A Roman history buff has said she was ‘blown away’ after discovering she was sitting just a few feet above a newly excavated ancient site from where London was governed 2,000 years ago.

The Roman ruins were chanced upon in 1848. Image: City of London Corporation The ruins are not to be confused with the 'Roman Bath' in Surrey Street near Temple, which is not actually Roman at all.

Among the items are sandals, pottery and Britain's largest collection of Roman writing tablets, bearing IOU notes and gossip in stunningly well-preserved wax ...