The black shiny door of 10 Downing Street is perhaps the best known entrance in Britain, possibly even in the world. Yet how many people know what really lurks on the other side of that famous exterior, or indeed, who built it?

In this exclusive new book, Dr Anthony Seldon tells us the history behind Number 10, from its construction in the seventeenth century through to the house as it stands today. He evaluates the contribution of each of the prime ministers and their families on the appearance and the workings of the house, and looks at the way it has been used for both professional and family purposes over the years.

The story follows a broadly chronological path. Chapters include:

The building since the seventeenth century
* A House in the Headlines
* Walpole to Balfour
* Balfour to Douglas-Home
* Wilson to Blair
* Below Stairs
* 4 Departures and an Arrivals

The book is aimed a a broad public and concentrates on the the personnalities of the premiers (and their families) and both interior and exterior architectural changes.