Do you have any recommendations on how to get close to 10 Downing St (I know there are barricades) and Inns of the Temple. I have ancestors who were members and a great uncle was Sir George Downing, so I'd like to see these places from a genealogical point of view. Pretty sure the Prime Minister isn't going to invite me in...
Thank you.
For Downing St. the barricades will be the closest you will get.
Actually the PM might invite you in. She hasn't any other friends.
You might see the Inns of the Court via London Walks, www.walks.com
As far as #10 Downing Street you might recall recent brutal terrorist attacks.
Pretty certain your ancestory is of no importance when it comes to the safety of the PM.
You could also search the web for further information on your great Uncle and possibly find a professor or historian who lives in London who has written about Sir Downing.
"Pretty sure the Prime Minister isn't going to invite me in..." depends what donation to party funds you offer (and this is not a joke!)
start with the easier bit: both Inns of Temple do tours, if you can produce evidence of ancestors it might bump you up any waiitng list!
http://middletemplehall.org.uk/tours-of-middle-temple-hall.html
https://www.innertemple.org.uk/estate-garden/guided-tours-of-the-inn/
I think some of the streets in Middle Temple are open to the public on foot (well at least one is signposted as a route so they'd better be!).
Downing Street is difficult, there are pretty strict about security, you can't get within 300ft of the front door. I think from the Whitehall Gate you can just about get a glimpse of the front door but it would be best show your passport and explain to the police BEFORE you start poking cameras through the gates. But they let the press closer and they are generally scum (that wasn't a joke either....) so nothing is impossible. How good is your genealogical documentation???
By the way, the street is named after the first Sir George Downing, there were 3 in total and all will need several more greats in front of uncle.
I have a picture of me taken outside of 10 Downing St ... but it was taken in 1971, in a different world. So the answer maybe that you are 40+ years too late.
As for the press etc, the far side of Downing Street is the coldest place in Britain, according to a friend of mine who is a director at CNN.
far side of Downing Street is the coldest place in Britain
No. It was the cabinet room the morning after the election.
And this is why I say always check Timeout London.
Seems this month there is an open house weekend....
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/open-house-london-our-highlights
Looks like a lucky few will get to see #10 Downing Street.
But no good to just turn up.
As to Whitehall buildings normally closed to the public, the FCO interior is well worth a visit on these open house things.
You can wander almost at will around all the Inns of Court, at least during the day. The gardens in the Temple and Grays Inn arenot open to the public, but pretty much everywhere else is (apart from the chambers buildings and dining halls of course).
I agree with Emma, but don't ask me who to write to! I pondered over this, there seem to be rival departments with their own empires. PM's private office look after her business, Cabinet Secretary's office look after things not directly involving PM. Neither go out of their way to show how mere mortals can contact them. Police will just say not their problem.
The Inns of Court walk offered by London Walks is a delight. Highly recommended. The days of walking past the PM's residence on Downing are over. I did it in 1977. 10 years ago, barricades and heavily armed soldiers.
Perhaps I will try to contact the sites you mention, although I am not holding my breath. Actually, I am an author and genealogist. Sir George Downing is my 9th great uncle, and I wrote an article about him that was published state side:
http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/massachusetts-scoundrel-downing-street-named/
Also, I published his mother, Lucy Winthrop Downing's story on my website:
what most Americans don't grasp about Britain is that it's very eccentric. Almost anything is possible, you just have to know the right person to fix it for you. With your documentation half the job is done. So send a few emails!
Thanks for the encouragement! I will send an email or two off to someone in London. Maybe old Sir George Downing can do some good from the grave, even though he was quite the scoundrel while living.
