Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Tourist Info

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, also called "Foreign Office" or simply the FCO, is the British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom abroad. It was formed in 1968 through the merger of the short-lived Commonwealth Office and the Foreign Office. The Commonwealth Office itself was created in 1966 by merging the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office, while the Commonwealth Relations Office was formed by merging the Dominions Office and the India Office in 1947 — the Dominions Office was a spin off from the Colonial Office in 1925.

The Foreign Office was formed in March 1782 by combining the Southern and Northern Departments, each of which covered both foreign and domestic affairs in their respective geographical parts of the Kingdom. The two departments' foreign affairs responsibilities became the Foreign Office, whilst their domestic affairs responsibilities were assigned to the Home Office.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office occupies the building originally provided for the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Colonial Office, and the Home Office. It was constructed in 1861 and completed in 1868. The architect was George Gilbert Scott, who designed it in the Italianate style. Scott had initially intended to design it in Gothic design, but Lord Palmerston, the then Foreign Secretary, insisted on a classical style. When the construction began in 1861, Palmerston was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Getting there

Nearest Tube Station: Westminster

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
by Adrian Pingstone (public domain)

Foreign & Commonwealth Office Location Map

Inner Quadrangle, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
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