A trip to Number 10

One of the biggest events during the two years as a Marshall Scholar is the trip to 10 Downing St., which is equivalent to the White House. However, unlike the White House, tours to the public are never offered and it is almost impossible to be allowed into 10 Downing. Fortunately for the Marshalls, the Relationship of our program to the British government means that during our two years we get one trip to 10 Downing, and my turn was this year (randomly decided). This meant that myself and around 30 other Marshalls from 2009-2011 were invited for the journey.

On January 12th the Cambridge Marshalls got together early in the morning at the train station for a trip to London, then the tube to Westminster. When we got out of the tube it was the first time I had seen Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye since the orientation, over three months ago.

As we waited outside the barrier to Downing St. we all joked about meeting David Cameron (we didn't meet him, and weren't planning to). 10 Downing itself was an elegant office space devoted to the hard working offices of the prime minister. There were no state rooms like the white house, but the decorations were amazing throughout Number 10. There were pieces of history placed throughout the office. As we walked the aides showing us around would say, on your left is a globe Margaret Thatcher was gifted, to the right is a desk where Churchill wrote many famous speeches, here is a gift from JFK, here is a gift from Clinton, etc. Photos were not allowed in 10 Downing, so I do not have any pictures from the inside, but you can imagine.

The entrance to Number 10.

When we went into the cabinet room, we got to see and sit in the chairs around the table where historical and current leaders of Britain have sat. We saw the gifts of past US and world leaders displayed around the room. We sat at the table Obama gave a speech during his most recent visit. The history was overwhelming.

Since tours are not given in any regular way at Number 10 we were shown around by aides who indulged us with stories about past presidents and world leaders. Most notably their strong affection for the United States and in particular Obama. They discussed how Obama helped cook food for them all or would play basketball with whoever wanted to play on his visits. The respect and strong relationship with the US was similar to what I heard in DC from US leaders about their respect and affection for the UK. It really emphasized the unique relationship between the two countries.

The Marshall group outside of 10 Downing after our visit.

Before our tour we were put in a conference room for tea and talked to foreign advisers on the U.K.'s foreign policy plans and positions going into 2012. They discussed everything from the position on the middle east and Iran, to China, to Scottish independence. It was very insightful, but cut short as our speakers had to go advise David Cameron in the next room.

Our trip to Number Ten ended after a couple hours and we had to rush out because the Irish Prime Minister was coming to meet with David Cameron. Afterwards we all left and went out to lunch and then to the British Museum. Having never been to the British Museum, I had no idea how overwhelming and huge it would be. Two hours in the museum and we only saw 10% of the displays.

The Rosetta Stone at the British Museum!

Completely free, I have little excuse for not taking a trip to the museum every time I go into London. Afterwards the Cambridge Marshalls hopped on a train and rode back to Cambridge, ready to get into the swing of things for the second term at university.