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Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize 2026: Competition Launch!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our annual Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize for 2026, with a quote specially chosen for America’s Semiquincentennial (250th) Year!

SUBMISSIONS OPEN 17TH SEPTEMBER 2025.

Each year a question or quote exploring Benjamin Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words.  The competition is open exclusively for young writers, aged 18-25, with a first prize of £750, and a second prize of £500.

Winning entries will be published online at www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org  and https://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Details:

The Franklin quote for 2026 – America’s Semiquincentennial Year (250 Years since the Declaration of Independence);

“A republic, if you can keep it.”

—Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” – Monday, September 17, 1787

  • Submissions Open: 9am, Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
  • Submission Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
  • Entries of 1000-1500 words must be sent via email to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org;
  • Emailed submissions must have the following subject – “[Your Name] Literary Prize 2026 Submission”;
  • Entries must be attached in email as a Microsoft Word Document only;
  • Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK;
  • Each Entrant is asked to provide their name, age, preferred email, postal address and phone number within the email. In addition, entrants should provide a short biographical note in the email body detailing their current activities;
  • Entrants may submit only one entry; fiction or non-fiction;
  • This is a free-to-enter competition.

After submissions close, we will announce 6 shortlisted young writers in December 2025/January 2026.

In early 2026, these writers will then be invited to an award ceremony at Benjamin Franklin House to celebrate their work, meet the judges, and see their entries on display. The winner and runner-up will also receive their prize money and see their work published online at Benjamin Franklin House and The Telegraph.

As part of our America 250 celebrations, we have selected a quote from Benjamin Franklin that reflects on his long lasting legacy as well as direct involvement in American independence. We welcome young writers to reflect of Franklin’s timeless words and apply them to our society today.

The 2026 Literary Prize Judges are;

  • Lord Guy Black – Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group
  • Wendy Moore – English journalist, author, and historian
  • Dr. Huw David – Development Director at Wolfson College, University of Oxford
  • Rory Sutherland – Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group and Board Member of Benjamin Franklin House
  • Henry Wilkinson – Head of Education at Benjamin Franklin House
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Walking Tours: American History in London

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 will be running a walking tour, that retraces Franklin’s footsteps through the city and stops by some rather unique sites of American history in London.

When?

  • August 7th
  • August 8th
  • August 13th
  • August 29th

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: £18.00
  • Concession (Student/Over 65): £15.00
  • Children (Under 12): £12.50

(Prices do not include Eventbrite booking fee)

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 outside Benjamin Franklin House where you will see where Franklin lived and hear about his time on Craven Street.

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 back 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

Who’s leading the tour?

The tour will be led by Henry Wilkinson, who has worked 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.
  • Please note – this tour does not include a visit inside Benjamin Franklin House.
  • 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.
  • 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: £18.00
  • Concession (Student/Over 65): £15.00
  • Children (Under 12): £12.50

(Prices do not include Eventbrite booking fee)

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The Coercive Acts – Response to the Boston Tea Party

THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER 2023 

What happened afterwards in the lead-up to the American Declaration of Independence?

Join us at the National Archives for an afternoon debate!

SATURDAY 1st JUNE 2024

13.00 – 15.15 HRS

The National Archives, Bessant Drive, Richmond TW9 4DU 

Tickets £10 available via this link 

It’s 1774 and the tea party is over. Britain is shocked at the colonists’ blatant disregard for the law and sovereignty. It is time to respond.

You are cordially invited to join the Walter Hines Page Chapter, NSDAR (National Society Daughters of The American Revolution) and the Kew Society as we explore the Coercive Acts of 1774, a key element in the lead-up to the Declaration of Independence.

The afternoon begins at 1pm and will feature a display of original documents related to the Coercive Acts held by the National Archives and a debate between the colonists and the British.

Timings:

Document display at 1pm – 2pm

Debate begins at 2pm between the Colonists & Parliament

Q&A from audience at 2.30pm

Document Display continues at 2.45pm

Event ends at 3.15pm

Café stays open till 4pm

WHOSE SIDE WILL YOU BE ON?