What is 10 Downing Street?
10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, located in Westminster, London. Its famous black front door is one of the most photographed doors in the world.
The house was built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing, a politician and property developer. In 1735, King George II offered it to Sir Robert Walpole, often regarded as Britain's first Prime Minister.
Walpole accepted it as the official home of the First Lord of the Treasury, a title still held by the Prime Minister. The plaque on the door still reads First Lord of the Treasury.
Behind the black door
Although it looks like a small terraced house from the street, Number 10 is much larger inside, with around 100 rooms. It is connected to Number 11, the home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and to Number 12.
The Cabinet Room, where government ministers meet, is on the ground floor. Many Prime Ministers actually live in the larger flat above Number 11.
The door can only be opened from the inside, and there is no keyhole on the outside. Larry, a tabby cat, has lived at Downing Street since 2011 with the official title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, serving under several Prime Ministers. Gates at the end of Downing Street have restricted public access since 1989 for security reasons.