Before a phone lived in every pocket, a red telephone box could be a meeting point, a lifeline or somewhere to shelter from the rain. Add the rumble of a double-decker and it is a scene that feels instantly familiar.
This photograph was taken near the Palace of Westminster in December 2005. The red telephone box and Routemaster bus are familiar objects, but they were also practical parts of everyday life. Looking at them can bring back a particular journey or a conversation as easily as a famous London view.
Before everyone carried a phone
Making a call away from home once meant finding a telephone, having the right coins or card and hoping someone answered. Bus journeys had their own routines, from the ticket to the favourite seat upstairs. Experiences varied by town, route and decade, so the useful details are often very specific. Do you remember a particular bus route, where the nearest phone box stood or who you used to ring? A small detail may help another visitor recognise the same place.
What do you remember?
- Where was the phone box you used most?
- Which bus route brings back memories?
- Who did you travel with or telephone?
Share a memory in the comments below. An approximate year and a town or place help other people find a connection. Please avoid posting private contact details.
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