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)
Family Springtime Open House
Join us for a FREE day of family fun — enjoy a self-guided tour by downloading the Bloomberg Connects app, test your observation skills with a scavenger hunt, try your hand at arts and crafts, and enjoy hot chocolate and practice proper etiquette with Mrs. Polly Hewson, the lady of the House!
Pre-booking is not required. Just drop in, and stay as long as you’d like! Last entry will be from 3:30pm.
Colour and Paint in the Smaller 18th-century Town House with Patrick Baty
6pm
Get tickets here via Eventbrite!
Join us either in person or online as Patrick Baty talks us through his long career of conserving some of England’s most remarkable historic homes, including his process of restoring the original ‘Franklin green’ color to the wooden-panelled walls of Benjamin Franklin House!
Ben’s Bon Voyage
Thanksgiving at Benjamin Franklin House
Join us on Thanksgiving Day!
9-11am: FREE drop-in social for postgraduate students
Whether you’re an American studying abroad, you have an interest in American studies, or you’re just hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving in the home of one of the United States’ most preeminent founding fathers, we hope you’ll join us a hot drink and a Thanksgiving treat! We’d love you meet you and hear about your research interests and experiences.
1-2:30pm and 3-4:30pm: Architectural Tour & Talk
Join us for a tour of Benjamin Franklin House, which will include autumnal refreshments and a talk on Benjamin Franklin and Native American relations in pre-Revolutionary Pennsylvania by Dr. Megan King (University of Kent).
Tickets for the Tour & Talk should be pre-booked here.
2024 US Election Debate with Justin Webb
Join moderator Justin Webb, the BBC’s first North America Editor, Host of the Today Programme, and BFH’s Journalist in Residence, for a debate between Kristin Wolfe of Democrats Abroad UK and Greg Swenson of Republican Overseas!
Attend in person or online on Thursday, 24 October, with a chance to ask your own questions on who is best placed to lead the United States over the next four years: Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
BOOK TICKETS
Ben’s Book Club Returns!
We’re proud to be hosting an array of accomplished historians who have kindly donated their time to walk us through some of Franklin’s practical lessons and words of wisdom, fascinating friendships and connections, and contributions to American literacy.
Book your free tickets here.
Buy a copy of our featured works below:
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?
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