3.2
Located on the prestigious "Embassy Row" of Massachusetts Avenue, the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. is the crown jewel of the UK’s diplomatic network. It is not just an office; it is a sprawling four-acre estate that serves as the command center for the "Special Relationship."
Here is a unique and interesting description of this historic Washington landmark:
The "Downton Abbey" of D.C.
The Ambassador’s Residence, completed in 1930, is the only building in the United States designed by the legendary British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (who also planned New Delhi).
The "Fake" Marble: If you are lucky enough to be invited inside, look closely at the grand ballroom columns. They look like expensive Siena marble, but they are actually scagliola (a high-end plaster imitation). The British Treasury slashed the budget by 10% in 1928, forcing Lutyens to get creative with his materials to maintain the royal aesthetic.
A Transatlantic Hybrid: Lutyens designed the house to be a "marriage" of styles, blending a classic English Queen Anne country manor with the red-brick vernacular of Colonial Williamsburg.
Winston’s Foot: A Diplomatic Loophole
In front of the embassy stands a famous bronze statue of Sir Winston Churchill.
The Legal Stance: Look at his feet—one is planted on the "sovereign" British soil of the embassy grounds, while the other is on the American soil of the District of Columbia. This placement was intentional, symbolizing Churchill’s dual heritage (his mother was American) and his role as a bridge between the two nations.
The V-Sign: Churchill is depicted with his iconic "V for Victory" hand gesture, greeting passing D.C. commuters and diplomats daily.
A Century of High-Stakes History
The Beatles’ First Gig: After their very first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum in 1964, The Beatles headed straight to this embassy for a chaotic reception. It was here that a young socialite famously snuck up behind Ringo Starr and snipped off a lock of his hair with nail scissors.
The "New" Chancery: While the 1930s residence is the glamorous face of the compound, the massive 1960s Chancery next door is where the heavy lifting happens. It was built to house the hundreds of staff members required to manage the UK's most important bilateral relationship.
The Garden Parties: The embassy’s gardens are inspired by the work of Gertrude Jekyll. They host one of the most coveted invitations in the city: the annual Queen’s (now King’s) Birthday Party, where 10,000 strawberries and cream portions are often served in a single afternoon.
The British Embassy Washington maintains and develops relations between the UK and the United States.
Find out more on our USA and the UK news page
We deal with a wide range of political, commercial, security and economic questions of interest to the UK and the US. Our consular team in Washington provides consular assistance to British nationals in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
The ambassador is responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates. Their tasks are to present UK policies to the American government and to Americans, to report and explain American policies and views to their own government in London, and to support UK interests. They are also responsible for press and cultural relations and for consular services. They are based at the British Embassy in Washington but travels regularly throughout the United States.
British consulates champion trade and investment between the UK and US. They also keep the ambassador aware of political, economic and other developments in their consular districts. The consuls are also responsible for providing consular services to British nationals in their consular districts.
We are currently unable to process applications for White House Tours. Find out more.
We provide services to British nationals living in and visiting the USA.
You can access UK government services while in the USA.
Urgent assistance
If you’re travelling in USA, see our USA travel advice
If you’re in District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia and you need advice which is not covered by reading our travel advice then you can contact us online.
If you’re in District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia or West Virginia and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +1 202 588 6500. If you’re in the UK and worried about a British person in the USA, call +44 20 7008 5000 (24/7, 365 days a year).
Get an emergency travel document
You can apply for an emergency travel document if you’re abroad and your passport has been lost or stolen, damaged or expired, and you can’t get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.
Apply online for an emergency travel document
If the person needing the emergency travel document is under 16, a parent or guardian should apply on their behalf.
If you are travelling in more than 3 weeks, check if you can get a new or replacement passport in time to travel.
If you are not a British citizen or have not had a British passport before
If you’re not sure, check if you’re a British citizen
If you’re not a British citizen but think you may be eligible, contact us to apply for an emergency travel document.
Other consular services Notarial and documentary services
See the full list of notarial and documentary services we provide.
White House tours
White House Tours
We regret that at present we are unable to arrange any White House Tours or process applications for the general public. While the White House website asks foreign citizens interested in a tour to contact their embassy, the accompanying US mandatory restrictions make tours impractical. We are sorry not to be in a position to assist at this time.
You may wish to consider tours of the US Capitol Building, where visitors are able to make tour reservations up to three months in advance or obtain same-day tour passes. Passports or other forms of ID are not required for entry into the U.S. Capitol. You can also take a virtual tour of the White House.
Consular fees
We charge fees for some of our services. See the full list of consular fees in the USA.
We also provide services in:
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