If you’ve never visited London before, you’ll probably still be aware of the many iconic landmarks and objects associated with the city. From St Paul’s Cathedral to the double decker bus, even people who only know the English capital through films and television are aware of its striking features. One of those signature London oddities is the red phone box.
Whilst countries like America have a uniform, sometimes state-specific phone booth, none are as famous as London’s. Guests of central hotels near Paddington Station needn’t travel far to find these iconic booths dotted across London. Not all of them are as cheery as they once were though, so if you want to take that classic London photo with one, you might have to do a little digging.
This blog will explore the history and legacy of the red phone booth, as well as pointing out some of the best examples of them in the city.
The Red Phone Box Was Not The First
When first introduced to London and the wider United Kingdom, the red phone box was actually a replacement of an earlier design – the K1. Only a handful of these can still be found on British streets, but were introduced in 1921 with red and white colouring, and a curved metal embellishment at its top.
The red phone box was introduced in 1924 after a competition to design a phone box for London, a city that had decided not to introduce the K1 design. The K2 was won by famed architect Sir Gilbert Scott, and whilst several updates were made through the years, his classic bold “currant red” colouring remained as a primary staple of the design. There were 4 more updates made over the next few decades, each adding elements to suit the needs of town planners.
Where To Find Them Today
Though they’ve changed a lot over the years, you can still find many phone boxes across London. There are fewer red ones though, as many different designs sprung up across London streets over the years. One of the most abundant was the KX 100, built in partnership with BT. Of course, with the advent of the mobile phone, most of these phone boxes are now out of order but that original design can still be found across London.
1. Victoria Embankment
If you and your family are guests of London family accommodation special offers and doing a spot of sightseeing along the Thames, you may very well stumble upon the Victoria Embankment red phone box. This gem on the riverside overlooks the London Eye, making for a great photo opportunity.
2. Covent Garden Market
Located just outside the historic sheltered market, these two red phone boxes in Covent Garden’s square are especially beautiful with the Christmas lights that festoon the city.
3. “Out Of Order” Art Installation
For something a little more unique, the “Out Of Order” art installation located in Kingston Upon Thames in southwest London. Designed by David March, it presents 12 iconic London phone boxes in states of upright to toppled positions, much like a fallen set of dominos, offering up an amusing spin on the well-known classic.
