In a nutshell, yes. Very.

The origins of British opposition to the America War of Independence are varied, but to simplify brutally: You had large groups of Protestant merchants who by inclination and attitude, felt a large degree of sympathy towards the complaints of the colonists. Certain cities became known for their deep support of the colonists- Norwich for example, Bristol and above all, London.

It was here arguably that some of the deepest support for the colonists was found. The reasons were varied, some ideological, others based on long standing trade deals- London was the banking capital of the colonies; millions of pounds were owed to London financial interests; and these relationships had been going on for years.

The level of support could be measured in the action of Charles Fox. He was later Foreign Secretary of Great Britain 3 times and leader of the House of Commons and more than that he was THE most vocal supporter of the American colonists during the war. Indeed it was Fox and his supporters who started the habit of wearing the colours of Washington’s army when attending parliament as a deliberate provocation and snub of the government (Fox of course was in opposition).

The vocal nature of British support for the colonies began to die off as France, then the Dutch, the Spanish and even Mysore all joined in the war, but it never went away.

While the war was being prosecuted, Britain was going through a period of intense political fragmentation; three new reform movements began all of which demanded an end to the war. The biggest bugbear was that the Americans demand for no taxation without representation, struck a cord in Britain as well. Hence the political reform movements.

There was never any thought of British subjects bearing arms to help the colonists, but the speed at which the City of London reopened trade with the new United States shows that even at the end, deep sympathy remained.

Hope that helps.