Out of Order

a dozen phone boxes mid-collapse

David Mach's sculpture of twelve red phone boxes toppling into each other like dominoes, a free landmark in Kingston.

Free to visit · Kingston · Kingston · KT1 1TR

Opening: Always open

On a street in Kingston upon Thames, a dozen classic red telephone boxes lean and topple into one another like a frozen line of falling dominoes. Created by the sculptor David Mach in 1989 and titled Out of Order, it is a witty monument to the slow obsolescence of the once-ubiquitous phone box.

Locals have grown so fond of it that there was an outcry when it needed repair, and it remains one of Kingston's best-loved sights. It is free to see, instantly photogenic, and a clever, affectionate nod to a vanishing piece of British street furniture.

Getting there: On Old London Road in Kingston upon Thames, a short walk from Kingston station.

Best time to go: Any time, on a wander through Kingston town centre.

Insider tip: Walk to the far end to see the boxes mid-collapse from the most dramatic angle. It is on Old London Road, a short stroll from Kingston's riverside and the ancient Coronation Stone, another free curiosity nearby.

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