London’s skyline is no stranger to reinvention, but few transformations feel quite as symbolic as this.
After more than four decades closed to the public, the BT Tower is poised for a striking new chapter and one that could see the 1960s landmark reborn as a design-led hotel complete with a public rooftop pool.
Once the tallest building in the capital, the 177-metre tower has long stood as a quiet relic of London’s communications past.
Now, under ambitious redevelopment plans, it is being reimagined as a cultural and hospitality spot.
BT Tower London hotel plans – a landmark reimagined
Originally opened in 1964 as the Post Office Tower, the building quickly became a symbol of modern Britain. Its famed rotating restaurant offered panoramic views across London until it closed to the public in 1981 following security concerns.
Fast forward to today, and the tower has been acquired by US-based hotel group MCR for £270 million.
Known for high-profile adaptive reuse projects like New York’s TWA Hotel, the group is now turning its attention to one of London’s most recognisable yet inaccessible structures.
Architects Orms, the studio behind The Standard Hotel and Outernet London, have unveiled early concepts that preserve the tower’s distinctive silhouette while opening it up to the public once again.
What’s planned inside the BT Tower redevelopment
At the heart of the redevelopment is a feature that feels tailor-made for modern London: a rooftop swimming pool with sweeping city views.
Set to sit on the fifth floor, the pool will be accessible not just to hotel guests, but to the public, a rare move in a city where skyline experiences are often gated behind high price points.
Elsewhere, the plans aim to create a multi-use destination:
- Ground floor: Retail spaces, cafés, and restaurants designed to bring street-level energy back to the site
- Hotel accommodation: Spread across the lower levels and an extension of the neighbouring Howlands Building
- Upper levels (24–30): Potential cultural or exhibition spaces, though final plans remain unconfirmed
- Public realm: A newly designed outdoor space to improve accessibility and footfall
The design approach also includes stripping back later additions to restore the tower’s original 1960s character, while introducing contemporary elements that reflect its new purpose.
When will the BT Tower reopen to the public?
While the vision is ambitious, the timeline is equally long-term. A planning application is expected in September, but construction cannot begin until 2029 due to the complex removal of existing telecommunications equipment.
If approved, the hotel is projected to open in 2033 marking over 50 years since the public last had regular access to the building.
And if the rooftop pool delivers on its promise, it could become one of London’s most sought-after vantage points offering a fresh perspective on a city that never stops reinventing itself.
