Bush House

Bush House stands at the junction of Aldwych and Kingsway, displaying a classical stone facade with two monumental figures above the main entrance. The symmetrical front shows continuous columns and pilasters, while the central arched passageway guides vehicles and pedestrians into an interior courtyard.

Construction began in 1920 and took fifteen years, making the building one of the most ambitious projects of the interwar period in London. The original vision as a center for transatlantic trade shifted later when broadcasting organizations took over and gave it a new role.

The building takes its name from Irving T. Bush, an American businessman who financed the development and envisioned it as a trade center linking the United States and Britain. Its worldwide recognition came later through decades of use as a broadcasting center, carrying voices and news across continents.

The building sits centrally at the southern end of Kingsway, easy to reach from nearby Temple and Holborn underground stations. Access to the courtyard comes through the central passageway, which remains open to pedestrians and offers a view of the surrounding architecture.

The two figures above the entrance hold a torch together, not an ice cream cone, symbolizing friendship and cooperation between nations. Inscriptions on the facade proclaim messages about unity that carried particular weight in the 1920s after the First World War.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: 1935

Architects: Harvey Wiley Corbett

GPS coordinates: 51.51288,-0.11730

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25