Can you rent a car in England with a us license?

Yes, you can. You may drive in the UK on a full US driving license, for up to 12 months after you enter the country, you are limited to small vehicles, so could not hire a minibus or drive a HGV.

If you are a tourist, then you should have no problem hiring a car, this is something that happens regularly. If you have migrated to the UK, you will need to apply for a UK license as your US one can only be used for 12 months.