can you visit no 10 downing street

The Ultimate Guide to visiting 10 Downing Street

10 downing street ultimate guide.

It has one of the most famous addresses in the world and the most photographed door in England, yet many don’t even bother including 10 Downing Street in their London travel because they can’t even get close to it. But even though you can’t even step inside 10 Downing Street, let alone walk down Downing Street, just snapping a photo of the iconic front black door is a tourist activity in itself. You can approach the iconic house on your own or join a guide in a free walking tour for a more comprehensive experience.

10 Downing Street is essentially London’s White House, and has been the official address for British prime ministers since 1735. The first residential home which was built on the site of 10 Downing Street was constructed by Sir Thomas Knyvett in 1581 (who was perhaps best known for arresting Guy Fawkes after the gunpowder plot). Some of the many famous political figures who once lived and/or worked at 10 Downing Street include Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Pitt the Younger, Robert Walpole, Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone and David Lloyd George.

Both the first and second world wars were directed from inside 10 Downing Street, and some of the many key decisions related to the British Empire were developed here as well; (such as the building of the British nuclear bomb, the Great Depression, and many more).

10 Downing Street also stretches all the way to 12 Downing Street (because of its interconnected corridors and buildings which make up much of the street), and many important world leaders visit 10 Downing Street throughout the year whenever the British prime minister hosts a reception or charitable event.

10 Downing Street Highlights

10 Downing Street’s front door is said to be the most photographed front door in all of Britain, and can only be seen when looking through the gates from Whitehall; (where you can see the single white stone step and the black steel door with the number “10” on it). The door was originally made of oak, but was replaced with blast-proof material in 1991 after an IRA bomb exploded in the nearby garden.

For those with good eyesight and/or a camera with a good zoom, you should be able to see the front door’s black iron knocker (in the shape of a lion’s head) as well as the brass letter box with the “First Lord of the Treasury” inscription.

The iconic black bricks of the house are also famous (although they are actually yellow underneath). They were blackened by the London smog during the 19th century, and as a result were painted black during the 1960s since people were accustomed to seeing them that way.

Inside 10 Downing Street is a treasure trove of architectural delights that very few people get to see (unless you’re famous, or a royal, of course). Its main staircase is perhaps one of the most famous highlights of the house, as the walls along the staircase are lined with portraits of past British prime ministers.

Special Tips

Getting There

Visiting 10 downing street.

Unfortunately for tourists, 10 Downing Street (as well as the majority of Downing Street itself) is blocked off by a black gate and heavily patrolled by police at all times. (However, visitors can now take a look at the inside of 10 Downing Street by taking a 360-degree virtual tour on 10 Downing Street’s official website).

If you’re lucky enough, you might even be able to see the Prime Minister leaving or entering the residence in his armed car. You’ll know if the prime minister is en route to or from Downing Street because there is normally a flurry of activity with lots of people and police officers standing around (and possibly even some photographers too). But don’t let the flurry of activity deceive you, because the prime minister may be leaving or entering the residence when there is no one around at all!

The closest you can get to 10 Downing Street would be to stand on the edge of the street next to the FCO building (near the Captain James Cook statue) and peer through the black barriers. In your view you should be able to see 10 and 11 Downing Street, as well as a group of armed forces with machine guns standing near the famous black door.

Ticket prices and Opening Hours

Unfortunately for tourists, 10 Downing Street is not open to the public. As a matter of fact, you can’t even walk up to the residence, let alone walk down Downing Street.

However, if you’re hoping to see the prime minister enter or leave the residence, check to see if the gates are open. In that case, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister from far away, or even snap a photo through the high iron gates at the end of Downing Street.

Your best chances of seeing any kind of activity on Downing Street would be on a Thursday morning, which is when the cabinet meets the prime minister every week. The prime minister usually leaves for Parliament between 11 and 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday as well.

Although there’s no telling when the cabinet minister and/or prime minister will enter or leave the building, your chances of spotting them will be higher during weekday mornings, rather than at night, or on the weekends.

If you are checking out Downing Street you might also want to join any of the  free London tours  that are available on offer.

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A Tour Inside 10 Downing Street

This post covers tours of 10 Downing Street.

We include information such as how to get there, the best times to go, as well as some virtual tours of the famous residence.

• Introduction
• Plan Your Visit
• Tours of 10 Downing Street
• Buckingham Palace
• Things to Do in London

INTRODUCTION

Number 10 Downing Street is one of the most famous addresses in the world. Since 1735, it has been home to the UK's prime ministers.

Although it’s hard to get a good look at the street due to security, Downing Street still remains as one of the most visited sites in our capital city. 

Should you want to visit this historic street to get a glimpse of the iconic black door of No. 10 Downing, check out our guided Westminster Tour  and our  London in a Day Tour , which both stop at Downing Street.

You can also try our GPS-enabled anytime audio tour  which includes a stop at Downing Street.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

How to Get Here

10 Downing Street is located in the City of Westminster, just a short walk away from the Palace of Westminster and Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey .  

Click  here to get exact directions from your point of departure. 

To reach 10 Downing Street by tube, it's best to reach it by either the Westminster or Charing Cross Station.  

If you need help figuring out which tube to take, make sure to read our posts covering the London Underground and which tube pass you should buy .

You can take bus #11 or a  hop-on, hop-off tour bus , both of which pass by frequently.

You can also reach it by boat with City Cruises from the Westminster City Pier which is very nearby.

For obvious safety reasons, the public is not allowed to walk on Downing Street, let alone go into the residence of the Prime Minister (PM).

There have been barriers erected along both sides of Downing Street since the 1920s. 

In 1974, it was suggested that permanent barriers should be erected to prevent the public from walking along the street.

However, the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, overturned the idea.

He felt that it was not right that the public should be prevented from walking down the street and taking photographs outside Number 10.

That has changed, and now security is very tight, as one would expect for the home of a country's head of government.

Today, the closest visitors can get is standing on the edge of the street to peer through the permanent black metal gates. 

See below for some tips on how to get the best view of the street and door .

Things to Do Nearby

There are plenty of other significant London sites within walking distance of Downing Street.

• Trafalgar Square
• Changing of the Guard
• Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• The Churchill War Rooms
• The Horse Guards
• St. James’s Palace

Find some more ideas, read our post on  what to see in Royal London .

Many of these attractions have ticket prices attached to them for entry. Most are included in a number of tourist attraction concession passes available to you in London.

Read our post which compares these city passes to see if any are a good fit for you.

TOURS OF 10 DOWNING STREET

As noted above, you cannot walk on Downing Street as a member of the general public.

But, there are a few ways that you can see what the inside looks like, and also potentially glimpse the PM or cabinet members coming or going.

An Inside Look at 10 Downing Street

This video below made for the 2012 Olympics, gives you a good look into the public rooms inside 10 Downing Street.

Also, take a look at the  virtual tour of 10 Downing Street  on the UK Government's website.

Lastly, Google made this crystal-clear 360-degree virtual tour of some of the rooms in 10 Downing Street.

Outside 10 Downing Street

Here are some tips on how to get a good glimpse of the famous black door (and perhaps famous people as well).

(1) To get a quick photo-op of 10 Downing Street, you can take the #11 bus, and sit on the top deck of the doubledecker.

You may want to take a video from the bus since a still shot might be hard to capture while the bus is in motion.

(2) You can actually see 10 Downing Street while taking a ride on the London Eye ! 

(3) Make sure to go to the gates on Whitehall, which is where you will get your best pictures through the heavy security and barriers.

(4) To see any comings and goings of the PM and other government members, Thursday morning is the best time, as this is when the PM and Cabinet meeting. 

Also, Wednesdays between 11 and 11:30 a.m. are good since the PM leaves at this time to head to Parliament.

Larry, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office

Prime ministers come and go, but one resident of 10 Downing Street has no plans to leave any time soon.

Larry the cat, whose official title is Chief Mouser, has been living at 10 Downing Street since February 2011. He has now seen two PMs come and go.

He may be the most beloved resident of 10 Downing Street in the modern era and his activities are watched closely by the press and the adoring public. 

Here he is, on May 24, 2019, being escorted into the residence just minutes before Theresa May stood in front of the famous black door and announced her resignation.

HISTORY OF DOWNING STREET

Downing Street itself was built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing who had purchased a large tract of land near Parliament, on the edge of St. James’s Park .

He originally intended that the street should be full of fine townhouses designed specifically “for persons of good quality to inhabit in...”

When building these houses, Downing was assisted by master architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed the buildings.

Most were actually built rather cheaply and were not of good quality – still the case when Winston Churchill resided at Number 10 and he is quoted as saying his house was “shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name that bear.”

Earls, Lords, and Countesses quickly moved into the prime real estate built here although it seems unlikely that Sir Downing himself ever actually resided on the street that holds his name.

Regardless of this fact, a portrait of him still hangs in the entrance foyer of Number 10 Downing Street.

By the 1800s the houses had nearly all been taken over by the government.

Some of the original buildings were demolished to allow space to build and expand the Privy Council Office, the Board of Trade, and the Treasury Offices.

10 Downing Street

The majority of the UK's Prime Ministers, dating back to the very first, (Robert Walpole in 1720) have called Number 10 home.

The building itself is made up of over 100 hundred rooms – only part of which is actually residential.

There is a private residence on the third floor and a private kitchen in the basement.

Everything in between is offices, conference rooms, reception halls, sitting rooms, dining rooms, etc.

These rooms are all in constant usage - Foreign dignitaries are entertained here and the Prime Minister and his government base the majority of their work at Number 10.

The front door to Number 10 is most likely the most famous feature of the building.

Large, shiny, and black and bearing ‘10’ in large brass numbers, the door is most likely one of the most photographed in the world!

Originally, the door was made of Georgian black oak; it is today made of blast-proof steel and takes a reported eight men to lift it.

The original door can be seen by the public – it is on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms .

According to Margaret Thatcher, Number 10 Downing Street is “one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage.”

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Ultimate Guide to 10 Downing Street

PM’s Home

Always open to view from outside

Getting Here By Tube

Westminster Station(District&Circle)

Getting Here By Bus

159, 24, 53, 750, 751.

Getting Here By Car

Q Park Westminster, (0113 238 4200), Great College St, Westminster, London SW1P 3RX

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Contact: Lessons at 10

Lessons at 10 is an initiative set up by Mrs Murty with the aim of providing children with the unique opportunity to experience what goes on behind the scenes of the famous black door of 10 Downing Street. With the help of special guests, industry experts and incredible charitable organisations, Lessons at 10 hopes to bring education to life, encourage a love for learning and inspire children from across the UK.

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Take a peek inside the gardens at No 10 Downing Street

Mar 1, 2019 • 2 min read

We've caught glimpses of the  garden  at 10 Downing Street in  London  on occasion, mainly because it has been enjoyed by  British  prime ministers and their families for over 285 years.  If you would like to examine the garden attached to the headquarters of the UK Government, currently home to Prime Minister Theresa May, now's your chance, because a public ballot will be held to win the opportunity to go inside the garden and terrace and see it for yourself.

The garden will be open during the Open Garden Squares Weekend 2019 in June. Over 100 green spaces in the UK will open their gates for public enjoyment and discovery during this annual event, many of which are usually closed to the public. Organised by the London Parks and Gardens, the event aims to cultivate knowledge and appreciation of all these landscapes and celebrate their beauty, ecology and value. There will be two tours of the Downing Street garden on Sunday 9 June at 11.30am and 1.30pm, and 24 places are available on each tour.

Constructed in 1736, the garden at 10 Downing Street is dominated by an open lawn of half an acre in size, and there’s a central flowerbed with flower urns. Tubs of flowers line the terrace and roses line the main pathway through the garden. There’s also bird-feeding tables, and a vegetable garden that produces radishes, spring onions, tomatoes and lettuce. The garden also features an attractive bronze sculpture by Barbara Hepworth and some trees.

The garden backs onto Horse Guards Parade and includes a wildlife pond and area created by the BBC’s Blue Peter programme. Ducks have often nested there before mum and ducklings are escorted back to St. James Park. The garden has provided an informal setting for a number of significant gatherings, such as press announcements and social events. In 2011, UK prime minister at the time, David Cameron, and his wife Samantha joined with the-then US  president, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle in the garden, to provide a barbecue for military personnel.

The Open Garden Squares Weekend 2018 takes place on  8 and 9 June and with the purchase of a weekend ticket, you can explore London’s urban gardens, and enjoy a range of activities and experiences for all the family. For further information, see  here  and to enter the ballot to win a place on one of the 10 Downing Street tours, see  here .

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Tourists visiting Washington, DC, invariably want to see the White House. Why not? That’s where the President of the United States lives. In London, England, crowds line up against the fence to get a glimpse of #10 Downing Street, the home of the British Prime Minister. Unless they know the secret to getting a sneak peek, they will never see that prestigious individual. You see, #10 Downing Street may seem an ordinary residence on a (formerly) working class street, but that doesn’t mean you get to walk up and ring the doorbell to say hello.

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While 10 Downing Street appears to be a modest-looking brick terrace house from the outside, there’s more than meets the eye. The original residence, built on the site of a medieval brewery, is a portal leading to over 100 rooms in several houses all connected by a warren of hallways and staircases. The terrace house is the epicentre of British power, with world famous guests arriving regularly. Should you wish to be in attendance at such a moment, don’t expect to stand right in front of the building. The photos you see of #10 in newspapers are taken only by accredited photojournalists.

The secret to visiting #10 Downing Street Back to video

Downing is in the middle of a district of London named Whitehall, where many important government buildings are located. There are two entrances to Downing Street, east and west. Arriving from the west where St. James Park features a lovely lake, you find Downing Street blocked off for security purposes. No entry. Walk south down Horse Guards Road, past the Churchill War Rooms and Her Majesty’s Treasury to Birdcage Walk, which becomes Great George Street as your turn left (west). Proceed to Parliament Street, passing by statues of Winston Churchill and Mahatma Ghandi. (There are even more statues in London than there are museums.)

You may be tempted to walk over to the Parliament Buildings, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, located right behind the iconic clock tower of Big Ben, but first you are on a mission to find #10 Downing. Turn left at Parliament and walk north, passing King Charles Street to your left with the mighty Foreign and Commonwealth Offices looming large. While the sign for Downing Street is rather small, there is usually a large crowd pressing against a tall wrought iron fence, where a single Bobbie (police officer) stands with a clipboard checking off the names of official visitors on a piece of paper, dignitaries that arrive via armoured limos.

If you think this is an innocent instance of casual British security, have an eye beyond the gates to the heavily armed officers carrying automatic weapons. This is where the secret clue to getting a glimpse of #10 Downing comes in, and perhaps a look at the Prime Minister. What you need is a zoom lens on a quality digital camera. You won’t see anything at all using a smart phone from this distance. On the other hand, should you bring a camera armed with a large telephoto lens mounted on it, you may find yourself in the “Clink” (jail) in a jiffy.

Looking through the zoom lens will reveal several very serious looking officers staring you right back in the eye, and they aren’t smiling. Over their shoulders you can see the prestigious passengers stepping out of their limos, off to have a spot of tea with the PM. If there is an important announcement to be made, perhaps the Prime Minister herself will emerge from the ordinary looking terrace house. Now you know the secret to getting a photo, perhaps you will get a peek. Cheers.

Michael McCarthy is a freelance journalist and owner of mccarthy-travels.com.

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10 Downing Street

Time out says.

Number 10 Downing Street is the official residence of the Prime Minister. Located just off Whitehall, it's a stone's throw away from the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. The street was built in 1680 by property developer Sir George Downing. Behind the famous black door, Number 10 is actually made up of two houses joined together, a cheap terrace house at the front and a much grander building, overlooking Horse Guards Parade. Today the residence is an office for the Prime Minister, a meeting place for the Cabinet, a venue for state events and, in a private flat on the second floor, a home for the Prime Minister’s family. Traditionally, the adjacent property (Number 11) is the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Downing Street is closed to the public.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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How to visit 10 Downing Street in London

After Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street comes close to an address in London everyone at least once has heard of . Downing Street is situated in the City of Westminster area of central London, and house number 10 is the official residence and office of the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom or the First Lord of the Treasury . Number 11 is officially the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Street was initially built from 1682 – 1684 by Sir George Downing (c. 1624/25 – c. 1684), after whom Downing Street in London (as well as two streets in New York) are named after.

Nowadays, after combining adjacent houses, 10 Downing Street features 100 rooms , a courtyard, a lift, and many other amenities. However, there is no possible way to open the door from the outside; hence there is always someone standing inside to unlock the door if needed. By this, we proceed to answer the vital question: Can you visit 10 Downing Street?

Planing a visit to 10, Downing Street SW1, Westminster, London

As unfortunate as it sounds, but the better for the security of the heads of the British government and their equally important frequent guests, it is not possible to visit 10 Downing Street in London. Unless you are invited, of course 😉 Furthermore, you can not even come close to the famous house itself; there are street barriers in quite a distance away. Indeed, it is possible to have a quick look at the facade of the building, from Whitehall, but that’s about it. This is as close as the public can get. Unless you are a cat, in this case, you are granted special trespassing and an exclusive title , Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . Larry definitely is a lucky mouser (and, he’s in office since February 2011, impressive!)

Address : 10 Downing St, Westminster, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom can be seen from Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1A 2AS, United Kingdom

How to have a look inside 10 Downing Street

But, don’t worry, there still is a way to have a look inside 10 Downing Street. Even though it’s virtual only. Google Arts&Culture has recorded eight rooms, of the approximately 100 rooms, and published those StreetView captures online for everyone to see. How great! Included are the White Room, Staircase, Small and State Dining Room, Cabinet Room, Study – Thatcher Roon, Entrance Hallway, Anteroom and the Garden. Check all of them out here on artsandculture.google.com

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I’m with him… An Extra Special Treat!

by Kirsty on February 5, 2014

This weekend I was extremely lucky and got the chance to visit 10 Downing Street!

Just over a year ago I found out that it was a possibility, I came very, very close but got turned away at the last moment. Finally, this weekend everything lined up and I was allowed through those famous gates.

But how I hear you ask?

Nothing to do with me, unfortunately I’m not that important but apparently my stepfather is. For anyone serving in military or police there’s an often unknown perk to the job, You’re able visit Downing street, get a little bit of the history and most importantly get your picture outside the number 10!

And as you can see, you’re able to drag your family along with you…

Kirsty and the famous door 

Interesting facts from my visit:

Shaky foundations

In the 1700’s the property was given as gift to the first prime minister of the United Kingdom. However instead of accepting it in his own name, he accepted it as the prime minister ensuring it stayed part of history forever.

In fact, it’s very lucky that he did accept it this way – it has cost a lot of money over the years to actually keep the house standing. Unfortunately George Downing didn’t take the due care and attention back in 1600. He built the houses on soft soil with very shallow foundations, which meant that the whole road wasn’t the most stable.  Over the years there has been constant renovations, digging down deeper to try and fix the problem.

Supposedly it would have been cheaper to knock down the whole house brick by brick and the rebuild it than what they actually did, but no one wanted to demolish 10 Downing Street.  

What colour are the bricks of Downing Street?

London used to be very smoggy which turned the bricks of Downing Street black, back in the 60s someone decided to power wash the front of 10 and 11 and they discovered that the bricks are a sandy colour…. Can you imagine it?

Neither could the people in government, soon after they painted the exterior black, and the mortar is hand painted silver. They have to do this every ten years now to ensure it stays its old smoggy self.

Downing Street Sign

IRA bombings

Downing street is still counted as a public right of way however in 1982 the Police erected gates to protect one of the most famous addresses in the world. In 1989 the gates we know today were finally put in place.

This did not stop the IRA bombing in 1991. They had planned to throw mortar bombs over the back end of Downing Street. The night before they marked an X on the road where the transit van needed to stop to make sure they bombed the building. Luckily for us it snowed over night and they couldn’t find the X – and stopped a little short. This meant they only bombed the garden!

Finally and most importantly, they have a cat to chase away mice!

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

This is so neat! It must have been a great feeling getting to experience a place that isn’t commonly available to the public. I enjoyed reading the facts as well; that’s really neat about how the PM accepted the gift and about the cat, too funny. I just came across your blog and read your about section; you guys are so inspiring! As a bucket list blogger, I will definitely be keeping up with your new adventure plan for 2014 🙂 Christine´s last blog post .. Attend a Wine Tasting & Go to a Vineyard

I was so excited…. and they guy seemed really pleased to show us round 🙂

Thanks for checking out our site and glad you’re enjoying it!

I’m currently serving in the military how did you get access, I’ve heard theres a privit police email address that we can use?

Sgt T Reynolds. Royal Engineers

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Hi, we're Poi and Kirsty! Join us as we try to create the perfect life for ourselves doing what we love. There will be diving, skiing, teaching and more as we travel the world trying new things and having fun along the way. Want the full story?

Election latest: Sunak admits he got job 'because of a mistake'

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have faced the latest Q&A of this year's election, this time hosted by The Sun. Scroll through the Politics Hub to catch up on our updates and analysis from the event.

Tuesday 25 June 2024 02:34, UK

• General Election 2024

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• Sunak: I got this job as the result of a mistake
• PM reveals Tories are investigating betting scandal
• The party leaders who  do   still want to talk about Brexit
• Farage attacks Johnson in defence of Ukraine war comments
• Chancellor deletes pic of wife's ballot which broke electoral rules
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Expert analysis

• Paul Kelso: Are parties being honest about tax and spend plans?
• Sophy Ridge: PM running out of time to get his message across
• Sam Coates: Tories braced for more names in betting scandal

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | DUP | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

We'll be back from 6am with all the latest from the election campaign.

We're in the last few days of the race for Number 10 - and parties from across the House of Commons are accelerating their efforts.

Join us in the morning for more live updates.

Reducing knife crime will be a "moral mission" for Labour if it wins the election on 4 July, Sir Keir Starmer will say on Tuesday.

The party leader will outline his plan to halve knife crime over the next 10 years, including creating a new cross-government "coalition" to work on solutions - bringing in families of victims and survivors of knife crime, along with tech companies and relevant organisations. 

Sir Keir will also promise to chair an annual knife crime summit to "track progress" on the target, and appeal to all parties to work together on the issue. 

"Knife crime is an issue above and beyond party politics," he will say. "For the parents grieving sons and daughters who never came home, action to end this scourge cannot wait.

"Far too often we hear the same stories from grieving families who have been subject to these brutal murders carried out by children. 

"It is our duty as political leaders of all stripes to work together to end knife crime and keep our young people safe."

Figures from Labour showed knife-related offences had risen by 81% since 2015 across England and Wales. 

The party's pledges for after the election include increasing the penalties for carrying a knife - including custody in the most serious cases, as well as extending the list of banned knives. 

Its 10pm - here's your late night general election bulletin.

We're into the last full week of the election campaign, with just 10 days left until polling day - and things are heating up.

Here's a run down of everything you may have missed:

• Rishi Sunak  today said he is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission over the betting scandal;
• He confirmed the Conservative Party is carrying out its own investigation - and will pass its findings on to the Gambling Commission ;
• The prime minister later took part in an election Q&A with The Sun, in which he insisted he only took the top job "as the result of a mistake" made by Liz Truss ;
• He also failed to confirm whether he called a summer election to avoid potential legal trouble over Rwanda flights taking off in July;
• Meanwhile, economists have lambasted a "conspiracy of silence" from the main parties over their tax and spending plans - read more below:
• Over to Labour, which has offered to meet Harry Potter author JK Rowling to provide her with "assurances" over the protection of women-only spaces; 
• Sir Keir Starmer also took part in the election Q&A, and he admitted that he "understands" why people are confused by his shift in stance on Jeremy Corbyn;
• And Lord Richard Dannatt, the former head of the army, has said Nigel Farage is "not worth listening to about anything" - particularly relating to the war in Ukraine;
• The Reform leader said last week the West had contributed to the invasion of Ukraine;
• He has launched a blistering attack aimed at his one-time ally Boris Johnson - highlighting a front page showing Mr Johnson holding a similar stance on Russia back in 2016.

A flurry of general elections since 2015 has brought an unprecedented churn in our parliamentary representatives.

This year, two in five MPs aren't seeking re-election and the picture for the Conservatives is record-breakingly grim.

An unparalleled total of 23% of Conservative MPs are calling it a day in 2024, more than the previous high of 22% of Tories who quit in 1997, another year of boundary changes.

In contrast, only 15% of Labour MPs are resigning.

There are many reasons MPs quit: from retirement, family commitments and health concerns to career change, abolished constituencies, and the prospect of defeat.

But their decision to depart can reveal much about life in Westminster and have a significant impact on parliament's mix of experience, demographics, and the direction of political parties.

Dr Sofia Collignon, associate professor in Comparative Politics, analyses the churn in our representatives here:

Wales is a Labour heartland, but it's clearly in the sights of other parties during this election campaign.

Reform UK even launched its manifesto in a town in the south of the country, Merthyr Tydfil.

Although Wales has its own parliament and makes most of its own decisions, they still elect MPs who stand in Westminster.

Sky's Wales reporter Tomos Evans explains how the cost of living, steel industry and nuclear energy will be key issues for voters.

By David Blevins , senior Ireland correspondent

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have condemned the Conservative Party for the impact of Brexit on the region.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill told Sky News the current government had "played fast and loose" with the Good Friday Agreement.

Emma Little-Pengelly, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said Northern Ireland was the victim of the Tories having "botched Brexit".

Doug Beattie, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, accused the "chaotic" Tory government of "destroying the cohesion of the United Kingdom".

Tactical voting is a talking point at every election - but it could play a particularly big role this time round.

The polls suggest huge public discontent with the Tories, but there are many seats where Labour - widely projected to form the next government - are not the main challengers.

It's contests like these where the Lib Dems, Reform UK, and the Greens might hope to make gains.

Below, Sky's political correspondent  Serena Barker-Singh explains what tactical voting is when it comes to an election and how it could impact parliament's makeup come 5 July.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here .

Tonight on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge , both our Tory and Labour guests faced questions over a report suggesting neither party are being honest with voters about their tax and spending plans.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies launched its report on their election manifestos this morning, warning public services will have to be cut over the next parliament, unless government debt or taxes rise further.

Labour and the Tories have both ruled out tax rises on working people, but also downplayed the risk of cuts to key public services.

So, are they being honest? Our business correspondent Paul Kelso takes a closer look at the numbers...

That concludes our coverage of tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  - the show will return tomorrow at 7pm. Stick with us here for more updates and analysis throughout the evening.

Five years ago it was indisputably the Brexit election, but this time round it's become something of an elephant in the room.

But in Northern Ireland, none of the party leaders are shy of talking about the impact of Britain leaving the EU.

Our  senior Ireland correspondent  David Blevins   has spoken to them all about the legacy of the 2016 referendum - and how a new government at Westminster might change things.

As David notes, to "get Brexit done" the Tory government put a trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain - something that was once unthinkable.

Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Fein:

"I think there's an opportunity now with what potentially looks like a Labour government coming into play to reverse the damage of Brexit. 

"And actually, I would hope we get to the point where actually we reverse the Brexit decision altogether. 

"That may not be where Labour are headed, but I think there is an opportunity to reset relationships, critically between London and Dublin, because those have been very much fractured."

Emma Little-Pengelly, DUP: 

"The Conservative Party and the UK government botched Brexit and Northern Ireland was the victim of that. 

"We called out the Conservative Party on this at every single stage. 

"We had to fight incredibly hard to try to undo the damage made by the decisions made by the Conservative Party in government. 

"But of course it was us fighting for that, while others were agitating and pushing for rigorous implementation of that really bad deal."

Naomi Long, Alliance: 

"What we need to do looking forward is say... how do we make the benefits of the Windsor Framework work in our advantage? 

"We have a unique position in Northern Ireland in terms of trade: we can trade freely into GB, we can trade freely with the Irish Republic, but more than that, we are a foot in the European Union."

Colum Eastwood, SDLP:

"Brexit has been a disaster for the whole of the UK, I would argue, economically and in many other ways, but we felt it much more keenly here because we share a border with the European Union.

"We had to do an awful lot of work to put things back together after the mess that was made by Brexit and Boris Johnson and the DUP. 

"From our perspective, there's no better outcome than actually being back in the European Union lock, stock, and barrel."

Doug Beattie, UUP:

"Brexit was a defining moment. 

"It absolutely undermined the cohesion of the United Kingdom, and I think we can see the out workings of that even today. 

"And whatever government gets in - and we all think it's going to be a Labour government - I think they're going to have to work on that cohesion as one of their main outputs."

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