Paving the way for future generations
Mahatma Gandhi visited Britain in 1931 to attend a conference. He used the opportunity to meet the British prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald, at 10 Downing Street. By now the Indian leader was quite the celebrity, and attracted considerable press interest while in the country.
Sinn Fein leader Michael Collins leaving 10 Downing Street during treaty negotiations between representatives of Sinn Fein and the British government, which resulted in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921.
Members of the Australian national rugby team pose outside 10 Downing Street on January 15, 1930, during a visit to British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.
Hollywood actress Joan Crawford and South African-born British entrepreneur Billy Butlin of the Butlin's seaside holiday camp empire with Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his wife at 10 Downing Street in April 1966.
Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife Raisa with Margaret Thatcher and her husband Dennis on the steps of 10 Downing Street in April 1989.
Elton John meets Prime Minister John Major at a Downing Street reception in October 1991.
"The Three Tenors," Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo, line up with Prime Minister John Major and his wife Norma outside 10 Downing Street for a group photograph in July 1996.
Noel Gallagher of British band Oasis chats with Prime Minister Tony Blair in July 1997. Oasis were at the height of their fame during "Cool Britannia," a period of increased pride in the culture of the United Kingdom.
Tony Blair meets actress Sinead Cusack and actor Kevin Spacey at a Downing Street reception in July 1997.
Queen Rania of Jordan on the steps of 10 Downing Street with Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in November 2001.
The Queen and Duke Of Edinburgh attend a April 2002 gala dinner at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie to celebrate Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee Year.
Soccer star David Beckham and then England team manager Sven-Göran Eriksson visit 10 Downing street with the England squad on May 9, 2002, to receive good wishes for the forthcoming World Cup tournament.
Bob Geldof and U2 front man Bono at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Tony Blair, who hosted breakfast talks with the rock star pair in May 2003. Geldof and Bono urged world leaders to unite in the fight against the AIDS epidemic and to turn away from their disagreements over the war in Iraq.
Singer Robbie Williams shares a joke with 'Band of Brothers' actor Damian Lewis on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in May 2006 after their meeting with the PM.
Tony Blair chats with Queen guitarist Brian May at the Global Cool Reception at 10 Downing Street in January 2007.
Fashion model Naomi Campbell attends the 25th Anniversary Party for London Fashion Week at 10 Downing Street in September 2008.
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah. The president was in London in early April 2009 for talks.
Fashion model Claudia Schiffer poses for a photograph on the famous 10 Downing Street staircase, decorated with portraits of British prime ministers, as she attends a drinks reception launching London Fashion Week in February 2011.
Punk queen Debbie Harry of Blondie attends a special reception marking the Cosmopolitan Women of the Year ceremony at 10 Downing Street in November 2011.
Gary Barlow of British pop group Take That and fellow singer Peter Andre attend a celebratory reception for BBC Children In Need at 10 Downing Street in January 2012.
Three-time world heavyweight champion boxer Lennox Lewis gets the coveted 10 Downing Street doorstep all for himself in this February 2012 portrait taken prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards in London.
Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger attends the official launch party for the London Collections: MEN AW13 at 10 Downing Street in January 2013.
Actress Salma Hayek flashes a smile for the cameras as she enters 10 Downing Street for a reception during London Fashion Week in February 2013.
Prime Minister David Cameron glances over at Angelina Jolie, who was at 10 Downing Street in April 2014 in her capacity as Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the opening day of a four-day summit on preventing sexual violence in conflict.
British celebrity Michelin chef Gordon Ramsay takes a selfie outside 10 Downing Street before meeting the PM in June 2018.
Actors Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds, the stars of the hit British television series 'Yes Minister' and 'Yes, Prime Minister,' outside the real thing in October 1982. Margaret Thatcher was a big fan of the comedy show.
US President Ronald Reagan, in London for an economic summit, shakes hands with Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street in June 1984. The two leaders got on famously and held each other in high regard.
Tony Blair poses for photographs outside 10 Downing Street with actress Emma Thompson in June 2005. She'd appeared in 'Love Actually' two years previously, a film that includes a fictional British prime minister in the plot line.
Future British prime minister Harold Wilson, just eight years old, poses outside 10 Downing Street in 1924. He'd go on to occupy the building in 1964.
Sources: (Gov UK)
Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. The official London residence of British prime ministers since 1735, it's up there with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. To be invited into Number 10 is a rare privilege usually reserved for politicians and heads of state. But over the years, celebrities from the worlds of film, theater, sport, and music have also trodden its checkered halls and entered its famous rooms.
Click through and find out the celebrities and VIPs who've stepped over the 10 Downing Street threshold.
The VIP guests of 10 Downing Street
Celebrities who've visited the official residence of the British prime minister
CELEBRITY London
Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. The official London residence of British prime ministers since 1735, it's up there with the White House as being the most important political building anywhere in the world in the modern era. To be invited into Number 10 is a rare privilege usually reserved for politicians and heads of state. But over the years, celebrities from the worlds of film, theater, sport, and music have also trodden its checkered halls and entered its famous rooms.
Click through and find out the celebrities and VIPs who've stepped over the 10 Downing Street threshold.