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 | Warren Stephens (since 2025) |
| Jurisdiction |  United Kingdom |
The United States Embassy in London is like the main office for the United States in the United Kingdom. It's located in Nine Elms, London. It's the biggest American embassy in Western Europe and a key place for US-related events in the UK.
The embassy building in Nine Elms looks over the River Thames. It opened to the public on December 13, 2017, and was officially opened in January 2018.
John Adams was the first US representative to open an American office in London. This was in 1785 at 9 Grosvenor Square in Westminster, London. For most of the 1900s and early 2000s, the main embassy office was in a special building in Grosvenor Square.
Since 1955, Winfield House in Regent's Park has been the official home for the US Ambassador.
Contents
History of the Embassy
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The American office in London first started in Great Cumberland Place. It later moved to Piccadilly, then to 98 Portland Place (from 1863 to 1866), and 123 Victoria Street in Westminster (from 1883 to 1893). In 1893, this office became a full embassy. It stayed on Victoria Street until 1912, when it moved to 4 Grosvenor Gardens.
In 1938, the embassy moved to 1 Grosvenor Square. This building later became part of the Canadian High Commission. During this time, Grosvenor Square became home to several US government offices. This included the main office for General Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II. After the war, the Duke of Westminster gave land for a memorial to wartime President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many other statues and memorials about the US and UK relationship are still in Grosvenor Square.
The next main embassy building was also in Grosvenor Square. It was designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen and built in the late 1950s. It opened in 1960. The United States paid only a very small, symbolic rent to the Duke of Westminster for using the land. The building had nine floors, with three of them underground. A large golden bald eagle statue by Theodore Roszak is on the roof. It has a wingspan of over 11 meters (35 feet), making it a well-known London landmark. In October 2009, the building was given a special "Grade II listed status." This means it's an important historical building. It was the main embassy office until 2017. The building is set to reopen in 2025 as a luxury hotel called The Chancery Rosewood.
Protests at the Embassy
In March 1968, about 10,000 people protested in Trafalgar Square against the US involvement in the Vietnam War. They then marched to Grosvenor Square. Police tried to block off the area near the embassy, and there was some conflict as the crowd broke through. Police horses were used to help control the situation. About 200 protesters were arrested, and 50 people needed hospital care, including 25 police officers. In October of the same year, another protest happened. A group of 6,000 protesters returned to the square. A thousand police officers formed a line that the protesters could not break through. The protest was mostly peaceful until the crowd started to leave, when some disorder happened in nearby streets.
Thousands of people protested at the embassy in 2020. This was part of a worldwide anti-racism movement after the death of George Floyd.
On November 6, 2024, the environmental group Just Stop Oil sprayed orange paint on the embassy wall. This was in response to Donald Trump winning the 2024 United States presidential election. Two men were arrested by the Metropolitan Police.
Later, on April 10, 2025, twelve Greenpeace UK activists poured red dye into the water outside the embassy. They were protesting US arms sales. Six people were arrested for this.
Safety Measures
Security at the Grosvenor Square embassy became much tighter in the 1980s and 1990s. This was after several attacks on US embassies and offices around the world. Security was increased even more after the events of September 11, 2001. A large security operation meant one side of Grosvenor Square was closed to cars. Armed roadblocks were placed outside the building.
The need for better security made the US government think about moving the embassy. Some news reports said the US government wanted to use Kensington Palace as their embassy. However, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly said no, as members of the British Royal Family live there. The embassy strongly denied these reports. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said no official request had been made. Another idea was Chelsea Barracks, but the US Embassy's offer for that site was not successful in February 2007.
The New Building
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On October 8, 2008, the embassy announced a plan to buy land for a new embassy. This land was on the South Bank of the River Thames in the Nine Elms area. This area is part of a big development plan for London. The plan would only go forward if approved by the United States Congress and local authorities. New train stations were built nearby, along with major local developments. In January 2009, the US government announced it was choosing from nine architectural firms to design the new embassy. In March 2009, four firms were chosen for the final design competition. By law, the architect for a US embassy must be an American firm with high security clearances.
In November 2009, the US government agreed to sell the lease of the Grosvenor Square building. It was sold to a real estate company from Qatar. The price was not made public, but the lease was estimated to be worth £500 million in July 2000. The building's value for development went down when it was given "Grade II listed status." This meant its original design had to be kept. The building is now one of Mayfair's many listed buildings. In 2016, plans were approved to turn the building into a hotel.
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On February 23, 2010, the US government announced that a team led by the firm KieranTimberlake won the competition to design the new embassy. The winning design looks like a clear cube. It has a semi-circular pond on one side and is surrounded by large public green spaces. It is also next to the Embassy Gardens housing development.
Construction began on November 13, 2013. The new building opened to the public on December 13, 2017. US President Donald Trump was expected to visit in February 2018 for the official opening. However, in January 2018, he announced he would not make the trip. Trump publicly criticized the cost of the new embassy and its location. He also criticized the price received for the sale of the Grosvenor Square building. He blamed the previous government for what he called a "bad deal." However, the decision to move the embassy was made before that government took office.
Who Leads the Embassy?
The Ambassador
Warren Stephens is currently the Ambassador at the Embassy in London. Winfield House in Regent's Park has been the official home of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom since 1955.
Other Important Staff
- Deputy Chief of Mission, Matthew Palmer
- Consul General Belfast, Paul Narain
- Consul General Edinburgh, Jack Hillmeyer
Embassy Departments
- Consular Section
- Helps American citizens
- Handles visa applications
- United States Commercial Service (helps US businesses)
- Defense Attaché (works with military matters)
- Foreign Agricultural Service (deals with farming and food)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (handles customs and borders)
- Public Affairs (shares information with the public)
- Office of Defense Cooperation
- Department of Homeland Security (Immigration)
There are also American offices in Belfast and Edinburgh. There is a Welsh Affairs Office in Cardiff and a contact center in Glasgow.
Past Embassy Locations
- 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)
See Also
- United Kingdom–United States relations
- United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Winfield House – the official home of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
