The BT Tower's transformation into a luxury hotel is moving forward, with new images showing a rooftop pool and a 360-degree revolving observation deck. The iconic landmark near Tottenham Court Road has been closed to the public for more than half a century, but was bought for £275 million by MCR, the third-largest hotel operator in the United States.
Plans to convert the 620ft tower were confirmed earlier this year, and following an extensive consultation, fresh details have been unveiled.
Rooftop pool and observation deck
The former Top of the Tower restaurant, which has not been open for 50 years, will be transformed into a revolving observation deck with 360-degree views of London. The Podium Building at the base of the tower will also be revamped, with a below-ground event space, ground-floor retail and food and beverage units for visitors and locals, and hotel bedrooms across levels one to three.
An exhibition exploring the BT Tower's history will also be located in the Podium Building, starting on the lower-ground and ground floors. On top of the Podium Building, a swimming pool will be open to the public, with discounts for members of the local community. MCR says it hopes to take inspiration from its TAW Hotel heated pool, which is open year-round.
The nearby Howland Building will undergo an extensive restoration and extension to house hotel rooms, as well as ground-floor retail and food and beverage units.
Public square and the tower's 'stick'
Plans for the publicly accessible square between the buildings have also been unveiled, with the aim of revitalising the 'unwelcoming block' around the tower. Revamped entrances on Maple Street and Howland Street, new pedestrian walkways, and an increased security presence with CCTV are all part of the proposals to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The tower's iconic stick, originally built to house telecommunication equipment and historically off-limits, will be open to the public as the 'heart' of the hotel. For floors seven to 23, plans show a second staircase will be added to bring the building up to modern fire safety standards, with each floor comprising four hotel bedrooms arranged around the tower's curved geometry.
History of the BT Tower
The BT Tower 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 offering complete views of London.
The Top of the Tower restaurant was closed following a bomb explosion in the men's toilets, which prompted the closure of the whole tower to the public in the 1980s. It was left derelict for a number of years before briefly re-opening in 2015 for two weeks to commemorate the BT Tower's 50th anniversary. It has been closed since.
Preserving the landmark's character
According to the BT Tower consultation website, the revamp will retain 'as much of the existing building as possible' and will 'sensitively' restore the buildings while respecting their original character. MCR also says the extension to the Howland Building has been planned to preserve views of the Stick from Fitzroy Square, and that retail and hospitality businesses on the ground floor of the Podium and Howland buildings will 'take cues' from 1930s and 1960s architecture.
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.'
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.'
When will the new BT Tower open?
According to MCR, BT will hand over the site to the hotel chain in late 2029 while it continues to move out of the building. Construction is expected to start soon after, with an anticipated opening of 2033.
Metro was given a final look inside the BT Tower in May as part of the plans being unveiled, revealing a time capsule of technology from the 60s and 70s covered in dust. Work had already begun to remove ageing wires, telephones and switchboards, all made redundant by technological advancement.
