London's Red Telephone Kiosks

They're about as iconic as theBuckingham Palace. London's red telephone kiosks have become part of the city's identity.



About as iconic as Buckingham Palace, London's red telephone kiosks have become part of the city's identity.

Following the 1921 installation of a plain looking box, a contest for a new design was held in 1923. The General Post Office awarded Sir Giles Gilbert Scott the top honors.

Dubbed the K2, the box was the signature hue and had the domed roof popular in later designs. Due to its expense, it was only placed around London.

More cost-effective models followed, but each was painted red as it stood out and made the phones easy to locate.

In the 1990s many of the traditional kiosks were replaced with modern, not red models. The public was outraged and many of the older public phones were reinstalled.

On the topic of iconic red things in London, ever wonder why the busses are red?

It's because when the individually operated vehicles were placed under the control of London Transit, that's the color most of them already were.

One clever businessman had painted his fleet red so it would stand out among the competition.