The Red Phone Box travels finally paid homage to the iconic red telephone boxes by visiting the art installation “Out of Order” in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. “Out of order” is created by artist David Mach in 1989.

I’ve been wanting to see these red telephone booths for ages so finally on my last trip to London (November 2022) I ventured outside Central London and discovered delightful Kingston upon Thames. After all, it’s an easy and short train ride from Central London and you can even use your oyster card, no need to pay for a different train ticket.

It was Monday morning and it was pouring rain! Nevertheless, the rain didn’t spoil my experience of Kingston upon Thames. “Out of Order” sculpture/art installation isn’t far away from the train station. It’s located right at the western end of Old London Road street. I’d seen many photos of these 12 telephone booths/boxes positioned like falling dominoes. But I must admit that I’d expected the street around them to look nicer. Also, even though I’d read that these red telephone boxes had been repainted and restored just a few years ago it seems that they need another restoration. Of course, you can’t make a telephone call from these telephone booths. As the name says, they’re out of order! But I loved them! It’s just such a fun concept! I couldn’t find anywhere online why artist David Mach made this art installation. I guess he loved these red telephone boxes very much. It was Giles Gilbert Scott who designed the legendary K2 red telephone booth. Even though he was an architect and a church builder he’s perhaps most widely known as a designer of telephone booths. The red telephone booths in this art installation “Out of Order” must be K6 design.

I have come across a red telephone box in Malta but also in Vienna (outside Hundertwasser house) and in a park in Osijek, Croatia. Sadly, there are less and less of these wonderful red telephone boxes across Great Britain. Some have been repurposed as mini libraries, cafes or even heart defibrillator stations while most are just left to rot.

Of course, I wanted to see what the rest of the town has to offer besides these red telephone booths. I had a short walk around the center and popped into several shops. I found my way to Thames and Kingston bridge. I could have had an enjoyable river walk if it weren’t for the incessant rain. I saw many beautiful old buildings too. Since it was already a pre-Christmas period, I followed the signs for Kingston upon Thames Christmas market locations and discovered All Saints church and the Ancient Market Place. I explored the Alpine village next to All Saints Church and its crafts stands before I walked on to the main market place. The Christmas market at Ancient Market place was devoid of customers (it was Monday morning and it was raining heavily) but it had proper German Christmas market atmosphere with its wonderful food selection and a traditional German Christmas pyramid. I can just imagine how lovely and wonderful it must be in the afternoon and on the weekends. I also loved various Christmas decorations dotted around the city center.

I’d love to return to Kingston and to fully explore it during a sunny day. Have you been to Kingston upon Thames? Have you visited its Christmas market?

This post is also available for offline reading and free download as a travel article app. If you choose to upgrade (to get GPS navigation) I’ll receive a small commission. Thank You! To get the app click here.