10 Downing Street - is the address for the home of the Prime Minister of the UK, as you may know well, already. Can any person walk right upto the home, the answer is no. At one point of time (when we were there a few years back), the streets and the near by areas were not as heavily cordoned off as are now, for reasons obvious; one could still get a good glimpse. The gate (the picture posted) is where a person walking by at best can stand briefly and get a view, the right top side does mention that it's the "Downing Street". Enjoy when visiting London the next time! read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

To me it's a famous location from books and films. I didn't realize the high level of security we would see. But people do go come and go. Photographers and A DHL delivery. just a normal day. read more

10 Downing Street - Security - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

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while strolling down Whitehall, it is hard to miss 10 Downing St, ofcourse it is closed to the public and you can catch a glimpse through the iron gates. Originally one of three houses, Downing Street was gifted to Sir Robert Walpole by King George II in 1732. Walpole accepted the gift on the basis that it would be used as the office of First Lord of the Treasury - a post he held at the time while effectively serving as Prime Minister. Thus a centuries-old tradition was born. In fact, the brass letterbox on the front door is still engraved with the title "First Lord of the Treasury". another fact: Number 10 as we know it started out as Number 5 and wasn't renumbered until 1779 - prior to this, houses in the street tended to be known by the name or title of their occupants. the door itself cannot be opened from the outside - hence, there is no door handle. It can only be opened from the inside by the guard on duty, who monitors a screen to know when to open the door. I wish it could have been opened to pthe ublic like Buckingham palace read more

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Not much to say about. Back in the days I was able to walk by the door to the office. Now days as you can see the street is closed and gated. It's not any more attraction worthy visit. read more

10 Downing Street - Approach to the 10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

10 Downing Street has been home of the British Prime Minister since 1735, with the most commonly recognised front door in the country, it is truly a very historic site, but as a tourist attraction, it's pretty much nothing, the security around the place means you'd be lucky to get a glimpse of the door, through the gates at either side of Downing Street, where there is always heavy security, once was once described by Margaret Thatcher as "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage". A little underwhelming compared to your typical White House of the USA or the Élysée Presidential Palace, in some ways it seems rather shocking that the Prime Minister of the country lives in a flat above his office, knowing that the morning after an election defeat, he/she will be forced to move out straight away, compared to the US that gives departing leaders until the January after the election. I feel it's a pretty cool landmark in London, but I wouldn't advise going here on a short trip to London, compared to what else the city has to offer as you'd be lucky to see anything too exciting. 3* read more

Have you seen a door before? 10 Downing St is where the Prime Minister lives and works. It appears to be very humble compared to the grandeur of Buckingham Palace. To think the top elected official in Britain lives in a townhouse and to think of what the Queen gets because of who her parents are. It's right there, in between Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.You can't get that close because of security and gates. I'd never suggest going out of your way to see this residence, but since it's so conveniently located, spend the minute to see the significance of this place. OR go to Home Depot, you can see plenty of doors there too. read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

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100% agreement with Yee Gan O, this is a total miss. You can't see a dang thing, which is a shame. I get that there are stupid people doing stupid things these days, but it would be nice if we could at least get close enough for a picture of the famous door instead of a wrought iron gate! Plenty of other worthy things nearby! read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

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10 Downing Street, known in the UK as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury. We stopped by while listening to our free Rick Steves' audio tour of Westminster on our iPods. The free audio guide can be accessed here: http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0602/britain_downloads.htm Although this is one of the most famous addresses in the world, this was by no means the highlight of our walk. We stopped for a few minutes at the gate entrance and realized that you really couldn't see much and continued with our walking tour of Westminster. This gate used to not be present and Downing Street was open to the public, but after a bombing in 1991 the gate was installed. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit 10 Downing Street, but if you are in the Westminster area it is worth stopping by for a moment. read more

II A further wave of shit and piss stench hit the back of my throat, my eyes reddened and I wretched, vomiting onto the floor where it mingled with piss. As I staggered in, I peered forward into the centre of the room. There was a desk, once proud and strong, bearing signatures of war and peace but now collapsed and rotted, listing miserably to the floor. Silhouetted against the back window behind the decaying bureau I could make out the round, hunched shape of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As I pushed forward through the foggy miasma, the PM became more visible but something was different. Where was the Savile-faced rogue with the messy hair that I knew from Have I Got News From You and the Daily Telegraph? Instead, all I could see was a heap of shite, flies crawling about it. Some of the shit was freshly laid, rounded loaves in a rainbow of brown, ochre and yellow. Other parts of the stack were clearly older, collapsed and shapeless and black. I wretched again. "Mr Prime Minster..." I stuttered as I wiped the sick from my chin. The rotting midden heap gave no acknowledgement of my presence. "Hello?" I offered, but still the shit pile remained silent. I was desperate to get away from the thing, to breath fresh air, to be clean, but as I turned to go, a man I recognised as a Times journalist arrived at the doorway. The man ignored me, his eyes fixed on the mountain of waste at the head of the office and walked towards it as if in reverence. I watched in horror as he approached the great pile, dropped his trousers to the floor and squatted at its base, shitting and pissing onto the mound. Foamy piss rivulets ran to the floor as the man sprayed lose motions onto the pile, creating a small yet notable addition. Without looking at me, the hack rose, pulling his piss soaked trousers back up as he did before turning to the shit heap. Whilst everything I had seen so far had shocked and appalled me, I wasn't ready for what came next. With no hesitation, the man rolled up his sleeves and reached into the pile, forcing his body against it until his arms were fully embedded. To my horror, he began to greedily consume the shit, tearing great clots from its centre and smearing them across his red jowls and he feasted on the turds. The journo's bald head slapped against the mound as he gorged himself for several minutes, before slumping to the floor at the foot of the shite pile where he, lay dazed and apparently satiated. Sickened by what I had witnessed, I hurried from the room, splashing piss and shit against the walls as I left. I hurried back down the stairs, desperate to be cleansed of what I had just witnessed. I reached the doorway and was about to leave when the advisor who greeted me earlier appeared and stopped me. "Did you speak with the Prime Minister?" he asked. I gave no reply but stood there, still coated in waste. "A great man really," continued the SPAD. "He lacks attention to detail, but he builds a good team under him. A real man of the people. Be sure to tell people that." I said nothing and headed back out into grey London. read more

10 Downing Street? More like turn down the street. That is, keep it moving because there's nothing to see here! I was taking my American friends on an impromptu walking tour of London, and we were headed towards Trafalgar Square. We happened to be on Whitehall so I suggested that we walk down Downing Street. I'm glad that this wasn't our final destination because it's such a let down. Whoever runs the London department of tourism should STOP listing 10 Downing Street as a tourist attraction, or redefine "attraction"! read more

10 Downing Street - That's it. - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

An iconic landmark in Central London & a must-see for all tourists, this sits on the same street leading to Trafalgar Square & Horseguards Parade one way & to Parliament Square, the other way. Due to increased terrorism, tightened security has led to massive gates erected which never were there in the 60's when I first came to London. read more

10 Downing Street - the gates to No 10 when a demo is on - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

Downing Street is a side road along Whitehall. They are nice buildings but no more so than the rest of the area. Infact since many tourist walk down Whitehall to or from Big Ben/Trafalgar square many people tend to just stumble upon it by accident and i've even seen tourists just walk straight past! These days of course you can't actually go into the street itself due to the security situation of this day and age which tends to lead to lots of tourists trying to peer through black iron gates guarded by miserable policeman being asked for the fifty-twelth time which door is number 10! For those of you who do visit - it's on the right down the bottom of the street. As already said definitely a 'been there, seen that' moment rather than somewhere to visit. read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

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This is a complete non-event as a tourist attraction. You aren't able to really see anything at all from the outside vantage point at the security barrier. While I appreciate security concerns are paramount, they haven't even bothered to get a Downing Street sign lower down so that tourists can get a souvenir picture easily. Instead, you get a view of heavily armed policemen and a concrete barrier I overheard a conversation between a policeman and a group from Kent. It seems that you can apply to go onto Downing Street and have your picture taken at the famous door but most applications get rejected unless you have a charity link or have served in police/army etc. Fortunately, much more impressive sights like the Palace of Westminster are nearby read more

Meeting the Prime Minister It was just after midday that I arrived at Downing Street. The heavily armed police officer at the gate asked for my ID and details of my meeting. "I'm here to see the PM" I said nervously as I fumbled for my driving license and the letter confirming today's appointment. "I see". The officer looked me up and down. "Not really dressed for it are you? Head on over to Number 10. Not through the front though. That's just for important people and photo ops". I slipped through the gate and headed for No. 10, slightly chastened by the man's comments on my attire. Kitted out in the finest Primark fabrics, I felt my suit showed a level of respect befitting a meeting with the most powerful elected official in the UK. As directed, I headed in via the side door, stepping across the threshold and into the heart of the UK government as so many dignitaries, power brokers and celebrities had before me. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Not overwhelming by any means, but present in the air inside number 10 was a ripe hum, similar to a toddler's soiled clothing. It wasn't exactly awful, but it smelt bad and it was impossible to ignore. A grey SPAD approached. "You must be the 12:15 for the PM". Not a question, but a statement. "Head up the stairs, first door. The Prime Minister is expecting you. Don't touch anything." The man fixed me with his tired watery eyes. "You've got ten minutes with him". I walked towards the stairs, the pungent odour increasing slightly as I approached the sturdy oak bannister. I turned to the SPAD. A small black fly had settled on him. "I'm really sorry, but what is that smell?" I asked. "What are you talking about?" he replied. A hint of accusation. Two small flies settled now. "It smells in here. Can't you smell anything?" I tried to explain. Confusion, doubting my nose. "I honestly don't know what you mean. Better get up those stairs, the Prime Minister is extremely busy." A warning not to probe any further. I turned back and began the ascent. The smell grew worse with each step. The mild tang from the lobby had become a rich vegetable infusion. Approaching the midway landing, the odour became almost unbearable. I covered my nose with my hand and tried to push on, breathing through my mouth to try and avoid the toxic fug. This soon proved fruitless as my lungs were choked by the shitty, acrid air. I was transported back to the burning portaloo at Reading, white clouds of flaming shit and plastic billowing out into the night sky whilst the Killers continued on in the background. I heaved, eyes watering but determined to push on to my meeting with the PM. Hauling myself up the last flight of stairs, the smell of shit grew ever worse, as did the clouds of black flies buzzing around. I tried to remind myself that meeting the Prime Minister was an immense privilege reserved only for the wealthy and connected, and that I should count myself lucky. With slight relief, I reached the top of the stairs, a sharp urea smell now mingling with the dank stench of shit. The Lulu Lytle wallpaper here was yellowed and speckled with black mould. The carpet, still visible as a rich British Racing Green in patches was mainly damp and worn. I stepped on to the landing directly into a yellowish puddle edged with a grey foam. Trying to skirt around the puddle, I realised that the whole landing was awash with what appeared to be piss, crystallizing around the skirting boards and the kneel post. I gagged again. What the hell was going on? Ahead of me as the advisor had promised was the PM's office. What had once been a majestic oak door was smeared in shit, the bronze handle corroded and green. Skid marks tracked from the staircase to the doorway and I stepped gingerly towards it, tiptoeing through the puddles of urine, choking back vomit that was building in my throat. I reached out for the door handle, hesitant to touch it, covered as it was with what appeared to be faecal matter. I held my nose and was about to prod the thing open with a biro when it swung ajar sending a small wave of piss and shit out into the office. The urine was up to my ankles now, soaking through my shoes and into my socks. A man came out, head bowed. I think I recognised him as an MP for some safe seat in the Shires. He appeared have have faeces smeared about his face, his arms brown and orange with shit up to his elbows, his trousers damp with floor piss. His eyes briefly met mine, a sad apologetic look about him. He pushed past me and continued back down the stairs, barely concerned by the black clouds of flies, tracking poo as he shuffled away. I braced myself and entered the Prime Minister's office. read more

Home of the British Prime Minister is located at 10 Downing Street. You can only get about a block from the famous black door and that vision is blocked by a gate. I didn't see Teresa May but it was cool to see the British equivalent of the White House. read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

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10 Downing Street, is 10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of the Executive Arm of the British Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, a post which, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and ever since 1905, is also held by the Prime Minister.known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of the Executive Arm of the British Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, a post which, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries and ever since 1905, is also held by the Prime Minis read more

10 Downing Street - Public Services & Government Near Me - London, XGL

Well - you can't exactly visit 10 Downing Street unless you are there on some form of business, because security has become increasingly strict. You can crane through the bars and have a peak down the street itself, and that in its own way is well worth doing - but don't expect to see the PM (not putting Gordon Brown as I don't want my review to go out of date too quickly) popping in and out. However, in terms of history and the seat of leadership or the UK its worth popping along to have a nose around for sure, plus its really not far from the House of Commons, Parliament Square and the like so it's very easy to combine with a little trip around Westminster. Now, I have been fortunate enough to have an event on Downing Street - hence the picture outside the door - and after lots of police checks on the way in, its a pretty amazing road to walk downthe event was actually at no 11, though the two buildings are interconnected anyway. But as there is no No 11 on Qype - a quick bit on the inside: fabulous building, very traditional decoration as you'd expect and lots of portraits and cartoons of previous Chancellors on the way up the stairs. You really can feel the power in there as well. A quick glance out the window into the back garden did give a slightly bemusing result of seeing the PM having a chat with several ministers. Anyway - no pictures allowed in there and basically the rule seem to be what goes on tour stays on tourso I'll leave it there. read more

Although Downing Street is just a side street, you will not miss it. There are a lot of people staying outside many times. Also, the street is guarded, so it is very easy to identify. What you can do at 10 Downing Street is just taking a photo outside the barred street. It is worth giving a visit as you can get so close to the living place of the PM. read more

Not much to see here but this is the home of the PM of England. We passed by it while on our Rick Steves walk to Trafalgar Square.

Ok so we don't have the White House! But Downing Street is possibly the most prized street in the world. Yes the Prime Minister lives there and joe pulic is not allowed in-but honestly what do you expect? You take picture outside the gate and stand around long enough- you may see the famous resident.I bet they dont leave their rubbish out for the bin men- just the gutter press!!! read more

Whether I would recommend a visit to 10 Downing Street depends on if it's important for you to actually see landmarks that you can't really interact with. You can't actually get that close to the No. 10 door they've really tightened security over the past few years. So basically you have to settle for walking up to the barrier and then just standing there for a minute and looking at the door. At that point I felt a little silly that we'd gone there, because we kind of just shrugged and said, "ok, saw that," and decided to have lunch. Perhaps there's some tour or something that would have made the experience more interesting, but just in terms of going there and seeing the place, it wasn't all that exciting. read more

Walked past it three times without realising it was there. No access is granted to members of public so no Good photo opportunities better off with a postcard read more

You walk past the gate on Whitehall on your way from Trafalgar Square to Parliament/Westminster Abbey. You can't really see #10. Take a picture from behind the gates. Walk on to the real tourist sites. Really nothing to see, but technically you get much closer to this residence than to the White House. read more

Centrally located hostel with a historic facade. More modern inside with a lot of offices and rather formal meeting rooms. I dropped-in a few years ago. The butler was too friendly and I had to ask my folks why. My folks talked to his folks and it turned out that he didn't like his own voters and was always unctuous to authority figures from round the world. They said he had raided millions of pounds from this that and the other I just call it welfare money to make us both look good on something callled the world stage. I can't find a review for the World Stage on qype but he probably meant the Millenium Dome or the Olympics or something. Welfare isn't my brief now I've left Texas but apparently in England it is treated like a sort of insurance, as though you use the state as a kind of insurance company, and some of the advisors looked a bit nervous at taking the insurance premiums while most of them seemed more interested in publicity. Well I thought this was an experience but I chose to stay the night at the embassy and then on to the next capital city: live and learn! GB Texas, USA read more