10 Downing Street, London

10 Downing Street, London

10 Downing Street, or simply "Number 10", serves as both the official residence and workplace of the British Prime Minister, making it the UK's premier address for nearly three centuries. Originally three separate houses, the building now boasts over 100 rooms, with the Prime Minister's family occupying a private residence on the third floor and their kitchen situated in the basement. The remaining floors house offices, as well as numerous conference and reception rooms. The property features an interior courtyard and, at the rear, a terrace overlooking a spacious half-acre garden. The Cabinet Room is isolated from the rest of the building by soundproof doors.

Contrary to popular belief, the famous black front door is constructed from reinforced steel rather than wood. This door lacks a keyhole and can only be opened from the inside, which is why a doorman is always on duty. Speaking of that, the phrase "In the hot seat" originates from Downing Street. The entrance hall of Number 10 contains a large black chair, originally used by the night watchman. Underneath this chair is a drawer that, back in the day, was filled with hot coals to keep the watchman warm during cold nighttime hours. Other iconic features, including the lamp above the door, the lion door knocker, and the black and white flooring in the entrance hall, were added during the premiership of Lord Frederick North between 1770 and 1782.

Like many London properties, Downing Street suffered damage during World War II. On October 14, 1940, a bomb struck nearby, causing damage to the kitchen and state rooms. In 1991, another attack occurred when the IRA launched a mortar attack, resulting in further damage to the premises. A reminder of this attack is a splinter lodged in the upstairs plasterwork, left untouched.

The walls of the Grand Staircase are lined with portraits of every British Prime Minister in chronological order. During Tony Blair's tenure as Prime Minister, he had six plaster bees installed in the window frames of one of the upstairs drawing rooms. Under Mrs. Thatcher, a miniature roof was incorporated into one of the door frames. Regrettably, none of these areas are accessible to the general public, as entry to Number 10 is strictly prohibited for security reasons, with access only granted to staff and authorized personnel.

***HARRY POTTER MOVIE***
Contrary to what most folks usually think of as just the British Prime Minister's home and office, 10 Downing Street also serves as a secret link between the wizarding and muggle worlds, as mentioned in the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Through this portal, the UK's leader can sometimes have a chat with the Minister for Magic.

It's also where the wizard Kingsley Shacklebolt works undercover, guarding the Prime Minister against the dark magical forces led by Lord Voldemort. Seems like there's more to this place than you'd expect...

Tip:
Best enjoyed as part of a broader exploration of Whitehall and Westminster as a whole.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

10 Downing Street on Map

Sight Name: 10 Downing Street
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in London, England

Create Your Own Walk in London

Create Your Own Walk in London

Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
London's Historic Pubs Walk

London's Historic Pubs Walk

If there’s any more iconic symbol for London than Big Ben or the London Eye, then it must be the traditional English pub. And London sure is full of them, dating from pre-Victorian times to just about five minutes ago.

With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Sherlock Holmes Tour in London

Sherlock Holmes Tour in London

Among a myriad of other, real-life celebrities who have ever called London their home, perhaps the most famous is the fictional consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, created by Conan Doyle. Indeed, the ingenious sleuth has left an indelible mark on the literary and cultural landscape of London ever since the appearance of the first stories about him in the late 1880s. Years on, there are several...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Covent Garden Walking Tour

Covent Garden Walking Tour

A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market – currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.

Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Bridges of London

Bridges of London

Around thirty bridges span the Thames river in London, each with its own story. Our self-guided walk takes you to see nine such historical structures located in the heart of the city, starting from the storied Westminster Bridge and ending at the iconic Tower Bridge.

The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
City of London Walking Tour

City of London Walking Tour

The City of London, widely referred to simply as the City (with the capital C), is also colloquially known as the Square Mile, for being just 1.12 sq mi in area. Situated on top of the original Roman center of commerce, called Londinium, established in 43 AD, this neighborhood is the historic and financial heart of the British capital. It has been a major meeting point for international business...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Jane Austen’s London

Jane Austen’s London

The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham’s elopement in “Pride & Prejudice.”

One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...