10 Downing Street, London

10 Downing Street Tourist Info

10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the headquarters of the British Government. 10 Downing Street is located in the City of Westminster, in London, England. In fact, 10 Downing Street refers to the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, but in modern times this particular position has always been assumed simultaneously by the Prime Minister, hence it was regarded as the Prime Minister's residence.

Number 10 Downing Street is the centre of the government, physically as well as politically. It is where the prime minister stays, and it is where he works. It also houses the offices for the secretaries, assistants and advisors. There are conference rooms and dining rooms where the prime minister meets with and entertains leaders and foreign dignitaries. 10 Downing Street is located close to the Palace of Westminister, the UK Parliament, and to Buckingham Palace, the residence of the Queen.

The building known as Number 10 originally comprises three houses: the "house at the back", the "Number 10" itself, and the house next to it. The house at the back was a mansion built around 1530, next to the Palace of Whitehall, the primary residence of the monarchs at that time. 10 Downing Street was a smaller house than the house at the back, and was built in 1685. They all belonged to the king, and various members of the royal family used to stay there.

In 1732 King George II offered it to Robert Walpole, regarded as the first person to assume the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. He accepted, but on condition that it be a gift to the office of the First Lord of the Treasury, and not to himself. The monarch agreed, and with that, 10 Downing Street has passed to each incoming First Lord.

10 Downing Street turned out to be a rather unpleasant place to live. It was constructed on boggy soil, and was costly to maintain. Many prime ministers chose not to stay there. William Pitt the Younger lived there for 19 years, longer than any other prime ministers before or since. In a letter to his mother, Pitt called Number 10 his "vast, awkward house". Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellingtonm refused to stay there because it was too small. Many times, 10 Downing Street came close to being demolished. But as time went by, it survived and became intertwined with the unfolding events of British history, that people came to appreciate it for its historic value, if anything.

Other the years, the walls between the houses on Downing Streets were knocked down, linking them, making it is hard to know where one house starts and another ends. This also continues to the houses adjacent to them at the behind, on Horseguard Parade, integrating them into one vast labyrinthine complex.

The illusion that the prime minister lived at 10 Downing Street was maintain, even when they actually lived elsewhere. Harold Wilson preferred to live in his own private home in Lord North Street, during his second tem as Prime Minister, in 1974-76, but with the assistance of the media, maintain the pretence of living at Number 10, often exiting the side door to return to his real home after entering the front door of Number 10.

After the 1997 General Elections that swept Tony Blair to power, he swapped with his counterpart. Blair was married with three children while Brown was unmarried then. So Blair holds the Prime Minister's office at No 10, he stayed with his family at the more spacious No 11, while Brown lived in the smaller living quarters of No 10. After Brown married and Blair had his fourth child, Brown moved to his own private flat while the Blair family occupied No 10 and 11.

The black front door at Number 10 has no keyhole - it can only be opened from the inside. Nevertheless there will always be a security guard stationed behind the door to open it for the prime minister, no matter how early or late he/she comes home. Gates were installed at both ends of Downing Street during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. There are armed police on guard. People are still allowed on Downing Street, after they go through security checks and follow certain rules.

Getting there

Tube Station: Charing Cross & Westminster
Buses: 11, 12, 24, 88, 159
Access: View from gate at road entrance
Britain Visitor Centre: 1 Lower Regent St, Piccadilly Circus SW1Y 4XT

Downing Street Location Map

Downing Street
author: Michel P. Lalonde | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Downing Street (1959)
author: roskruge | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

Downing Street
author: VKeith | Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners

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