Tucked away inside Regent’s Park, on a private stretch of land the size of seven football pitches, sits Winfield House — the official residence of the US ambassador to the UK. On paper, it’s a
diplomatic home. In reality? It’s also one of London’s most exclusive party spots.
Every 4th of July, the mansion comes alive with a celebration that’s more festival than garden party. This year, Nile Rodgers & Chic played on the vast lawns in front of thousands of guests. Past guest lists have included royals, Hollywood names, fashion royalty, and political heavyweights.
Winfield has been hosting big moments — and big names — for almost two centuries. Even back in the 1820s, when the first version of the house stood here, its main purpose was entertainment.
And when American presidents come to town, this is where they stay. Trump spent the first night of his 2019 state visit here. The Bidens and Obamas have stayed too. “It’s not just the ambassador’s home, it’s a hub of American hospitality,” says Stephen Crisp, who worked as Winfield’s head gardener for nearly four decades.
Behind the gates
From the outside, you wouldn’t even know Winfield exists. It’s shielded by woodland, invisible from the road. Security is tight — visitors need clearance, photo ID, and even an armed escort if they want to leave early. “It’s incredibly hard to get in,” admits Viv Ward, who managed to secure a rare tour for Friends of Regent’s Park.
Those lucky enough to step inside only see the ground floor reception rooms — “very posh,” Ward says — and the gardens. The ambassador’s personal apartments upstairs remain private.
And those gardens are no ordinary patch of grass. They’re the second-largest private gardens in central London, complete with sculptures, paved walkways, and a lawn big enough for helicopters to land.
From heiress to presidents
Winfield’s modern history begins with Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress nicknamed the “poor little rich girl.” In the 1930s, she rebuilt the house in its current red-brick Georgian style after a fire. She named it after her grandfather, Frank Winfield Woolworth.
When World War II broke out, Hutton left London — and lent the house to the Royal Air Force, who used the grounds for balloon defense and even kicked footballs across the lawns. After the war, she handed the mansion over to the US government for a symbolic \$1, a gesture President Truman called “most generous and patriotic.” Since then, it’s been home to every US ambassador.
And presidents? They’ve all dropped by at least once. From Eisenhower’s wartime reunion in 1959, to George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev’s joint press conference in 1991, to Trump’s dinner with King Charles and Camilla in 2019, the house has seen history play out behind its doors.
More than politics
Not every event at Winfield involves diplomacy. Its guest list has spanned Take That, Duran Duran, Ed Sheeran, Foo Fighters, and even the Spice Girls. Michelle Obama once joined a tug of war on the lawn while David Beckham cheered her on. Prince Harry has hosted Invictus Games receptions here. London Fashion Week has taken over its rooms, with Vogue editors and designers like Tom Ford rubbing shoulders with pop stars.
At its biggest, Winfield parties host thousands. For those inside, it’s a surreal escape. “You’d never believe you’re in the middle of London,” says Ward.
If there’s one underwhelming detail, though, it’s the driveway. Despite all its grandeur, it’s just big enough for a limousine or two. “It’s not like the Mall,” Ward laughs. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Ambassador's Residence, Wikimedia commons.