Top 5 Icons of British Design
Red Double Decker Buses, Black Cabs and Big Ben. Instantly recognisable, these classic design icons are known all over the world. What do they have in common? They’re all British. Let’s count down ....&repeat’s top five favourite uniquely British designs.
5. Red Telephone Boxes
‘What’s that, mummy?’ Although our kids might not know what a landline phone is, let alone a telephone box, these red boxes remain iconic because of their classic style.
Although telephone boxes are virtually obsolete, the General Post Office’s red phone box has stood the test of time. Once a common sight in British villages and cities alike, they are slowly coming back into vogue, these days being repurposed as community pop-up libraries, galleries and even housing life-saving defibrillators. In …&repeat’s City Telephone Box collection, the bold red and clean lines of Sir Giles Gilberd Scott’s design are commemorated on our tote bags, tea towels, purses and more.
4. The London Underground Map
‘Mind the gap’. A trip to London inevitably involves taking the Tube. According to Transport for London, around two million people use the Underground every day.
Like the London Underground itself, Harry Beck’s iconic Tube map has inspired many imitators. First designed in 1933, the map has changed over the years as London has expanded, but the simple concept of a different colour for each line remains the same. Here at …&repeat we share Harry’s original values of simplicity and practicality, resulting in original, yet classic designs.
3. Red Double Decker Buses
‘All aboard!’ As iconic as some of the sights they drive past, red double decker buses are a symbol of London as much as Buckingham Palace (route no. 73) and London Bridge (route RV1) .
Sitting on the top deck of a red London bus is an inexpensive way to take in the sights of this exciting city. Route no. 11, which starts from Liverpool St. Station will take you past St. Paul’s Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1675, and the Palace of Westminster, reconstructed by Charles Barry in the Gothic Revival Style in 1840. At …&repeat we celebrate Great British design, and our striking City Red Bus tea towels and tote bags will make perfect souvenirs of your visit.
2. Black Cabs
‘Taxi!’ How do London’s cab drivers always know exactly how to get to your destination? Here at …&repeat we have ‘The Knowledge’ (groan) about this and much more.
Did you know that this familiar sight on London’s busy streets hasn’t always been black? Before World War 2, London cabs came in a variety of colours. Associated with the borough of Hackney and the breed of horse, London’s black cabs are spacious, with plenty of room for luggage (handy for shopping sprees!). Here at …&repeat, we understand the need for practicality and style, as evidenced by our City Taxi collection, which features snoods, face masks, tote bags and more.
1. Big Ben
Bong! Most of us know that Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the famous clock tower. But did you know there is a prison room inside the tower? Let’s look at some more facts about this enduring symbol.
Although only the third tallest clock tower in the UK, the Elizabeth Tower, as it has officially been known since 2012, is the most famous – possibly because of its striking neo-Gothic clock face, designed by Augustus Pugin in 1859. To this day, the clock keeps time to within a few seconds a week. Whether you’re bang on time, or fashionably late, you’ll always make an entrance wearing one of ...&repeat’s City Clock stylish accessories.