Apple butter, sightseeing and puppets: How UK is marking US independence milestone

Apple butter, sightseeing and puppets: How UK is marking US independence milestoneImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, US-UK relations have come a long way since the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill - as painted by John TrumbullByJames FitzGeraldPublished7 minutes agoThe forecourt of St Paul's Cathedral in London feels like an unlikely place to embark on an exploration of American independence - but a lesser-known statue in that very spot has a tale to tell within one of history's most infamous breakup stories.The sculpture depicts America as an indigenous female figure - holding a bow and arrow, and wearing a headdress. There's been a statue here that looks like this one since 1712 - well before the United States went its own way as a nation.The figure goes some way to showing how those far-flung lands fuelled the imaginations of people at the centre of the British empire, as tour guide Mark Grant explains at the start of a guided walk through the area.Grant is one of many people across the UK marking the 250th anniversary of American independence by holding special events - whether walks like this, a parade, or even cookery.Organisers are eager to show that 4 July is not just a date for fireworks and barbecues in the US. It's a cause for wider reflection - and even a little fun, too.Given that the UK was on the receiving end of the breakup, what do Brits hope to get out of the occasion?British spin on 1776 intrigues visiting AmericansGrant's tours are designed to reveal the often-overlooked links between the City of London and the young United States. The history buffs include people from both sides of the pond.Grant says the two groups have been appreciating different things about the sessions, which are being run on a time-limited basis by the City of London Guides Lecturers Association.For the Brits, "it's interesting facts among other interesting facts", Grant says, noting that there's also plenty of Roman and medieva...