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.
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).
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:
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.
