As America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, London offers a surprisingly rich slice of Americana, from Fourth of July celebrations, smoky barbecue joints and Broadway blockbusters to historic landmarks that are tied to the long-standing transatlantic relationship between the two nations.
Fourth of July
Independence Day may be a US holiday, but London knows how to join the party. This year, Country on the Common, which takes place on Tooting Common on 4-5 July, brings Americana energy to south London. Expect country music, rodeo-style entertainment, line dancing, barbecue food and lots of cowboy boots and stetsons.
Broadway brilliance
For many American visitors, one of London’s great surprises is just how strong the theatre scene is, often at a fraction of New York prices. For the ultimate stateside theatre fix, Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre remains the standout, with the Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr returning as Aaron Burr from 3 July, bringing extra star power to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s revolutionary hit.
Alternatively, Broadway transfer Oh, Mary! at the Trafalgar Theatre offers an irreverent take on American history, reimagining Mary Todd Lincoln as a frustrated would-be cabaret star in the lead-up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865.
America’s London story
Just off the Strand, Benjamin Franklin House offers one of the capital’s most fascinating transatlantic stories. This Georgian townhouse located at 36 Craven Street is the only surviving former home of a US Founding Father. Franklin lived here for 16 years before the American Revolution, and today the museum brings his life as a diplomat, inventor and political thinker vividly to life.
In Mayfair, Grosvenor Square remains one of London’s most significant American landmarks. Due to reopen this month after a revamp, it formerly housed the former US Embassy and served as General Eisenhower’s wartime headquarters during World War II. Today, imposing statues of Franklin D Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan mark the enduring US-UK relationship.
Art lovers are well catered for too. Tate Britain‘s James McNeill Whistler exhibition (to 27 Sep) offers a striking glimpse of life in Victorian London through the eyes of the American-born artist. Meanwhile, the National Portrait Gallery‘s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait exhibition celebrates the Hollywood icon through portraits by artists such as Andy Warhol, Cecil Beaton and Marlene Dumas (to 6 Sep).
All-American food
All that sightseeing is likely to work up an appetite. Hard Rock Cafe, with its flagship Old Park Lane site near Hyde Park and another venue in Piccadilly Circus, remains an institution. This is pure Americana, from its towering burgers and cocktails to walls packed with music memorabilia.
Dirty Bones in Soho delivers late-night New York swagger with comfort food to match: think fried chicken, loaded fries and burgers. And for barbecue done properly, Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats close to London Bridge delivers authentic southern flavours.
Sound of America
Music fans should also seek out Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair’s Brook Street, where one of America’s greatest rock guitarists once lived.
Meanwhile, BST Hyde Park continues to pull US stars each summer, bringing blockbuster American music acts to one of London’s most iconic outdoor venues. Look out for Pitbull and Maroon 5 this month.
Shared history
At Guildhall Art Gallery in the City, the free exhibition America and London explores the long relationship between the two lands, analysing political, cultural and social links across the centuries.
For visitors keen to learn about London’s most intriguing transatlantic connections, head to Rotherhithe, where the Mayflower is believed to have been prepared for its historic 1620 voyage to America. Around 30 million Americans are thought to trace their ancestry back to the ship’s passengers.
Nearby, The Mayflower pub offers atmospheric timber interiors, maritime memorabilia and a riverside setting providing a fitting reminder of London’s seafaring past.
CHRIS JOHNSON
