Closed London tower to reopen after 50 years as huge new hotel
THE abandoned BT tower is set to be turned into a fancy hotel – and the first images of what it could look have been revealed.
The London attraction first opened in 1964 as the Post Office Tower, and was the city’s tallest building until the NatWest Tower opened in 1980.
The BT Tower then closed in 1981 to the public, bar some private events.
It has since been bought by MCR, an American hotel chain who also owns the High Line Hotel and TWA Hotel in New York, for £270million in 2024.
And new images released by architect Orms (behind The Outernet and The Standard Hotel) show what to expect from the 177m tower when it reopens.
The main attraction will be the rooftop swimming pool on the fifth floor, and open to both hotel guests and the public.
The ground floor will be used for retail and food and drink spaces, while the hotel will take over the first and second floor.
The Howlands Building will get a three to four storey extension upwards, which will be the hotel space as well.
Levels 24-30 are unconfirmed as to what they will be used for but could become art or culture areas.
And a public space will be part of the exterior as well, to make it more easily accessible.
Designers Orms are behind the renovation, who has replaced Heatherwick Studios.
They said in the application: “While maintaining the overall structure, we will remove unsightly modern additions to the 1960s exterior on the ground floor.
“We will then introduce retail on the ground floor and add a modest pavilion structure on the roof.”
A planning application will be submitted in September, although works cannot start in 2029 due to BT decomposing on equipment inside.
Expected opening dates of the hotel are in 2033.
The tower was once known for its rotating restaurant, although this was forced to close after an IRA bombing.