Inside the BT Tower Hotel Redevelopment Plans in London

London’s BT Tower is finally heading toward its biggest transformation since the 1960s and for the first time in decades, you are being invited into the conversation before it happens.

The iconic communications tower in Fitzrovia is set to become a luxury hotel complete with public viewing spaces, a revived revolving restaurant, wellness facilities, and potentially one of Europe’s highest rooftop swimming pools.

But here’s the important part: this is not a hotel opening announcement. You cannot book rooms yet, and construction has not started. What is happening right now is the public consultation phase, where the redevelopment plans are being shown to Londoners before formal approvals move ahead.

If you care about London architecture, heritage buildings, skyline projects, or simply want to see what could become one of the city’s most ambitious hotel redevelopments, this is the stage to pay attention to.

What is happening to the BT Tower?

The BT Tower was purchased in 2024 by American hospitality company MCR Hotels for approximately £275 million.

MCR specialises in converting historically important buildings into hotels. Some of its best known projects include New York’s TWA Hotel at JFK Airport and The High Line Hotel in Manhattan. The company’s approach usually centres on preserving landmark architecture while reworking interiors into hospitality spaces.

That makes the BT Tower a fitting project for them.

The plan is to transform the Grade II listed tower and its surrounding podium buildings into a hotel led mixed use development that combines accommodation, restaurants, wellness spaces, public viewing areas, and cultural venues.

One of the biggest proposed changes is reopening the top of the tower to the public for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Why the BT Tower matters in London

Before understanding the redevelopment, it helps to understand why the building itself carries so much weight in London.

Originally completed in 1964 as the Post Office Tower, the structure rises 177 metres above Fitzrovia and became London’s tallest building when it opened.

For years, it symbolised Britain’s modern communications infrastructure and future focused engineering. At the top sat a revolving restaurant and observation deck that became one of London’s biggest attractions during the 1960s and 70s.

That public access ended after a 1971 bombing (claimed by the “Kilburn Battalion” of the IRA) damaged parts of the tower. While no one was killed, security concerns eventually led to the closure of the public viewing areas and restaurant. By 1981, public access had fully stopped.

Since then, the tower has mostly functioned as a telecommunications site, despite remaining one of London’s most recognisable landmarks.

This redevelopment changes that completely.

What the BT Tower hotel redevelopment plans include

The proposals currently being shown during consultation reveal a much larger vision than simply converting offices into hotel rooms.

Public access to the top of the BT Tower

This is arguably the biggest headline feature.

The plans aim to reopen the upper levels of the tower to the public, allowing people to once again experience panoramic London views from one of the city’s most famous structures.

That alone would mark the first routine public access to the tower since the late 1970s.

The revolving restaurant returning

Early proposals also indicate the return of the BT Tower’s historic revolving restaurant.

The original restaurant became famous for slowly rotating above the skyline while guests dined. If restored, it would instantly become one of London’s most unusual dining destinations again.

The current concept suggests hospitality spaces, bars, restaurants, and event venues would occupy the upper sections of the tower itself.

Rooftop swimming pool plans

One of the most talked about ideas is a rooftop swimming pool positioned high above London.

If completed as proposed, it could become one of Europe’s highest outdoor hotel pools.

At 177 metres above the city, the experience would be dramatically different from standard London rooftop hotels simply because of the tower’s height and isolated skyline position.

New public square and street level redesign

The redevelopment is not limited to the tower itself.

Plans also include reshaping the surrounding Fitzrovia streetscape around Cleveland Street and Maple Street with:

• A new public square
• Restaurants and retail spaces at ground level
• Better pedestrian routes through the site
• More accessible public areas around the base of the tower

The idea is to make the complex feel connected to everyday London life rather than functioning as a closed infrastructure site.

What the hotel could look like

While full interiors have not yet been revealed, industry expectations suggest the hotel rooms will mainly sit within the wider podium buildings surrounding the tower.

The upper tower floors are expected to hold more premium spaces including:

• Signature suites
• Restaurants and bars
• Observation areas
• Event spaces
• Wellness facilities

That structure makes practical sense because the tower’s circular floorplates are relatively compact compared to modern hotel layouts.

Who is designing the project?

The redevelopment is being led by Orms Architects.

If the name sounds familiar, it is because Orms also worked on projects like The Standard London at St Pancras, and the Outernet entertainment district near Tottenham Court Road.

The BT Tower public consultation events happening now

This is the part you can actually attend right now.

Public consultation exhibitions are currently being held in London where you can view the redevelopment plans, speak with the project team, and submit feedback before planning applications move forward.

Consultation details

Location: Jeremy Bentham Room, University College London, 23 to 25 Gower Street, WC1E 6BT.

Dates and timings:

• Monday 11 May 2026, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
• Tuesday 12 May 2026, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
• Saturday 16 May 2026, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

Entry: Free and open to the public.

Nearest stations: Goodge Street and Euston Square.

Display boards, design plans, and consultation forms will be available onsite.

Key details

Location: Fitzrovia, London W1T 3JA.
Developer: MCR Hotels.
Architects: Orms.
Main proposals: Luxury hotel, rooftop pool, revolving restaurant, public viewing access, public square.
Current stage: Public consultation.
Consultation venue: UCL, Jeremy Bentham Room.
Expected opening: Early to mid 2030s estimate.

What makes this project so unusual is the fact that one of London’s most recognisable skyline landmarks could finally become publicly accessible again.

For decades, the BT Tower has been something you look at from the street. The long term goal now is to turn it into somewhere you can actually experience from the inside.