Designed by Harvey Corbett, Bush House was built in 1923 with further wings added between 1928 and 1935. The building was originally constructed for an Anglo-American trading organisation headed by Irving T. Bush, after whom it is named.

Bush House occupies a dramatic position at the bottom of Kingsway in central London, connected to the Strand on its southern façade. Its particularly impressive portico is flanked by two male statues symbolising Anglo-American friendship, sculpted by the American artist Malvina Hoffman. Over a Celtic altar at the centre of the portico is the inscription ‘Dedicated to the friendship of English-speaking peoples'.

The BBC's foreign language broadcasting service began in 1938 from Broadcasting House in Portland Place. After this building was bombed during the Second World War, the service was re-located to Bush House in 1941. This building in turn suffered bomb damage and the statue representing America lost its left arm. It was restored in 1977.

Over many years all the BBC's foreign language services gradually invaded Bush House, penetrating each wing in turn. However, the BBC has never owned Bush House. Its owners were variously the Church of Wales, the Post Office and now a Japanese-owned organisation, but for millions of overseas listeners it remains the building which most represents the BBC.