While the Fourth of July gets a lot of the attention, it’s really hard to think of a more American holiday than Thanksgiving. Turkey, pies, football games, parades, Black Friday shopping … it’s a beloved tradition for a reason. But what if you’re an American abroad? Just because you’re not stateside doesn’t mean you don’t want to celebrate — but how can you?
Well, while opportunities to get your fix for Thanksgiving cheer abroad will vary from country to country, and even city to city.
If you’re in London, you’ll have reason to, well, give thanks.
There are plenty of ways, both on the day of Thanksgiving and throughout Thanksgiving week, to get a taste of American tradition in London and have a happy Thanksgiving even far from America. So, without further delay, here’s how to celebrate Thanksgiving in London — happy Turkey Day!
Raise a glass to the Mayflower at the pub named for It
We all know about the Mayflower landing at Plymouth Rock, and American kids hear the story at school every Thanksgiving. But did you know that it left from, and came back to, London? Specifically, the Mayflower, after delivering the pilgrims to what would later be known as Massachusetts, returned to the London neighborhood of Rotherhite, on the banks of the Tames, and docked at a river pub known then as the Spread Eagle.
Today, though, the pub is called the Mayflower in honor of the ship, and legend has it that some of the timbers from that ship now make up the pub. Every year, the Mayflower pub hosts a Thanksgiving dinner, but while tickets are extremely hard to come by, you can also swing by any time you like on the day for a drink at the bar, and a toast to whatever you’re thankful for.
Tuck Into a Thanksgiving feast at home, or at a restaurant
Couldn’t get a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner at the Mayflower pub? Not a problem! There are plenty of other ways to enjoy a hearty Thanksgiving feast in the Big Smoke. Knowing that there are plenty of American expats in town, plenty of restaurants are hosting Thanksgiving meals, with traditional American classics including turkey, stuffing and pie for dessert. You can also pick up classic pumpkin and pecan pies at Konditor bakery for the week of Thanksgiving only.
The latter bit of information is especially useful for the homebodies among us. If you want something more relaxed than a restaurant meal, London’s grocery stores stock everything you’ll need to make a Thanksgiving meal at home, for you, for your family and for any friends you care to invite. Just remember that cranberry sauce is likely to come in a jar rather than a can (and sadly, won’t retain the shape of that jar like a mini Jello mold to slice into), and that your local grocer might be a little confused if you tell them you need marshmallows to put on a root vegetable side dish!
Cheer for your favorite football team or enjoy a parade
While many Americans will be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade over breakfast before getting their Thanksgiving dinner fixings together, the time difference in London means you can sleep in (or not, since you probably have to work). Multiple livestreaming services will be broadcasting the parade for you to enjoy.
If, on the other hand, Turkey Day is all about the Big Game for you, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Three different NFL games will kick off on Thanksgiving itself, with college football getting into gear over the weekend (special shoutout to the annual Michigan vs OSU game—GO BLUE!). Once again, livestreaming means opportunities to watch, so long as you’re mindful of the time difference.
Get Your Black Friday shopping done all week long
For plenty of people, Thanksgiving is largely a way to eat enough to have the strength for Black Friday shopping. But if you were worried (or even hopeful?) that London doesn’t have the same frenzy of deals and offers that mark an All-American Black Friday, think again. British retailers have embraced Black Friday with a passion, even turning it into “Black Week,” and marking a full week of deals, gifts with purchase, and more. Remember, though, as with American Black Friday, don’t buy things you don’t actually want, or want to gift. After all, you save the most money when you don’t buy at all!
With that in mind, wherever you’re celebrating in 2025, remember that we can all be thankful for something.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ellery Weil
Dr. Ellery Weil is a writer and historian based in London. She was born in Washington, DC, raised in Maryland, and attended undergrad in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before moving to the UK to attend grad school at University College London, where she earned her PhD in History. She lives in London with her husband, where you can find her writing, reading, petting dogs in Regent's Park, and exploring the city's antique markets.
