In a landmark £275 million deal, MCR Hotels has acquired the iconic BT Tower with plans to convert the 620-foot structure into a luxury hotel. The Grade II listed building, inaugurated in 1965, served as a communication hub and global interchange point for live television.
The sale aligns with BT Group's strategy to streamline its portfolio, reducing offices from over 300 to around 30. MCR Hotels, collaborating with Heatherwick Studio, aims to redefine the tower as an iconic hotel preserving its historic legacy.
Once hosting a public revolving restaurant, the tower's top floor is set to become a pinnacle of luxury with panoramic views. The BT Tower's "infoband" screen, known for displaying adverts, gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for broadcasting public health messages.
Despite a bomb explosion in 1971 leading to the closure of the public viewing platform, the BT Tower remains an iconic structure. The sale marks the end of an era for the tower, transitioning from a communications hub to a leisure destination.
As BT Group phases out over several years, London anticipates the BT Tower's transformation into a luxury hotel, adding a new chapter to its storied history.
Intrigued by the concept of renovating historical structures into hotels, we researched some unique hotel conversions from around the world. These are some of the most interesting ones that we found:
Established in 1872 to provide water to a population of 170,000, the Wasserturm stood as Cologne's main drinking water source until 1930. After years of neglect, the tower languished in disuse and decay until 1985, when a visionary group of investors recognised the opportunity to breathe new life into it. This creative collective embarked on the ambitious journey to convert the Wasserturm into a distinctive, historically imbued hotel.
Nestled along the harborside in Copenhagen, a former coal crane dating back to 1944 has undergone a transformation into a sophisticated retreat and meeting space. Here, guests can indulge in exclusive Danish design while relishing a stunning panoramic view.
In 2007, one of the three proprietors of Alila Fort Bishangarh initiated a decade-long endeavor to revive an abandoned fort on the outskirts of Jaipur. The result is the present-day 59-suite hotel.
