As the roman empire creaked and cracked to pieces, the troops defending London's trade routes were recalled across the channel, and from AD 410 the city went into a decline which lasted several centuries, a period of history known as the Dark Ages.

Compared to other periods of history, comparatively little is known about the era described as the Dark Ages (hence the name), which lasted for the next 250 years. It appears that commercial activity did continue in London, albeit at a much reduced level. The Dark Ages also saw an influx of Angles and Saxons from Germany who became the dominant tribes in Britain.

When these settlers first moved into Britain around AD 450 they quickly began to divide Britain up into numerous petty kingdoms. Though London fell within the Kingdom of the East Saxons, its importance was obviously recognised by these newcomers and the city was often taken under direct control of the Essex overlords: variously Kings of Kent, Mercia or Wessex.

But by settling in other towns and cities, and establishing other capitals to the various kingdoms, many of these new settlements eventually gained a higher status at London's expense.

The settlement around lundinium did, however, expand slowly westward away from the old roman city, which was left to decay over time. The old roman city was largely ruinous; yet at least one large roman house, with an underground heating system and private bath-suite, was still being lived in probably well into the late 5th century. The occupants used (or at least hoarded) Roman coins from previous decades and imported large amphora jars from the Eastern Mediterranean.

This trade with the distant Empire may indicate a brief revival of London as a commercial centre. It has even been suggested that, due to the troubled nature of the times, the return exports may have been slaves.

The city appears to have been known by the late Celtic name of 'Caer-Lundein' and there may have been an Essex Royal Palace somewhere nearby. However, tales of King Arthur holding court at Westminster and pulling the Sword from the Stone in St. Paul's Churchyard appear to be exaggerated.

After the dark ages, came Anglo-Saxon london