The secret to visiting #10 Downing St.
There’s more than meets the eye inside the house that’s home to PM
Tourists visiting Washington, DC, invariably want to see the White House. Why not? That’s where the President of the United States lives. In London, England, crowds line up against the fence to get a glimpse of #10 Downing Street, the home of the British Prime Minister. Unless they know the secret to getting a sneak peek, they will never see that prestigious individual. You see, #10 Downing Street may seem an ordinary residence on a (formerly) working class street, but that doesn’t mean you get to walk up and ring the doorbell to say hello.
While 10 Downing Street appears to be a modest-looking brick terrace house from the outside, there’s more than meets the eye. The original residence, built on the site of a medieval brewery, is a portal leading to over 100 rooms in several houses all connected by a warren of hallways and staircases. The terrace house is the epicentre of British power, with world famous guests arriving regularly. Should you wish to be in attendance at such a moment, don’t expect to stand right in front of the building. The photos you see of #10 in newspapers are taken only by accredited photojournalists.
Downing is in the middle of a district of London named Whitehall, where many important government buildings are located. There are two entrances to Downing Street, east and west. Arriving from the west where St. James Park features a lovely lake, you find Downing Street blocked off for security purposes. No entry. Walk south down Horse Guards Road, past the Imperial War Museum and Her Majesty’s Treasury to Birdcage Walk, which becomes Great George Street as your turn left (west). Proceed to Parliament Street, passing by statues of Winston Churchill and Mahatma Ghandi.
You may be tempted to walk over to the Parliament Buildings, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, located right behind the iconic clock tower of Big Ben, but first you are on a mission to find #10 Downing. Turn left at Parliament and walk north, passing King Charles Street to your left with the mighty Foreign and Commonwealth Offices looming large. While the sign for Downing Street is rather small, there is usually a large crowd pressing against a tall wrought iron fence, where a single Bobbie (police officer) stands with a clipboard checking off the names of official visitors on a piece of paper, dignitaries that arrive via armoured limos.
If you think this is an innocent instance of casual British security, have an eye beyond the gates to the heavily armed officers carrying automatic weapons. This is where the secret clue to getting a glimpse of #10 Downing comes in, and perhaps a look at the Prime Minister. What you need is a zoom lens on a quality digital camera. You won’t see anything at all using a smart phone from this distance. On the other hand, should you bring a camera armed with a large telephoto lens mounted on it, you may find yourself in the “Clink” (jail) in a jiffy.
Looking through the zoom lens will reveal several very serious looking officers staring you right back in the eye, and they aren’t smiling. Over their shoulders you can see the prestigious passengers stepping out of their limos, off to have a spot of tea with the PM. If there is an important announcement to be made, perhaps the Prime Minister herself will emerge from the ordinary looking terrace house. Now you know the secret to getting a photo, perhaps you will get a peek. Cheers.