We all know the classic red phone box. It’s as London as a black cab or a rainy Sunday afternoon. But let’s be honest, most of us just walk straight past them. But what if one of them was hiding a secret? This is London, after all—a city full of hidden gems in plain sight.
Every single day, thousands of people walk right past the smallest gallery in London and don’t even realise it. Well, today’s the day to stop and have a proper look. We’re not talking about a new wing at the Tate; we’re talking about a gallery that’s literally inside a telephone box.
Welcome to the Visionary Brit Museum
You’ll find this tiny treasure directly outside the British Museum. Just walk down the street parallel to the museum’s grand gates, and you’ll spot them: London’s iconic red phone boxes. But these aren’t just for tourist snaps. These specific boxes have been brilliantly repurposed into mini art galleries.
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It’s officially known as the Visionary Brit Museum. This isn’t just one piece of art stuck to a wall; they celebrate all kinds of visionary art. They host new exhibitions regularly, so there’s a good chance you’ll see something different each time you pass. And the best part? It’s totally free to enter.
Now, when they say “mini,” they really mean it. You can check out what happened when our six-foot-three videographer visited the gallery:
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While you’re in the area, perhaps after having a wander around the British Museum’s endless halls or grabbing a cuppa in nearby Bloomsbury, this is the perfect quirky stop.
The installations are always changing and always curious. At the time of the video, one box was home to a curious-looking fortune-teller vending machine. Another had been turned into a photo booth that takes a picture of your aura.
It’s not just one box, either. In total, there are four of these telephone boxes that are part of the project. There are two more waiting to be discovered on the opposite end of the street.
ℹ️ Practical information
📍 Location: Directly outside the British Museum. You’ll find them on the street parallel to the entrance, with two more on the opposite end of the street.
💸 Price: Totally free to enter.