Before the Romans arrived, Britain consisted of a patchwork of tribal areas, each with its own king. Life was hard for the Celtic tribes. They were mainly farmrs who grew, gathered or hunted for their own food. They were also fierce warriors who were often at war with each other.

The small tribes of Brythonic Celts grew over the years into larger tribes with their own distinctive identities and living in their own special regions throughout Britain. Each tribe had its own name.

Below is a list of the well known tribes:

Each large tribe was ruled by a chieftain/king or queen.

A famous Celtic Queen

Warrior Queen Boudicca was the wife of the ruler of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe who lived in eastern England. After her husband's death, the Romans claimed the Iceni lands. When Boudicca protested she was beaten and her daughters attacked. In revenge, Boudicca led an army to attack London in AD 60. Boudicca's army caused vast amounts of damage before being defeated.