The iconic BT Tower landmark is about to undergo a major transformation which will see it turned into a hotel.
The iconic 620ft landmark, located close to Tottenham Court Road, is being stripped out and undergoing a major revamp, after more than half a century of being closed off to the public.
The tower, which sits in the middle of Fitzrovia, was the tallest structure in the capital when it was built in 1964 – until it was surpassed by the NatWest Tower in 1980.
It was first opened in 1965 by then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson and opened to the public a year later, with a rotating restaurant on the 34th floor that offered complete views of the capital.
It’s now undergoing a major upgrade, and you can learn all about it here.
Why is the BT Tower turning into a hotel?
The site’s Top of the Tower restaurant was closed following a bomb explosion in the men’s toilets, prompting the closure of the whole tower to the public in the 1980s.
It was then left derelict for a number of years.
The tower’s restaurant re-opened in 2015 for two weeks to celebrate the BT Tower’s 50th anniversary before shutting down again.
Last year, however, MCR – the third-largest hotel operator in the United States – bought the tower for £275,000,000 under plans to re-open the landmark to the public for the first time in almost 50 years.
How will the BT Tower change?
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MCR’s proposals for the building were released earlier this year as part of a wider public consultation process, which ran throughout May.
The proposal includes being able to spend a night in ‘the Stick’, located on levels seven to 23, a part of the tower that has always been off-limits to the public.
The top of the tower will see the installation of an observation deck that will ‘tell the rich story of the BT Tower and telecommunications’, while also offering 360-degree panoramic views of London.
For the restored Podium and Howland buildings, which sit at the base of the tower, plans include several hotel rooms, as well as an amenity space, a publicly accessible square, and new retail, food and beverage shops.
New pedestrian walkways will also be created to give the public a chance to look up at the tower from below for the first time.
MCR promises that said all new retail and food shopfronts will ‘reflect the scale and rhythm of Fitzrovia’s historic streets’ with outdoor seating and display windows that will ‘bring back life to currently blank facades’.
A swimming pool, available to the public, will be built on the roof of the Podium building.
According to the BT Tower consultation website, the revamp will provide public access to the Top of the Tower and its podium buildings for the first time in nearly half a century.
It will also provide ‘new construction jobs and full-time jobs for the local community’ as well as a ‘significant economic boost for the neighbourhood’.
However, MCR states that the changes will complement Fitzrovia’s historic character and celebrate the BT Tower’s rich heritage.
Speaking about the landmark’s iconic design, Anne Archer, an archivist at the tower, told Metro: ‘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. No matter what, the history of this building will always be preserved – there is no other building like this.’
She added: ‘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.’
When will the hotel open?
According to Spabusiness.com, BT is still in the process of moving out of the building. It will hand over the site to MCR in 2029, when the hotel chain expects to begin construction.
MCR will apply for planning permission in September, and believes that the upgrade will be completed in 2033, with the hotel opening some time after.
Metro’s final look inside the BT Tower
Metro was treated to a final look at the building back in May. Inside was a time capsule of technology from the 60s and 70s, covered in a thick layer of dust.
Work had 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.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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