What do Americans enjoy doing in the UK?

[SparklyTwoes]

I have friends (childfree couple in their 50s) who will visit us in Sept to ‘do’ London & a few places outside London. Plans still quite loose now.

What are the places that American guests genuinely enjoy/ are wowed by? Is it best to lean into heritage etc?

A lot of the things that my family enjoy (Brick Lane curry, theatre, weird art pop ups, hiking national parks) - presumably are equally as available stateside as here.

Windsor Castle, with 11.00 changing of the guard much better than buck House.

If they are looking for suggestions for really historic sights then there are some less well known places that might be of interest? Ightham Mote in Kent is an intact medieval moated mannor house, the Chelsea Physic garden is lovely. And the https://www.londonmithraeum.com/ is great ( and free) and can be combined easily with St Paul’s or a cocktail at the Sky Garden?

If their first time I think the normal spots would be fun. Tower of London. Changing of the Guards. We went on The Eye last time and it was fun. Lunch at the Swan London next to the Globe theatre is different and good food. Greenwich to straddle the International Date Line. If they like to do things a bit different from the norm, have them check out the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. You have to get tickets ahead of time so we bought them long before we went to London. You go at night, I think about 10pm, and because it is ticketed there are only a few people. Dark. Mysterious. Nicely special. Depending on their taste (and budget!) Fortnum & Mason is a treat.

This is an excellent walk

They sound as though they would enjoy garden tours. So many gardens in and around London.

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is so fun (as long as you don't think about how deep you are underground and what you would do in a fire!!)! Our next time to London (hopefully there will be a next time) we want to put together a pub/garden tour.

Absolutely a concert at St Martin's in the Field. If they grew up with NPR they would be familiar with the music from the Academy...

Going for an Indian is top of the list for a lot if my American friends when visiting the UK! It’s not the easiest to find good Indian in the states, a bit like Mexican in the UK. And history, anything old- The Tower of London and Hampton Court were big hits. One of my friends is very into musicals but doesn’t want to see any here that could be seen in NYC. Shakespeare at The Globe was a winner though. As is the pub, any old pub for a proper big British pint (love that Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese has already got a mention), also a Sunday roast always goes down well. Maybe an afternoon tea? But definitely ask them! If they’re midwestern I’m guessing Chicago is their big city benchmark so London will probably feel safe and small, if a little dirty!

For slightly quieter / offbeat historical in London, you could try Inner/Middle Temple, between Fleet Street and Embankment. Feels very closed off, but free to access, historic buildings, Temple Church, Old Curiosity Shop, etc

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/cotswolds/i-joined-much-hated-coach-tour-to-the-cotswolds-ban/
Lots of ideas for what Americans like!

DH works with lots of Americans, all over the US. If they come from a bigger city or have one nearby, I would say they aren't interested in museums like Natural History or Science, they have plenty of those back home.

Some find the royal family amusing and will be ok with walking past Buckingham Palace/Kensington Palace while others are fans and want to go to Windsor.

Day trips to photogenic areas like Cotswolds or Stonehenge were big hits.

His colleagues from the East Coast aren't into stately homes, there are enough in the area from the 18th century unless they are really interested in history. But if you have people from the mid-West, that's another topic.

Basking like hippos in the Serpentine 🦛

I've taken American visitors to Blenheim Palace with success and also to Hampton Court Palace - v. different I realise but as a resident, you might best appreciate the similarities and differences and be able to articulate them.

The view across London, still uninterrupted, from HCP (queen's gallery?) is more money than anyone now can contemplate but conveying the impact of that fully to the Americans is tough. The muticoloured marble splendour of Blenheim is an eyeful in its own right. All the times I've been, I've still not gone past the house and gardens out into the park.
I've only taken one group of Americans to the Tower. We rode the conveyor belt past the crown jewels several times. We couldn't pet the ravens but seeing them was good. For me the most moving part was the green where all the ladies were executed but the teens didn't fully comprehend.

What even is in the Cotswolds?

^

Lol