10 Downing Street

10 Downing Street is a Georgian terrace house in Westminster serving as the official residence of the Prime Minister, containing around 100 rooms distributed across several floors. The building combines working offices with meeting rooms and private living spaces under one roof.

Robert Walpole, the first Lord of the Treasury, moved into the building in 1735 after it was reconstructed from three separate houses. Successive heads of government have lived and worked here ever since.

The black door with its brass knocker has become a familiar image that visitors from around the world photograph while police officers stand outside. Many people gather across the street to watch the entrance, especially on days with political events.

The street is not accessible to ordinary visitors, but the facade can be viewed clearly from Whitehall. The best vantage point is opposite at the fence, where photographers often gather.

On the upper floor there is a bedroom where Winston Churchill slept and worked during the Second World War. This room is now part of the private quarters and not visible to the public.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: 1684

Architects: William Kent, Kenton Couse

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture, Georgian architecture

Website: https://number10.gov.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.50333,-0.12778

Latest update: December 2, 2025 21:41