The White House is one of the world’s most well-recognised buildings, and home every president of the United States but George Washington himself. An Irish builder called James Hoban won a contest for the right to build a home for the American presidents and modelled it after his favourite Irish country house.
A well thought out piece of design, the White House is not only impressive from the outside, but inside consists of a series of rooms, each with its own special purpose. A whole floor of the White House is dedicated to welcoming visiting guests, signatories and heads of state. Dinner is served in this State Floor’s huge State Dining Room, while guests are received in the Blue Room or Red Room and parties are given in the East Room.
The President’s area of the White House is the West Wing. He works here with his staff from the famous Oval Office, located within this wing. While the exterior of the White House remains unchanged, the interior has been remodelled and restored several times.
Tours of the White House have always been popular, not just among tourists, but among American citizens themselves. If you’re thinking of planning a special White House tour then take a look through our guide to the White House and its tour process.
White House tour
Tours of the White House are very popular and are strictly limited in number so it really is essential to book ahead. The tours are carried out between 7.30am and 12.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, but can regularly be cancelled due to special events. You’ll roughly need to book up to one month ahead, but if you don’t get a place in time for your trip to Washington, you can still enjoy the White House Visitor Center.
Getting there
For those using public transport, you’ll be pleased to learn that the White House is served by several close-by metro stations – McPherson Square, Federal Triangle and Metro Center. If you’re travelling by car, parking is available in the area but it is rather limited. We would advise to leave early in the morning to get a space, or just hopping on the metro instead.
White House Visitor Center
Before or after your White House Tour, or if you haven’t managed to secure a place on a White House tour, a trip to the White House Visitor Centre will give you all the background information you need to know about this famous building and its place in the world’s history. The Center is located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets and is open seven days a week from 7.30am to 4pm where you can read and watch films about the Presidential home.
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