Americans love Britain. How could we not? Many of our ancestors came from there, they gave us our ideas of government and freedom. Despite the little skirmish a couple hundred years ago that led to our separation, our histories are still very intertwined with many attractions in Britain of special interest to Americans.
So if you’re looking for a little bit of home while you’re traveling in Britain, here’s a big list of American-themed attractions in the United Kingdom.
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
photo credit: amandabhslater
This site is the hallowed burial grounds of almost 4,000 Americans who died during World War II fighting in Europe. The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial site in England, 30.5 acres in total, was donated by the University of Cambridge. It lies on a slope with the west and south sides framed by woodland. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,812 of our military dead; 5,127 names are recorded on the Tablets of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Most died in the Battle of the Atlantic or in the strategic air bombardment of northwest Europe.
If you want to honor our war dead and see a physical manifestation of our joint relationship during World War II, then make a point to pay your respects here.
Imperial War Museum Duxford – American Air Museum
This is a lot more upbeat attraction to visit. On its own, this museum would be worth a visit. Dedicated to air history in Britain, it’s got a massive collection of airplanes and is still actually a working airport. As their collection grew, they gained more and more American planes and decided to build a dedicated hangar museum dubbed the American Air Museum.
It features a huge collection of American airplanes including a B-17G Flying Fortress, a B-29 Superfortress, a B-52 Stratofortress in 1983, a SR-71 Blackbird, a B-24 Liberator and many more. Sounds like it’s well worth a visit!
Churchill and Roosevelt Bench
photo credit: Inside Guide To London
This is a small attraction, but fun nonetheless. The relationship between Churchill and Roosevelt is legendary, and it’s been immortalized in this fun statue on London’s Mayfair where Old and New Bond street meet. Join the couple by squeezing in between the two and getting your picture taken.
Lincoln Statue
photo credit: Matt From London
It’s rather odd, isn’t it? But the man many consider to be our greatest President has long been honored by a statue smack in front of the British Houses of Parliament.
Benjamin Franklin’s House
Many Americans probably aren’t aware that Benjamin Franklin spent a large part of his adult life in London — first as the American Colonies representative in London, and then as an Ambassador post-independence. This is his only surviving house, and it was recently restored and turned into a museum.
The American Museum in Britain
There’s only one museum dedicated to Americana outside the U.S.A., and it’s at Claverton Manor in Bath. This museum was founded not only to display fine American furniture and decorative arts, but also as a means of fostering greater Anglo-American understanding. I suspect it’s only a matter of time until I found the British Museum in America.
Sulgrave Manor – Washington Ancestors
George Washington came from strong English stock and considered himself to be an English Gentleman until … well, he wasn’t English anymore. Sulgrave Manor in Oxfordshire is his family’s ancestral pile. It has the largest U.K. collection of George Washington memorabilia demonstrating the British contribution to the origins of the U.S.A. with a separate exhibition on George’s life and career in the U.S. Sounds interesting!
U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square
photo credit: usembassylondon
It’s hard to miss if you’re in the neighborhood. It’s the big concrete monstrosity sitting amongst beautiful London buildings. It won’t be there much longer, however, as they’re building a new embassy on the Southbank. The embassy used to be a proper attraction where you could visit a library and enjoy a bit of America in London. Sadly, security has put an end to all of that. Still, it even pangs this skeptical American with a bit of patriotism when he sees this projection of American power in London. I should add there’s pretty much always been an American Embassy in Grosvenor Square since post-independence, so it will be sad to see it go.
Fatboy’s Diner
This is a bit off the tourist track, but if you’re looking for an authentic American diner in London, this is your place! Fatboy’s Diner is ideally located against the backdrop of London’s only Lighthouse, and the Millennium Dome across the Thames provided the perfect place for enjoying a choice of “Fatburgers,” all-American breakfasts, omelettes, and delicious sandwiches.
Ed’s Easy Diner
Here’s another American-style Diner. It’s actually a chain with several locations in central London in the touristy areas. The food is pretty good!
The American Bar – The Savoy
This was THE hangout for expat Americans during the early part of the 20th century and especially for expats in London during World War II. It’s most famous for introducing the first cocktails to Europe. The Bar is still decked out in all its art-deco 1930s glory.
American Memorial Chapel – St Paul’s
St Paul’s should be on any London itinerary already, but there’s a special spot of American significance. The American Memorial Chapel commemorates those Americans based in Britain who gave their lives in the Second World War.
Selfridge’s Department Store
One of London’s most iconic department stores was founded by an American – an American from Chicago no less! Gordon Selfridge is one of the people that coined the phrase, “The Customer is Always Right.”
Plymouth Mayflower Exhibition
The exhibition, set over three floors, uses interactive graphic panels to explore tales of merchant families, the fishing industry, the military harbour and emigration to the New World. Start your journey by stepping onto the balcony on the top floor to enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of today’s busy Barbican. See where some of the first Americans set off for their journey of colonization.
Did we miss an American-themed attraction in Britain? Let us know in the comments!
About Jonathan
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
I would definitely recommend Culzean Castle near Ayr in Scotland.
It was one of my favourite places to go when I lived in England.
Here is the website: http://www.culzeanexperience.org/
The great thing about Culzean is the link to President Eisenhower.
I have taken this from the website:
Eisenhower Connection
In November 1945 General Dwight D Eisenhower was invited by the 5th Marquess and the Kennedy family to accept the tenancy of a specially created guest flat on the top floor of the Castle for his lifetime, as a gesture of Scottish thanks for America’s support during World War II.
General Eisenhower and members of his family stayed here on several occasions and he also lent it to friends.
I would also recommend Runnymede, home of the signing of the Magna Carta.
You can get there from Egham, on the train.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-runnymede/w-runnymede-history/w-runnymede-memorials.htm
About Runnymede.
1. It has the John F. Kennedy memorial. Again taken from the website:
1965: John F. Kennedy Memorial
This memorial stands halfway up the Cooper’s Hill Slopes and overlooks Runnymede, on ground previously belonging to the Crown and now the property of the United States of America. It is made of Portland stone to the design of G.A. Jellicoe and was unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 14 May 1965 in the presence of President Kennedy’s widow and children. Visitors reach the memorial by treading a steep path of irregular granite steps, one for each year of Kennedy’s life.
Outside the Embassy and Consulates, it is the only part of the United Kingdom, that has American Sovereign Soil.
Of course the Texas Embassy in London.
Again here is the website:
http://www.texasembassy.com/aboutus.html
From 1836 to 1845 there actually was a country called The Republic of Texas and Ge. Sam Houston was its President. The Republic set up an Embassy right here in London. It currently is the Berry Brothers wine store on St James Street.
My great-uncle is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery. He was helping train RAF pilots (his parents had emigrated from England to the US) and died in a crash in England. I visited the UK with my mother a few years ago, and we decided to make a quick visit to pay our respects. To our surprise, the caretaker there could not have been more welcoming and respectful. We had no idea we would be treated like such honored guests — he asked us to sign a special register, he personally escorted us to the grave, took photos for us, thanked us for coming and for our relative’s service… It was very touching.