Get you up to speed: BT Tower in London set for major hotel makeover following £275 million sale
London’s BT Tower will be converted into a hotel by MCR, reopening to the public in 2033 after being closed for nearly 50 years.
Brent Mathews from BT Group confirmed plans for the BT Tower’s conversion into a hotel are expected to begin construction in late 2029, aiming for completion by 2033.
Building work is anticipated to commence in late 2029, with completion of the BT Tower transformation into a hotel expected by 2033, according to MCR.
What we know so far
London’s iconic BT Tower is set for a dramatic transformation into a hotel, following recently unveiled plans. Originally closed off to the public over half a century ago, the 620ft landmark will be stripped out and repurposed, revitalising one of the city’s most recognisable structures.
Purchased by MCR, the third-largest hotel operator in the United States, for £275 million last year, the project aims to reopen the tower to the public for the first time since 1981. The BT Tower, which was inaugurated by then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1965, once featured a rotating restaurant offering panoramic views of London.
MCR’s proposals include creating guest rooms within the previously restricted ‘Stick’ section of the tower, as well as plans for an event space and an observation deck at the top. The public consultation process for the development will run until 26 May, with construction expected to begin in late 2029 and completion hoped for by 2033.
Brent Mathews, Property Director at BT Group, stated the company is proud of the landmark’s history but acknowledged that it no longer serves its original purpose. MCR aims to celebrate the BT Tower’s heritage while providing public access and employment opportunities in Fitzrovia.
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London’s BT Tower to get major transformation into a hotel after £275,000,000 sale | News UK
London’s iconic BT Tower is being transformed into a hotel, according to newly-unveiled plans.
The iconic 620ft landmark, located close to Tottenham Court Road, is being stripped out and converted into a hotel, more than half a century after it was originally closed off to the public.
The tower, which was originally used for telecommunications, sits in the middle of Fitzrovia and was the tallest structure in the capital when it was built in 1964 – until it was surpassed by the NatWest Tower in 1980.
The BT Tower was bought by MCR, the third-largest hotel operator in the United States, for a whopping £275,000,000 last year as part of plans to re-open the landmark to the public for the first time in almost 50 years.
It was first opened by then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson back in 1965 and opened to the public a year later, featuring a rotating restaurant on the 34th floor that offered complete views of the capital.
Why was the BT Tower closed to the public?
The Top of the Tower restaurant in the BT Tower was closed off in 1971 after a bomb explosion in the men’s toilets of the restaurant.
It was reopened on an invite-only basis shortly after, but the entire tower was shut down in 1981.
In 2015, the restaurant reopened for two weeks in celebration of the BT Tower’s 50th anniversary.
Speaking about the landmark’s design, Anne Archer, an archivist at the tower, told WTX: ‘Because of its function, the building had to be erected at a considerable height and have nothing obstructing it so as not to interrupt communication waves.
‘So it offers this stunning panoramic view.’
How will the BT Tower change?
MCR released their proposals for the building this week as part of the wider public consultation process, which is expected to run until May 26.
The proposal includes being able to spend a night in ‘the Stick’, located on levels seven to 23, which has always been off-limits to the public.
Anne said: ‘No matter what, the history of this building will always be preserved – there is no other building like this.
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‘But the new owners may be able to make the most of it more now. If a restaurant opens up inside the new hotel, more people will be able to come again.’
Plans seem less concrete for the top floor. The preliminary designs show the potential for an event space and an observation deck to ‘tell the rich story of the BT tower’, without the once iconic restaurant located there.
There are more ideas proposed further down. A swimming pool is set to be built on the top floor of The Podium, which sits at the base of the tower.
And on the ground floor levels, MCR has proposed building shops and cafes as part of a new square along Howland Street, which will be completely open for public use.
When will the hotel be ready?
It is hoped that building work will start in late 2029 when BT hands over the site to MCR, with construction hopefully completed in 2033.
BT said they did not want to ‘hang on to something they no longer need’, with many once-important features such as microwave aerials having been removed more than a decade ago.
WTX’s final look inside the BT Tower
WTX was treated to a final look at the building before it was shut for good. Inside was a time capsule of technology from the 60s and 70s, covered in a thick layer of dust.
Work has already begun to remove ageing wires, telephones and switchboards, all made redundant by technological advancement.
Brent Mathews, Property Director at BT Group, said: ‘The BT Tower sits at the heart of London and we’ve been immensely proud to be the owners of this important landmark since 1984.
‘It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means.’
MCR said: ‘MCR intends to bring one of Britain’s most iconic buildings into public use through a hotel‑led, mixed‑use development that celebrates the BT Tower’s rich heritage, complements Fitzrovia’s historic character, and delivers meaningful placemaking and employment opportunities for the local community.’