work with the finds than dig for them, Post Excavation places are £175.
There’s also a £2,000 Philanthropic Excavation Place, which helps fund an Archaeological Assistant at Vindolanda, giving an emerging archaeologist valuable hands-on experience. All volunteers need to become a Friend of Vindolanda before arriving on site, which brings perks including entry to Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum outside excavation hours.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, so check you can commit to two consecutive weeks of active outdoor work before you book.
IF IT’S NOT YOUR YEAR
With demand this high, not everyone will land a place, but there are still ways in. Any cancelled places are released through the Late Availability page and shared in the Trust’s newsletter, so signing up is well worth it.
Aged 18 to 25? The Bursary Programme offers a limited number of fully funded places to young people who might not otherwise get the chance. Applications for 2027 have closed, but the 2028 round opens at the end of summer 2027.
And in the meantime, there’s always a visit to the site to keep the Roman fever going.
A DIG TO BE PROUD OF
It says a lot about Vindolanda that people from all over the world plan their year around two weeks in a muddy trench in Northumberland. It’s a world-class research excavation right here in the North East, powered by volunteers who simply love what they do.
Whether you’re refreshing the booking page on 3rd November or just popping along to watch the action next spring, it’s well worth making the trip.
Vindolanda, Bardon Mill, Hexham NE47 7JN
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
Subscribe
Subscribe now to receive our twice-weekly emails and exclusive offers for High Life North readers.