Walking Tour: American History in London
In April 1775, the American Revolutionary War began when the ‘shot heard around the world’ was fired at Lexington and Concord, MA.
To celebrate it’s 250th anniversary, Benjamin Franklin House is launching a brand-new walking tour, that retraces Franklin’s footsteps through the city and stops by some rather unique sites of American history in London.
When?
More dates to be added for July and August soon!
On each date there will be two tours. One at 10:30-12:30 and the other at 13:30-15:30.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on our Eventbrite page here.
- General Admission: £15:00
- Concession (Student/Over 65): £12:50
- Children (Under 12): Free
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin spent 16 years (1757-1775) living in London acting as a colonial agent? Some even argue that he was the first de-facto American ambassador to the UK!
During much of his time in the city, Franklin fought to maintain the union between the American colonies and Great Britain. He lived and worked in the city, delivering speeches at the Houses of Parliament, attending royal coronations at Westminster Abbey and meeting with some of the most important figures from the 18th century.
Did you know he also visited a waxwork museum run my an alleged American spy who corresponded with him during the Revolutionary War?
What’s included on the tour?
The tour begins at Benjamin Franklin House where you will get a private look around the world’s only remaining Franklin home. We will see where Franklin lived and hear about some of the famous guest he hosted.
We will then depart from the House on a circular route that retraces Franklin’s movements around Westminster.
Along the way we will pass by the office of John Quincy Adams, the formal residence of George III, the site of an embassy for the Republic of Texas, and come face to face with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
The tour will finish on Craven Street, outside Benjamin Franklin House.
What are we seeing?
As well as uncovering American history in London, you will also be ticking off some of the most iconic landmarks the city has to offer!
Key sights are:
- Trafalgar Square
- St. James’s Palace
- The Mall
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- Palace of Westminster
- Big Ben
- Scotland Yard
- London Eye
Who’s leading the tour?
The tour will be led by Henry Wilkinson, who has served as Education Manager at Benjamin Franklin House for over 3 years. He is a graduate of History from the University of Cambridge and a former History teacher. He has lived in London for over 5 years and also supports other museums across the UK with education advice through his work with the Historic Houses Association.
Need to know
- The tour will last approximately 2 hours. (30mins at Benjamin Franklin House 90mins walking tour)
- You will be doing roughly 5,000 steps / 4km of walking – so bring suitable footwear and a bottle of water.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for individuals with mobility difficulties.
- Recommended age for the tour is 12+
- An umbrella and/or rain gear is always recommended for London.
- No food or drink will be provided but feel free to bring along your own.
- Toilets are available at Benjamin Franklin House.
- We will pass public toilets during the walking tour but these may not be available at certain points. Some public toilets require a small fee, payable by cash, card or contactless.
- London is incredibly busy, so you must stay with the group at all times. We are not liable for any lost, stolen or damaged property, persons of goods during the tour.
- The tour will be in English only.
- The tour will begin at the advertised time, if you are late you may not be able to join the tour if it has departed from the House.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on our Eventbrite page here.
- General Admission: £15:00
- Concession (Student/Over 65): £12:50
- Children (Under 12): Free
