Imagine floating in a swimming pool, suspended nearly 600 feet above London. That surreal vision could soon become reality for the lucky few who check into the iconic BT Tower.
The legendary London landmark—once the tallest structure in the city—is about to undergo a jaw-dropping transformation. Sold to American hotel chain MCR Hotels in 2024, the Grade II-listed tower is slated to become a luxury hotel with a difference.
Plans include a sky-high swimming pool perched at 580 feet. Guests will swim with a view that stretches across the entire capital, a perspective no one has enjoyed for decades.
But that’s not all. For the first time in nearly fifty years, the public might finally get access to the top of the tower. The 34th floor was once a glamorous revolving restaurant and observation deck—until a bomb shattered the peace in 1971.
That explosion ripped through a viewing gallery, damaging buildings and cars up to 400 yards away. No one was ever definitively held responsible. The Angry Brigade anarchists claimed credit, but a caller also mentioned the Kilburn battalion of the IRA. The mystery remains unsolved, and the restaurant never reopened.
Now MCR Hotels wants to rewrite that chapter. Their plans include a new public square, walking routes, shops, and restaurants woven into the site. The tower’s rich heritage will be preserved—but its future is anything but dusty.
Standing 581 feet tall in central Fitzrovia, the BT Tower reigned as London’s tallest structure from 1964 until the NatWest Tower overtook it in 1980. Its iconic silhouette has defined the skyline for generations. After BT sold the tower for £275 million, the company admitted it no longer needed its old microwave aerials, removed over a decade ago.
Public consultations begin this May at University College London, where locals can see the proposals firsthand. The project team promises "meaningful placemaking and employment opportunities" for the community—and a chance to transform a Cold War-era communications hub into a breathtaking destination.
One thing is certain: the BT Tower is about to become the most talked-about hotel in Britain.
