Comments on: The Inescapable Melancholy Of Phone Boxes

By: Anthony Terrill

Anthony Terrill — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:35:46 +0000

There are two Kiosks (K2 I think ) in Malvern Road Hackney E8 , next to the Richmond Road Medical Centre .
These appear to be fairly good condition and only had the phone equipment removed in the last 18 months.
Thanks for all your good work..
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MkrNUPFGggLcoDh56

By: Esther

Esther — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:25:35 +0000

I am surprised that nobody uses them as free bookshops like is done in The Netherlands and Germany; I regularly bring books there and people enjoy the bookexchange.

By: JerryW

JerryW — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:32:49 +0000

The one in our village is listed and so BT have, reluctantly, to maintain it.
When all the phone boxes have gone, how will one find a “Swedish Massage” expert?!

By: Deborah Phillips

Deborah Phillips — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:45:14 +0000

Out in the countryside and here in Devon many, many telephone boxes are being converted, mostly to defibrilators, but also museums, libraries, veg shops after being beautifully repainted and restored. Our small town has two. Both teetered on the brink of removal, they had become terrible eyesores , but locals got together and did the work. I feel certain it is not very easy at all for a Great City like London to do community action as we have done. The boxes you have photographed seem well cared for externally. They need the same help the London Cab drivers restaurants have, which seems to be keeping them used and relevant. Thank you for your wonderful reports on the city I love. Deborah

By: Jane W

Jane W — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:08:43 +0000

Many rural phone boxes have found a new use as free book exchange points, and/or to house defibrillators. I wonder why doesn’t this happen in London.

By: Eve

Eve — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:02:33 +0000

These old phone boxes must hold many a secret & memories of momentous events in our lives – funny how we do not notice them until they’re gone..?

By: Annie S

Annie S — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:01:35 +0000

Great photos!
We also did not have a home telephone until after I had left school so would use the public box round in the next road (4d in the box then I think and press buttons A and B!).
I often wonder if any of the remaining red telephone boxes actually work, I think the main reason some of them are still about in Central London is that tourists love to take photos of themselves and their friends standing by or hanging out of the box.

By: Greg t

Greg t — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:09:48 +0000

But not “tilted” in Kingston, eh?

By: Maddie Pierson

Maddie Pierson — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:09:23 +0000

Along with post boxes, I love the sight of telephone boxes on our streets. In conservation terms, I believe they are referred to as heritage street furniture. I’m sure the GA knows all about their design by Gilbert Scott inspired by the tomb of Sir John Soane. There is a mix of K2s and K6s in these photos. The K2 has the evenly spaced glazing bars and is slightly larger, these are all Grade II listed. The K6, redesigned in the 30s I believe, have no automatic protection unless in a Conservation Area or within the curtilage of a listed building.
It’s really striking how in rural areas, old phone boxes are repurposed often, as book exchanges or homes for defibrillators, whereas in urban settings, they are forgotten and allowed to pass into insignificance. I’m sure some creative person could find a use for them.

By: Felix

Felix — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:53:13 +0000

As someone from another country, I find it amazing that London still has phone boxes at all. Ours have been gone for decades now. In all honesty they were hideous around here and I doubt anyone regrets them, but we’ve also lost something in the process.