The History of London's Red Telephone Boxes

When it comes to British cultural icons, few symbols are as instantly recognisable as the London red telephone box. First introduced in 1920, these bright red booths have become must-see landmarks for visitors from around the world. If you're staying near Hotel 41 or The Rubens at the Palace, you’ll likely spot one just steps from the door - perfect for a classic London photo op. But have you ever wondered how these iconic telephone boxes became such an integral part of the UK’s streetscape?

The first public phone booth in the UK, known as the K1, appeared on the streets of London in 1920. Built from concrete with a red door, it had little aesthetic appeal and was unpopular with London’s boroughs, who were hesitant to install them.

In 1923, a design competition was launched to create a more visually appealing telephone box. It attracted proposals from renowned architects, including Sir Giles Gilbert Scott - the eventual winner. Scott's elegant, cast iron design was directly inspired by the domed roof of Sir John Soane’s mausoleum in St Pancras. Thus, the K2 red telephone box was born, featuring a vibrant red coat and art-deco style that soon dotted London’s streets.

In 1935, to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V, the K6 model was unveiled. This was the first red telephone box to be deployed beyond London, bringing the now-beloved design to towns and villages across the UK. It marked the beginning of the red box’s nationwide fame. 

Over the decades, updated versions of the red kiosk were released, including variations with post box attachments and other minor tweaks. However, the original charm remained a constant.

In the early 1980s, a major shift occurred when Post Office Telephones was rebranded as British Telecom (BT). Alongside the rebrand came a controversial proposal: to repaint all red telephone boxes in BT’s corporate yellow. The public response was swift and fierce. National newspapers led the charge to preserve the red design. In the end, the campaign triumphed - and out of 77,000 kiosks, only 77 were ever repainted.

Shortly after, in 1982, the production of red boxes officially ceased. They were replaced by the modern, grey KX100 model, bearing BT’s ‘piper’ logo. These remained the UK standard until the late 1990s.

While their original function may have faded, the classic red phone box is far from obsolete. Thanks to BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme, disused booths have been creatively transformed across the UK. In Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, a red telephone box now serves as one of Britain’s smallest libraries and a local book exchange. In Settle, North Yorkshire, locals turned their booth into the Gallery on the Green - a miniature art gallery hosting work by notable photographers such as Martin Parr and Mariana Cook.

These inventive reuses are breathing new life into a beloved icon - proving the red telephone box still has a vital place in modern British culture. Whether you’re a Londoner, history buff, or a first-time visitor, snapping a picture beside a red phone box is practically a rite of passage. With kiosks located throughout the city, you’re never far from this striking slice of British heritage.