What is the red telephone box?
The red telephone box is a public telephone kiosk designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1920s and 1930s. With its bright red color and domed roof, it has become one of the most famous symbols of Britain.
Scott's design won a competition in 1924. The most famous version, the K6, was introduced in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. Thousands were installed across the UK.
The boxes were painted red to make them easy to see. They had a crown on top and the word telephone above the door.
New uses
With the rise of mobile phones, many telephone boxes fell out of use. BT, which owns many of them, allowed communities to adopt them for just one pound.
Adopted boxes have been turned into small libraries, art galleries, information points and even homes for defibrillators. Some have been converted into coffee kiosks in cities.
Many K6 boxes are listed buildings, protected for their historic and architectural value. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott also designed Liverpool Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. Tourists in London often take photos in or beside red telephone boxes.