Take a tour through the historic rooms of 10 Downing Street

A selection of three of the most famous rooms in 10 Downing Street

By 10 Downing Street

10 Downing Street

Churchill Memoirs: 10 Downing Street by William J SumitsLIFE Photo Collection

The Cabinet Room

The Cabinet Room is at the heart of collective Government. The Prime Minister holds weekly meetings on a Tuesday morning with their entire Cabinet. They meet to discuss domestic and foreign affairs and important legislation.

Tap to explore

A view of the famous cabinet table. See if you can guess which chair the Prime Minister sits in...

Tap to explore

This room has seen some truly monumental moments in British political history.

Simon Schama's Tour of Downing Street. Pt2: The Cabinet Room (2015-06-15) by 10 Downing Street10 Downing Street

Churchill Memoirs: 10 Downing Street by William J SumitsLIFE Photo Collection

On 7th February 1991, a terrorist mortar bomb exploded in the garden of Number 10, just a few metres from the Cabinet Room. John Major was chairing a Cabinet meeting at the time.

Tap to explore

The Study

Otherwise known as the Thatcher Room, given it was used by Margaret Thatcher as her main office.

Tap to explore

Just like the cabinet room, the study includes a table which has a fascinating history of its own.

Tap to explore

The study's wall pays tribute to one of its most famous residents, thanks to artist Richard Stone.

Mikhail Gorbachev (1984-12-16) by Fox PhotosGetty Images

Margaret Thatcher, who won three consecutive general elections, has certainly left her mark on Downing Street.

Tap to explore

The Grand Staircase

Portraits of every Prime Minister line the walls in chronological order, with the most recent incumbents at the top and group photographs from past Cabinets and Imperial Conferences at the bottom.

Tap to explore

Black and white engravings and photographs of all the past Prime Ministers decorate the wall; every time a Prime Minister leaves No. 10, the pictures are moved down one by one to make way for their portrait.

Churchill Memoirs: 10 Downing Street by William J SumitsLIFE Photo Collection

The Grand Staircase captures centuries of British political history, stretching all the way back to Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first Prime Minister.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill by Yousuf Karsh10 Downing Street

Winston Churchill is the only Prime Minister to have two portraits on the staircase. See if you can find both in the street view tour of 10 Downing Street.

Credits: Story

Produced by 10 Downing Street. Images courtesy of the Government Art Collection and other external sources. With thanks to Researcher in Residence at 10 Downing Street Jack Brown of Kings College London.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites