History films
Watch films on the history of Downing Street and different Prime Ministers.

Here you can watch films on the history of Downing Street and different Prime Ministers. The videos shown here are all available for viewing and embedding into other websites on our YouTube channel:
Learn more about the history of 10 Downing Street and 51 different Prime Ministers:
Prime Minister Eden urges UN action on Suez
At the height of the Suez canal crisis in November 1956, as Israeli troops enter the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Anthony Eden urges the United Nations to act quickly to resolve the conflict. The UN responds by proposing the creation of its first peace-keeping force.
- Action on Suez - YouTube (new window)
- Action on Suez - Real Player
- Action on Suez - Windows Media Player
- Action on Suez - transcript
Churchill Receives an Honourary Degree at Harvard
This Universal Newsreel, dated 9 September 1943, includes a short excerpt from the speech given by Churchill as he received an honourary degree at Harvard, on 6 September that year.
- Honourary degree - YouTube (new window)
- Honourary degree - Real Player
- Honourary degree - Windows Media
- Honourary degree - transcript
Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt in Yalta
This Universal newsreel from 15 February 1945 covers the Yalta Conference - a meeting between the ‘Big Three’: Prime Minister Churchill, Joseph Stalin and President Roosevelt at Yalta, on the Crimean Peninsula.
- Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt in Yalta - YouTube (new window)
- Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt in Yalta - Real Player
- Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt in Yalta - Windows Media
- Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt in Yalta - transcript
Harold Macmillan meets JFK
Prime Minister Harold Macmillan meets President John Kennedy for the first time at the White House, in this Universal newsreel from 1961.
- Harold Macmillan meets JFK - YouTube (new window)
- Harold Macmillan meets JFK - Real Player
- Harold Macmillan meets JFK - Windows Media
- Harold Macmillan meets JFK - transcript
Mr Baldwin and “Old Berkely”
This silent news film shows Stanley Baldwin and his family welcoming the Berkely hunting pack to Chequers in 1926.
Footage is courtesy of the British Film Institute.
- Mr Baldwin and “Old Berkely” - YouTube (new window)
- Mr Baldwin and “Old Berkely” - Real Player
- Mr Baldwin and “Old Berkely” - Windows Media
Churchill takes a break
This Universal Newsreel from January 1946 covers Sir Winston Churchill’s holiday in Florida.
Although Churchill was not Prime Minister at the time of this visit, having lost the 1945 election to Clement Attlee, he remained an internationally renowned statesman.
- Churchill takes a break - YouTube (new window)
- Churchill takes a break - Real Player
- Churchill takes a break - Windows Media
- Churchill takes a break - transcript
Attlee in the United States for talks
Watch this Universal Newsreel from 13 November 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, covering Clement Attlee’s visit to the United States.
The Prime Minister held talks with President Truman on world security and attended an Armistice Day wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, alongside the US President and the Prime Minister of Canada.
- Attlee visits the USA - YouTube (new window)
- Attlee visits the USA - Real Player
- Attlee visits the USA - Windows Media
- Attlee visits the USA - transcript
Baldwin appeals for support for the National Government
A 1931 appeal by Baldwin for support for the National Government, arguing that the Labour Party (under Arthur Henderson) had disrupted the stability of the country.
Baldwin was, in effect, second in command of the National Government. However, he was better suited to film than the Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, who always looked uncomfortable in the glare of the camera.
Baldwin, indeed, had had advice and encouragement from various film producers, and from John Reith, director-general of the BBC. This advice and his own naturalness in front of the camera served him effectively in the 1935 election, when he was returned as prime minister.
- Baldwin Appeals - YouTube (new window)
- Baldwin Appeals - Real Player
- Baldwin Appeals - Windows Media
- Baldwin Appeals - transcript
Now for the Premiership Stakes!
Stanley Baldwin electioneering in his constituency of Bewdley, Worcestershire with his wife Lucy. Footage, filmed during the election campaign of 1923, courtesy of the British Film Institute
- Premiership Stakes! - YouTube (new window)
- Premiership Stakes! - Real Player
- Premiership Stakes! - Windows Media
Ramsay MacDonald appeals for support
In this 1931 film Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald talks of the daily fluctuations in the value of the pound and its effects on housewives; he appeals for support for the National Government which will be a union of parties and will be able to carry out the tasks needed.
- National Government - YouTube (new window)
- National Government - Real Player
- National Government - Windows Media
- National Government - transcript
Margaret Thatcher: Blue Peter interview on Kampuchea
Margaret Thatcher is interviewed by Caron Keating for Blue Peter’s ‘Bring and Buy’ appeal for Kampuchea [Cambodia], December 1988.
- Thatcher on Kampuchea - YouTube (new window)
- Thatcher on Kampuchea - Real Player
- Thatcher on Kampuchea - Windows Media
- Thatcher on Kampuchea - Transcript
Simon Schama’s Tour of Downing Street. Pt4: The Staircase
Simon Schama looks at the history of Downing Street’s Staircase and how past PMs have presented themselves.
- The Staircase - YouTube (new window)
- The Staircase - Real Player
- The Staircase - Windows Media
- The Staircase - Transcript
Simon Schama’s Tour of Downing Street. Pt3: The Dining Room
Simon Schama looks at the history and style of Downing Street’s State Dining Room.
- The Dining Room - YouTube (new window)
- The Dining Room - Real Player
- The Dining Room - Windows Media
- The Dining Room - Transcript
Simon Schama’s Tour of Downing Street. Pt 2: The Cabinet Room
Simon Schama’s tour of Downing Street continues in the Cabinet Room, in the company of Tony Blair.
- The Cabinet Room - YouTube (new window)
- The Cabinet Room - Real Player
- The Cabinet Room - Windows Media
- The Cabinet Room - Transcript
Simon Schama’s Tour of Downing Street. Pt 1: The White Room
Simon Schama explains the origin of Downing Street and looks at the White Room in the company of Tony Blair.
- The White Room - YouTube (new window)
- The White Room - Windows Media
- The White Room - Real Player
- The White Room - Transcript
End of an era for the “Welsh Wizard”
Political drama as David Lloyd George resigns as Prime Minister in this 1922 newsreel from Topical News.
- Lloyd George Resigns - YouTube (new window)
- Lloyd George Resigns - Windows Media Player
- Lloyd George Resigns - Real
- David Lloyd George’s biography
Bonar Law forms a new Government
In this fascinating silent film from the BFI, Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law and his new Cabinet assemble for the first time in the State Dining Room of No10. The year is 1922.
- New Government - YouTube (new window)
- New Government - Windows Media Player
- New Government - Real
- Andrew Bonar Law’s biography
Lloyd George’s first visit to Chequers
Many PMs down the years have headed to Chequers to escape the pressures of office. In this rare 1921 footage from the BFI, David Lloyd George is shown enjoying some time off.