It must be one of the most photographed and filmed front doors globally. The iconic but understated black front door of Number 10 Downing Street – the official residence and executive office of the First Lord of the Treasury (aka the Prime Minister) – features almost daily on TV channels not just across the UK but worldwide.
Number 10 has been the seat of the British Prime Minister since 1735. It may look modest from the front, but behind the façade, it houses an extensive rabbit warren of rooms and staircases that extend left and right into numbers 11 and 12 and is truly the centre of all UK government activities. The building actually contains over 100 rooms, including a banqueting hall, numerous offices and reception rooms, and the official residence for the Prime Minister and his or her family.
10 Downing Street Door Facts
Here’s one lesser-known 10 Downing Street door fact – it hasn’t always been black. Liberal PM Herbert Asquith, who served in power from 1908 to 1916, ordered for the door to be repainted in dark green. When he left office, the door was immediately returned to its original black.
We’re all used to seeing the front door opening and closing whenever someone approaches. The door itself is monitored 24 hours a day. No one actually has a key to the door, and it is never locked. Originally a big black chair was placed by the door, which had a draw underneath that was filled with hot coals to keep the watchman warm in those bitter winters before the installation of central heating. This fact led to the expression ‘in the hot seat.’
If you look carefully, you’ll see that the ‘0’ on the door is slightly wonky. This is a deliberate ‘slip’ in tribute to the original door, which had the number poorly centred.
Is there a 10 Downing Street secret tunnel?
It is a well-known fact that there is a tunnel that links number 10 Downing Street with number 12, running under number 11. But beyond that, there is no official confirmation of any tunnels under Downing Street itself.
The ‘Corridor of Power’ runs from along Whitehall between Downing Street and Westminster Abbey, and below ground level is a warren of rooms (or ‘bunkers’) which have become known as the infamous Churchill War Rooms.
But there are plenty of rumours. Whispers talk about secret tube stations serving Buckingham Palace and tunnels between Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. The truth is we’ll never really know, but it’s great to imagine these things!
Here’s a list of 10 ‘quick facts’ about 10 Downing Street:
- In 1877, when Disraeli was Prime Minister, hot and cold running water was installed, as well as a bath!
- When Gladstone took over in 1894, Gladstone installed electric lighting and the first telephones.
- The letterbox on the front door doesn’t actually open – it is just there for show.
- Central heating was first installed in 10 Downing Street in 1937. The night watchman must have been extremely grateful for his ‘hot seat’ up until then!
- Nearly 70 years after they were first installed, all electric and telephone systems were replaced in 1963, which was a period of extensive renovation for the building.
- 1982 (Margaret Thatcher’s first term in office) saw the computerisation of Number 10. The first direct hotline was established between Number 10 and the White House, and there was a wide rollout of microcomputers and microfilm readers.
- This was then followed by further computer technology being installed for general use by all working at Number 10 Downing Street.
- John Major was the first Prime Minister to use video conferencing during his tenure in office in the nineties (1990-97).
- A dedicated video conferencing suite was installed following the 9/11 attacks in New York, highlighting the need for more immediate face-to-face contact with other world powers in times of crisis.
- Number 10 sent out its first Tweet in 2008. There have since been literally thousands.
One thing that we can be sure of is that the iconic black front door of Number 10 Downing Street will continue to revolve around incoming and outcoming ministers and prime ministers of every political hue. The constancy of such institutions is what makes London a constant favourite destination for visitors from every corner of the globe.
Westminster is an area of immense interest and intrigue if you are interested in how successive governments wield their power over the United Kingdom and beyond. Our Westminster Tours include a visit to 10 Downing Street. If this is an area you would like to concentrate on, we are more than happy to arrange a private tour focussing on these ‘Corridors of Power.’
FAQs
But even dedicated political junkies might not know that beneath the PM's home lies a network of mysterious bunkers. Intrepid urban explorer Dan, from Exploring With Fighters, ventured into the forbidding subterranean world to get a glimpse at the tunnels few top politicians have even seen.
What is the Downing Street controversy? ›
Allegations. In April 2021, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former aide, Dominic Cummings, made allegations that the prime minister had arranged for donors to "secretly pay" for renovations on the private residence at 11 Downing Street.
What is unusual about the 10 Downing Street door? ›
The '0' numeral is painted at a 37° degree angle sloping to the left. A Wonky Zero? A commonly given reason for this angled numeral is that it is a nod to the original door which featured a poorly fixed '0'.
What is underneath 10 Downing Street? ›
A network of underground bunkers lies beneath 10 Downing Street, and one urban explorer managed to get a glimpse of the tunnels few top politicians have seen. gazettelive. Michael Moran. 06:37, 5 JUL 2024.
How many rooms does Downing Street have? ›
Colloquially known as Number 10, the building is in Downing Street, just off Whitehall, in the City of Westminster, London. It is over 300 years old, is Grade I listed, and contains approximately 100 rooms. A private residence for the prime minister occupies the third floor and there is a kitchen in the basem*nt.
How guarded is Downing Street? ›
The street is patrolled by armed police from the Diplomatic Protection Group, and there is usually at least one police officer outside the front door of Number 10.
Why is Downing Street door black? ›
Untreated, the distinctive black bricks would be yellow. They gained their black colour from years of smog, and are now painted black to maintain appearances. The door itself is not the oak original known to Asquith, Churchill and Thatcher (this is in the nearby Churchill War Rooms).
What does it say on the number 10 letterbox? ›
The letterbox is inscribed 'First Lord of the Treasury', the title held by every Prime Minister since Sir Robert Walpole. The '0' in the number 10 is painted at an angle as a nod to the original door, which had a badly-fixed zero, although some people think the '0' was painted at angle to replicate the Roman style.
What does number 10 look like? ›
What Does the Number 10 Look Like? The number ten has two little bumps that stick out to the right side. To write the number ten, we need to start at the very top line, make one curve that reaches the middle line, and another that goes to the bottom.
Where is the fake Downing Street door? ›
Does this door look familiar? It's not the world famous No. 10 Downing Street but an impersonator! This is actually 10 Adam Street just off the Strand, designed by the architect Robert Adam as part of a number of neoclassical terraced houses known as 'Adelphi' from 1768-92.
Larry (born c. January 2007) is a British domestic tabby cat who has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is cared for by Downing Street staff, and is not the personal property of the prime minister of the United Kingdom.
What is the most famous front door in the world? ›
The northernmost entrance of St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most famous doors on the planet. It's not allowed to be open unless it is a Holy Years – every 25 years starting in 1450.
What is the secret tunnel under Whitehall? ›
Q-Whitehall and tunnel network
Q-Whitehall is the name given to a communications facility under Whitehall. The facility was built in a 12 ft (3.7 m) diameter tunnel during World War II, and extends under Whitehall.
Is there a bunker under Buckingham Palace? ›
There's never been any hint that Buckingham Palace comes equipped with its own nuclear holocaust survival bunker.
What are some interesting facts about 10 Downing Street? ›
Fascinating Fact: 10 Downing Street was built out of yellow bricks. Due to London's pollution problems, the house got darker and darker. Today, the bricks are painted black because no one would recognise the building if it was yellow. The building was designed mainly out of rectangles.
Are there tunnels under Buckingham Palace? ›
A series of secret tunnels run beneath Buckingham Palace. When the Queen Mother and King George VI descended into the tunnels, they apparently met a man from Newcastle living in the tunnels. Over one million people from all over the world attended Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee in 2002.
What is the secret tunnel under London? ›
The labyrinth, known as the Kingsway Tunnels, featured in the first James Bond novel. The tunnels have remained unused since they were decommissioned in 1990. The plans were approved by the City of London Corporation on Tuesday, but Camden Council still has to approve them.
Are there tunnels under parliament? ›
In all, a, total of 1 mile 740 yards of tunnel has been constructed under the various schemes associated with the tunnel system and six shafts with passenger lifts provided The tunnel system is connected via the tube railways to the Citadel building. “Citadel” Protection.
