Gladiators exhibition arrives in UK, showcasing brutality and history of Roman Colosseum

A thrilling exhibition exposing the brutality of the Roman Colosseum that has already captivated over one million people worldwide, arrives in the UK this week. The internationally acclaimed Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum arrives at the Royal Armouries Museum, in Leeds - the world's oldest museum - from 28 June to 2 November 2025 to showcase genuine artefacts from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, including gladiatorial weaponry, armour, and three of the few surviving intact gladiator helmets.

A scale model of the Colosseum and an immersive room where visitors will imagine themselves as Gladiators, surrounded by reproductions of 2,000-year-old graffiti from the walls of Roman streets and buildings of Pompeii and mosaics depicting hunts and fights with daggers drawn, will also form part of the free-to-access exhibition.

Having originally launched in 2013 the exhibition has been staged in Germany, Liechtenstein, Finland, Belgium Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the USA, British audiences will finally get the chance to immerse themselves in the dramatic world of ancient Rome's most revered warriors. Developed in collaboration with the majestic Colosseum in Rome, the exhibition features original artefacts from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, including gladiatorial weaponry, armour, and three of the few surviving intact gladiator helmets. Using contemporary accounts, cutting-edge research, and discoveries from Pompeii's gladiator barracks, Gladiators explores combat skills, daily life, and the social status of these warriors through immersive installations, life-sized models, and interactive experiences.

Visitors of all ages can also engage with the reality of gladiatorial life. Gladiators trained together and lived as a collective family; a community of fighters joined by fate. Perhaps surprisingly, meat was rarely on the menu for gladiators. Their vegetarian diet of beans and barley potage, supplemented by fresh vegetables alongside an 'energy drink' enriched with bone ash was served to increase mineral intake and ensure optimal bone structure.

Director General and Master of the Armouries, Nat Edwards, said: "There are few stories as compelling as that of the gladiators. From the great Hollywood epics to games, comics and Saturday evening TV - we've all shared the drama and larger than life stories. This exhibition delivers spectacle but also something far more powerful, real artefacts that connect us to the lives of the people behind the myth. It's a rare opportunity to step into their world."

The National Museum of Arms and Armour, the Royal Armouries provides a fitting backdrop for the extraordinary display. Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum will be the first full-scale exhibition in the museum's new special exhibition gallery, marking a significant milestone in the Armouries 700 masterplan for site transformation as previously revealed by the Daily Express.

Tickets are now on sale via the Royal Armouries Museum website. While entry to the world's oldest museum remains free, the exhibition is ticketed.