Its proximity to the Palace of Westminster has made it a popular choice for politicians looking for homes within Parliament's Division bell area; the most notable being No.17, Great College Street, which was home to Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner at the start of the 20th century and to Margaret Thatcher at its end.

Simon Bradley and Nikolaus Pevsner, in the 2003 revised London 6: Westminster in the Buildings of England series, describe Great College Street as, "charming with an atmosphere like a cathedral close".

[3] In the early 20th century Sir Charles Trevelyan,[1] who held education offices in both Liberal and Labour governments in the early 20th century; Walter Runciman,[1] a Liberal politician who held a range of government posts from 1905 to 1937; and Alfred Lyttelton, who enjoyed a short career as Secretary of State for the Colonies, all had homes there.

Alfred Milner lived there during World War I and conducted negotiations at the house with Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham, who lived over the wall opposite in No.2 Abbey Gardens, when Lloyd George was seeking to entice Milner to join his coalition government after the fall of H. H.

On the fall of Margaret Thatcher in November 1990 No.17 was lent, at her suggestion, to John Major, who ran his successful campaign to replace her as Tory leader from the house.