Benjamin Franklin House

Benjamin Franklin House is an 18th-century Georgian terraced townhouse in central London at 36 Craven Street, notable as the only surviving London residence of Benjamin Franklin. The building dates from the early 18th century and is now operated as a museum dedicated to Franklin’s time in London.

The museum presents a sequence of restored rooms and interpreted spaces across several floors, showing domestic interiors, Franklin’s study, and displays about his scientific, printing and diplomatic activities. Guided, timed tours take visitors through the ground-floor rooms and the cellar, and the house uses period furniture, documents and exhibits to illustrate 18th-century life.

The house was built in the early 1700s and was the London lodgings of Benjamin Franklin during parts of 1757 to 1775 while he served as an agent for several American colonies and pursued scientific and printing work. Over time the building has been conserved and adapted for use as a museum telling the story of Franklin’s years in London.

The property sits in the City of Westminster on Craven Street near the Strand and Trafalgar Square, in central London. It is within easy walking distance of the River Thames and many central London transport links.

• Surviving London home: Only surviving London house associated with Benjamin Franklin; he lived here while acting as a colonial agent and during scientific and political work between 1757 and 1775.
• Central location and tours: Located at 36 Craven Street, a short walk from Trafalgar Square and the Strand in central London, with timed guided tours available.

What to See #

• Front rooms: Restored Georgian front rooms interpreted as Franklin's lodgings and study, laid out to reflect mid-18th-century domestic arrangements and period furniture.
• Basement and excavations: Basement area retains archaeological evidence uncovered during excavations and is used to interpret the building's later uses and discoveries from the site.