British Prime Minister

 

10 Downing Street in London, often referred to as Number 10 in the United Kingdom, is the official residence and executive office of the United Kingdom's Prime Minister. It serves as the headquarters of the United Kingdom's government, along with the adjacent Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall.

Number 10 is about 300 years old and comprises over 100 rooms. It is located on Downing Street in the City of Westminster, London. The third floor houses a private residence for the Prime Minister, while the basement houses a kitchen. The remaining levels have offices and conference, reception, sitting, and dining rooms where the Prime Minister does business and where government officials, national leaders, and international visitors are received and hosted. An internal courtyard and a terrace overlook a half-acre (0.2 hectare) garden at the rear. Adjacent to St James's Park, Number 10 is roughly 0.8 mile (1.3 kilometers) from Buckingham Palace, the British Monarch's London residence, and close to the Palace of Westminster, the location of both Houses of Parliament.

Originally three homes, King George II offered Number 10 to Sir Robert Walpole in 1732. Walpole agreed on the condition that the present be made to the First Lord of the Treasury's office. For the majority of the 18th and 19th centuries, and invariably since 1905, the Prime Minister has held the office of First Lord of the Treasury. Walpole commissioned William Kent to connect the three residences, which became known as Number 10 Downing Street.

Despite its size and convenient proximity to Parliament, 10 Downing Street was home to few early prime ministers. Number 10 was set to be demolished several times due to its high maintenance costs, negligence, and run-down status, but the mansion survived and became associated with numerous leaders and events in British history. Margaret Thatcher declared in 1985 that Number 10 had developed into "one of the most treasured jewels in the national history."