Embassy of the United States, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Embassy of the United States, London |
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US Embassy in Nine Elms, London
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| Location | 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US |
| Coordinates | 51°28′57″N 0°07′54″W / 51.4826°N 0.1317°W |
| Opened | 1960 Nine Elms 2018 |
| Ambassador | Jane Hartley (since 2022) |
The Embassy of the United States of America in London is the official home and office for the United States in the United Kingdom. It's like a special headquarters where American diplomats work. They help keep good relations between the two countries.
This embassy is located in Nine Elms, a part of London. It is the largest American embassy in Western Europe. It's a key place for many events related to the United States that happen in the UK.
The United States has had a diplomatic presence in London since 1785. That's when John Adams became the first American representative. The current embassy building in Nine Elms opened to the public in December 2017. It officially opened in January 2018. For many years before that, the main embassy office was in Grosvenor Square in Westminster, London.
Since 1955, the official home for the US Ambassador has been Winfield House. This beautiful residence is located in Regents Park.
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History of the US Embassy in London
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The first American office in London was in Great Cumberland Place. Over the years, it moved to several different locations. These included Piccadilly and Victoria Street. In 1893, the office became a full embassy. It then moved to 4 Grosvenor Gardens in 1912.
In 1938, the embassy moved to 1 Grosvenor Square. During World War II, Grosvenor Square became very important. Many US government offices were there. This included the headquarters for General Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the war, land was given for a memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. You can still find statues and memorials there today. They celebrate the strong friendship between America and Britain.
The next main embassy building was also in Grosvenor Square. It was designed by a famous architect named Eero Saarinen. It opened in 1960. The United States paid a very small, symbolic rent for the land. On the roof of this building, there is a huge golden bald eagle. It has a wingspan of over 11 meters (35 feet). This eagle made the building a famous landmark in London. In 2009, the building was given special protection as a historic site. It was used as the embassy until 2017. This building will become a luxury hotel in 2025.
Public Gatherings at the Embassy
Throughout its history, the embassy in Grosvenor Square was a place where people gathered. They wanted to share their opinions on important world events. For example, in 1968, many people gathered to express their views on a conflict involving the US. Later, in 2020, thousands of people marched to the embassy. They were part of a worldwide movement against racism. These gatherings showed how the embassy was a focal point for public expression.
Why the Embassy Moved
Over time, the need for stronger security at the embassy grew. This was due to various global events. The security measures at the Grosvenor Square building became very strict. Parts of the square were even closed to cars.
Because of these security needs, the US government started thinking about moving the embassy. They needed a new building that could be more secure. This would help keep everyone safe.
The New Embassy Building
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In 2008, the embassy announced plans for a new location. This new site is on the South Bank of the River Thames. It is in the Nine Elms area of London. This area is undergoing a lot of new development. New subway stations were also planned nearby.
In 2010, a design team led by KieranTimberlake won the competition to design the new embassy. Their design looks like a shiny cube. It has a large pond on one side. The building is surrounded by green spaces. It is also part of a new housing development called Embassy Gardens.
Construction on the new building began in November 2013. The embassy officially opened its doors to the public on December 13, 2017. The US President at the time, Donald Trump, was expected to visit for the official opening. However, he decided not to make the trip. The decision to move the embassy had been made before his presidency.
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Mission Leaders
Ambassador
The Ambassador is the highest-ranking American diplomat in the UK. The current United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom is Jane D. Hartley. She started her role in May 2022. As mentioned, her official home is Winfield House in Regent's Park.
Other Diplomatic Staff
The embassy has many other important staff members. They help the Ambassador with their work.
- Deputy Chief of Mission, Matthew Palmer
- Consul General Belfast, Paul Narain
- Consul General Edinburgh, Jack Hillmeyer
Embassy Sections
The embassy has different departments, called sections. Each section handles specific tasks.
- Consular Section
- American Citizen Services: Helps American citizens living in or visiting the UK.
- Visa Services: Helps people from the UK who want to visit or move to the US.
- United States Commercial Service: Helps American businesses in the UK.
- Defense Attaché: Works with the UK military.
- Foreign Agricultural Service: Deals with food and agriculture topics.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Handles border security matters.
- Public Affairs: Shares information about the US with the British public.
- Office of Defense Cooperation: Works on defense projects.
- Department of Homeland Security (Immigration): Deals with immigration issues.
Besides the main embassy in London, the US also has other offices. There are American consulates general in Belfast and Edinburgh. There is also a Welsh Affairs Office in Cardiff. A contact center is located in Glasgow.
Previous Embassy Locations
The US diplomatic mission in London has been in several places over the years:
- Great Cumberland Place
- Piccadilly
- 98 Portland Place (1863–1866)
- 123 Victoria Street in Westminster (1883–1893), (1893–1912)
- 4 Grosvenor Gardens (1912–1938)
- 1 Grosvenor Square (1938–1960)
- London Chancery Building in Grosvenor Square (1960–2018)
