Welcome to A Guide to American History in London!

I've been visiting London from time-to-time since 1969 (most recently in 2024) and for five years during the second half of the twentieth century London was also my home. One noteworthy result of my long residence, as well as all those many visits, is that I've become well-aquainted with the fact that for more than 400 years -- from Elizabethan times to the present day, the histories of Great Britain and America are inextricably intertwined, and nowhere is this more evident than in Britain's capital city -- LONDON.

From statues to blue plaques, to buildings, monuments and memorials, several tangible reminders of Britain and America's common history can be seen, studied, and yes, even enjoyed. Some of these are in open view in some of the most highly-visited spots in the city, such as Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square. Others, located on a back street or some other less-visited area may take a little bit of effort to find. The purpose of this website is to make them easier to locate, no matter where they are, so that anyone who is interested can find them.

To get started, simply scroll down, and pick a place you'd like to see!

Doc Butler at Virginia Settlers Monument, Blackwall

Choose from the list below, arranged by area.

Note: This list includes four places outside of London.

WEST END

• George Washington statue, Trafalgar Square, WC2
• National Portrait Gallery, Charing Cross Road near Trafalgar Square, WC2
• Benjamin Franklin's House, 36 Craven Street, WC2, near Charing Cross Station
• John Quincy Adams Office , 13 Craven Street, WC2, near Charing Cross Station
• Herman Melville residence, 25 Craven Street, WC2, near Charing Cross Station
• St. George's Church (the church where Theodore Roosevelt was married), near Hanover Square, W1
• Jimi Hendrix residence, Brook Street, W1, near Hanover Square
• Selfridges Dept. Store, 400 Oxford Street, W1
• Former Navy Bldg. and Eisenhower World War II headquarters, N. Audley Street and Grosvenor Square, W1
• Former U. S. Embassy, 24 Grosvenor Square, W1
• Dwight D. Eisenhower statue, Grosvenor Square, W1 (may be in storage due to construction)
• Ronald Reagan statue, Grosvenor Square, W1 (may be in storage due to construction)
• Franklin D. Roosevelt statue, Grosvenor Square, W1
• Eagle Squadron Memorial, Grosvenor Square, W1
• John Adams residence, 9 Grosvenor Square, W1
• Allies (FDR and Churchill) bench, New Bond Street, W1
• Benedict Arnold residence, 62 Gloucester Place, W1
• Abraham Lincoln statue, Parliament Square, SW1
• George III statue, on a traffic island betweeen Cockspur Street and Pall Mall, SW1, near Trafalgar Square
• Republic of Texas Legation, Pickering Place, SW1, near St. James' Palace
• Mark Twain Residence, 23 Tedford Square, Chelsea, SW3

THE CITY (a.k.a. "The Square Mile")

• All Hallows-by-the-Tower (the church where John Quincy Adams was married), Byward St., EC3, near the Tower of London
• Capt. John Smith statue, Cheapside, EC4, next to St. Mary-Le-Bow Church
• 3 Virginia-Bound Ships stained glass window, inside St. Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct, EC1
• Capt. John Smith grave, inside St. Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct, EC1

NORTH LONDON

• John F. Kennedy memorial bust, Marylebone Road, NW1
• Thomas Paine memorial, Isington High Street, N1, next to Angel Station, (might not be accessible due to construction)
• Old Red Lion Theatre pub (where Tom Paine reportedly wrote part of The Rights of Man), 418 St. John Street, EC1
• Mark Twain residence, at Gladstone Park, Neasdon NW2

EAST LONDON

• Virginia Settlers monument, Thames Path, Blackwall, E14

This website is dedicated to the memory of my "Best Mate" in England,

Alan James Winter
(1954-2024)
who first showed me Pocahontas' grave and Ben Franklin's house more than forty years ago.

This website copyright © 2024 (except where noted) by Steven Butler, Ph.D. All rights reserved.