Pair Of K6 Telephone Kiosks Outside Bush House

Two K6 telephone kiosks stand outside Bush House on the junction of Kingsway and the Aldwych. These kiosks are constructed of cast iron, painted red overall, with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides. The tops of the kiosks feature applied crowns, not perforated, and display rectangular white signs reading "TELEPHONE" beneath a shallow curved roof. The internal equipment has been modernized.

The kiosks are positioned on the axis of Kingsway, a wide, tree-lined boulevard laid out in 1905 as part of the London County Council's urban improvement scheme, which included an underground electric tram tunnel. They frame the view towards Bush House, which closes the vista at the street's end.

Designed in 1935 by Giles Gilbert Scott for the General Post Office to commemorate King George V's Silver Jubilee, the K6 was a development of his earlier K2 design of 1924, but was more streamlined, compact, and cost-effective to manufacture. Over 70,000 K6 kiosks were produced, with many subsequently replaced, but they remain iconic features of British streetscapes.

The kiosks are notable for their strong visual relationship with Bush House and other listed buildings, their presence within a significant example of Edwardian town planning, and the artistry and functionality of Giles Gilbert Scott’s design, which marks a milestone in 20th-century industrial design.