Open Day at Benjamin Franklin House
Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, London, Greater London, WC2N 5NF
Join us to explore the architectural features of Benjamin Franklin House, along with its fascinating history, which includes Franklin’s long residence (1757-1775), the Hewson anatomy school, and the comprehensive conservation project that saved it from dereliction!
This is a drop-in open day, so there is no need to pre-book. Printed self-guided booklets are available by donation. To complement the printed guide, you can also download the Bloomberg Connects app, which reveals a behind-the-scenes peek of Franklin's life in London. Via the app, you can also explore historic features not normally seen by the public, an extensive catalogue of virtual lectures on topics related to Benjamin Franklin, 18th-century life, and our Virtual Georgian Interior, a digital flythrough of the building showing how it would have looked in Franklin’s day.
Our 1730s terraced building survived war, weather, and busy Victorians, making it a place where you can step back into London’s past! During Franklin's time in London, 36 Craven Street served as the first de facto US Embassy, earning the House a special place in Anglo-American history. Combined with Benjamin Franklin's long residence, the House is of special cultural importance!
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- 1100-1700
- Sunday 14 September:
- 1100-1700
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1100-1700
- Sunday 21 September:
- 1100-1700
Location & directions
Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, London, Greater London, WC2N 5NF
- Directions:
- Benjamin Franklin House is located conveniently in between Charing Cross and Embankment stations, and convenient bus routes include 11, 13, 15, 176, 23, 77, and 91.
- Contact on day:
- Dr Megan King
- Telephone number:
- +442078392008
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Unfortunately, Benjamin Franklin House has no step-free access and no other means of support. Beyond that, as our building is about 90% original, we've got a lot of wonky floors and steep staircases. So, although this complete lack of access is something that's on our radar and we are working through ideas on how to make the museum accessible whilst honouring our status as a Grade 1 listed building, we are currently not accessible for those with mobility difficulties.
