While visiting London on a solo trip just a few weeks before the newest season of Doctor Who came out, I wondered: are there still police boxes in London?
Turns out there is just one iconic blue police box left in the entire city, and I of course had to find it. On a sunny spring morning I put on a neck scarf (the girl version of a bowtie, which are very cool), and headed off on the tube to find the Tardis police box in London.
Geronimo!
Where Can I See The Tardis In London?
The last police call box – aka The Tardis – is located at Earls Court underground station.
It’s literally right outside the station entrance next to a Prets (of course. You can throw a stone and hit 3 Prets while doing it).
I had such a blast visiting it and taking a ton of photos. So many locals gave me confused looks while walking past like – do they not KNOW they are walking by the Tardis every day on their commute?!
Unfortunately it is locked so I couldn’t confirm if it was bigger on the inside or not, but someone had fun on the Google Maps tag.
Earls Court was an embarrassment…
In the episode “The Bells of Saint John” with the Eleventh Doctor, there is a line that says “Are we sure this time? Earl’s Court was an embarrassment …” in reference to this very real Earls Court police box. It was a fun little easter egg for fans!!
The History Of The Police Call Box
At their peak, around 685 of these iconic blue boxes stood sentinel across London, a reassuring presence for both officers and citizens. Designed by Metropolitan Police surveyor Gilbert Mackenzie Trench, these weren’t just any boxes – they were police call boxes, a response to the need for improved communication within the force.
These early outposts offered a vital service: a sheltered space for officers to write reports, take breaks, or even hold detainees temporarily. But the boxes weren’t just for the police; the public could access a phone inside to report emergencies, a crucial resource before widespread phone ownership.
But, with the invention of the radio and modern technology, the need of the police call box was on the decline and by the 1960’s they were slowly phased out. Now there are just 11 police call posts left, and only one police call box.
Our Tardis was oddly enough installed in April 1996, this time equipped with CCTV cameras and a telephone to contact police. There were plans to put more around the city, but this was the only one ever built. The phone line was discontinued in 2000 and the CCTV camera is no longer operational, by tit was restored by the Met police in 2005 and today still stands tall.
Now, it’s a haven for Doctor Who fans like myself. If you ever find yourself in London (hopefully not at Christmas time), take the train over to Earls Court for some nerdy fun time. Maybe, if you’re lucky, some timey wimey time too.
