American life in London: Thanksgiving, the NFL and the embassy at Nine Elms

Americans in London are everywhere and nowhere: there's no Little America, but you'll hear a familiar accent in every coffee shop line in Kensington. Here's how to keep your traditions and find your people.

The short version

• Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026) and the Fourth of July are regular workdays in the UK. Most Americans take the day off or celebrate on the weekend.
• The NFL comes to you. London hosted three regular-season games in October 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley [5].
• Democrats Abroad UK is the official Democratic Party body in the UK, with chapters and regional groups around the country [2]. Republicans Overseas has had a UK group, but its website doesn't currently list country chapters, so contact the national organization [3][4].
• The American Women's Club of London, founded in 1899, is one of the oldest American groups in town [6].
• The US Embassy is at 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US, with a 24-hour line for US citizens on 020 7499 9000 [1].

The holiday calendar

None of the big American holidays are days off in the UK. Here's how they shake out:

Thanksgiving in London

Thanksgiving is the holiday Americans miss most, and it's also the easiest to recreate. A few approaches:

1. Take the day off and cook the full spread. Bring friends from work; Brits love being invited to their first Thanksgiving.
2. Host on Saturday so nobody burns vacation time.
3. Join a group dinner. American clubs, churches and alumni groups often organize one.
4. Go out. Some restaurants and American-style spots in London put on a Thanksgiving menu.

The real challenge is logistics. London ovens are often smaller than American ones, so measure yours before ordering a 20-lb (9 kg) bird. Order your turkey from a butcher early, and stock up on canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce when you see them, since the import shelves can run dry in November. Our guide to American food, restaurants and bars in London has more on where to shop.

The Fourth of July

The Fourth falls in peak London summer, which means long evenings: it can stay light past 9 p.m. Expect backyard barbecues (in a London "garden"), rooftop parties and gatherings in the parks. It's a regular workday, so most celebrations land on the nearest weekend. Don't expect fireworks. Londoners save those for Bonfire Night on November 5.

Sports: the NFL in your backyard

London is the NFL's second home. In 2026 the city hosted three regular-season games [5]:

Tickets go fast, and London fans turn up in jerseys from all 32 teams. For a homesick fan, a fall Sunday at Tottenham with a crowd chanting "Defense!" is a surprisingly emotional experience.

The rest of the season, you'll watch at home or at a sports bar. Early games kick off around 6 p.m. London time, and Sunday Night Football runs well past midnight. NBA and MLB fans have it tougher with the time difference, but MLB has played regular-season games in London before, and NBA preseason and regular-season games have come through too.

Meanwhile, give the local sports a shot. Pick a Premier League soccer team (choose carefully; it's a lifelong commitment), and you'll have small talk for life. Cricket is a slower learning curve but a fine excuse for a long afternoon.

Politics: both parties' groups abroad

Plenty of Americans in London stay involved in US politics. We list both parties' groups side by side and don't endorse either.

• Democrats Abroad UK calls itself the official body of the Democratic Party in the United Kingdom [2]. Its website lists chapters in Cambridge, Oxford and Scotland and regional groups from Brighton to Yorkshire, with voter registration, get-out-the-vote work, online action calls and in-person socials [2]. It doesn't list a separate London chapter; London members connect through the UK organization itself.
• Republicans Overseas is the main national organization for Republicans living abroad [3]. A UK group has existed: in June 2023, Channel 4 News interviewed the chairman of Republicans Overseas UK [4]. The organization's website doesn't currently list its country chapters, though [3], so contact Republicans Overseas directly to find the UK group.

Whatever your politics, the step that matters is sending a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every year to register and request your absentee ballot from your last US state. See our guide to voting from abroad.

American clubs and groups

London's American community goes back a long way, and some organizations have stuck around:

• The American Women's Club of London (AWC London) was founded in 1899 and offers social, cultural and educational events plus volunteer service for American and international women in the UK [6]. It helped form the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) in 1931 and is still a member [6].
• The American Club once held court on Piccadilly, but it closed decades ago after its lease ran out [7], so don't go looking for it.

Beyond the formal clubs, most American life in London is informal: US college alumni clubs, parents at the American School in London and other international schools, church congregations, running groups along the Thames and coworkers who also miss Trader Joe's.

The US Embassy at Nine Elms

The US Embassy London moved from Grosvenor Square to its glassy cube in Nine Elms, south of the river, in 2018. The address is 33 Nine Elms Lane, London SW11 7US [1]. The embassy suggests using "London SW8 5BL" or "US Embassy London Nine Elms" for GPS and driving directions [1]. The Northern line extension stops at Nine Elms station nearby.

American Citizen Services handles:

• Passports, including renewals and emergency passports
• Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for kids born in the UK
• Notarial services, by appointment
• Help in emergencies, such as an arrest, a death or a serious illness

The emergency line for US citizens is 020 7499 9000 from inside the UK, or 011-44-20-7499-9000 from the States, and the same number works outside office hours [1]. Enroll in STEP at step.state.gov to get security updates and so the embassy can reach you [1]. Our guide to STEP and help from US embassies explains what consular staff can and can't do.

Finding your people

A few things Americans learn fast in London:

• Small talk is weather-first. Lead with the rain, not your salary.
• Volume matters. Your indoor voice back home might be someone's outdoor voice here, especially on the Tube.
• Sarcasm is a love language. If a British coworker teases you, you're in.
• Pub rounds are a system. If someone buys you a drink, you're expected to buy the next round.

When you're new, our community group for Americans in the UK is a good first stop. Ask who's hosting Thanksgiving, where to watch the late game or which butcher still has turkeys in late November.

Sources

1. US Embassy and Consulates in the United Kingdom
2. Democrats Abroad: United Kingdom
3. Republicans Overseas
4. Channel 4 News: Chair of Republicans Overseas UK interview (June 9, 2023)
5. Sky Sports: NFL 2026 international schedule, London hosting three games (May 14, 2026)
6. American Women's Club of London: About us
7. Wikipedia: American Club, London

Keep reading

• American food, restaurants and bars in London
• Making friends in London as an American
• Voting from abroad: the FPCA and FVAP
• STEP and help from US embassies