Image credit: Ridiculopathy / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0 · 2023-05-16 ↗
Benjamin Franklin House
Craven Street · Trafalgar Square → Strand → Somerset House → Temple · Historic house / science / American Revolution / anatomy
Story
No. 36 Craven Street is the only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin anywhere in the world. Franklin lived here for nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775 while serving in London as a representative of the American colonies. These rooms witnessed an extraordinary personal transformation: the man who arrived trying to resolve disputes within the British Empire eventually left on the eve of the American Revolution. The house itself invites you to reflect in the space where, in its interpretation, Franklin shifted from royalist to revolutionary. Yet another story lies beneath the floors. During conservation work on the building in 1998, more than 1,200 fragments of human and animal bone were discovered. These were not victims of any crime committed by Franklin: the remains were associated with the anatomy school run from the house by William Hewson, an anatomist and son-in-law of Franklin’s landlady. Much original Georgian fabric survives, and the house deliberately avoids pretending to be a fully furnished period home. It is open to visitors, and tickets are paid.
What to look for
Upon entering, observe the staircase and the wooden panelling in the Georgian rooms. Pay particular attention to the story of the "Craven Street Bones" and William Hewson's anatomy school, which is explained in the exhibition.
Secret detail
The human and animal bones found during the basement restoration are not evidence of a dark Franklin secret, but a fascinating remnant of an 18th-century anatomist's scientific activity.
Where exactly
The building is at 36 Craven Street. Look for the number in this Georgian terrace; the museum entrance is the house itself.
Orientation
Main entrance of 36 Craven Street.
Why it matters
This building offers a unique insight into Benjamin Franklin's life in London and the complex relationship between the American colonies and Great Britain. It also reveals the history of medicine and anatomy in the 18th-century capital.
Access & opening
Mon–Tue closed except private tours. Wed/Thu/Sat/Sun self-guided; Friday scheduled guided tours. Check current booking.
Current adult self-guided £10; Friday History & Architecture Tour £14; concessions available
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Five-storey Georgian townhouse with uneven/sloping stairs; official site notes no wheelchair access.