BT Tower to become hotel with pool and public square by 2033

A proposal has been announced to convert London's Grade II-listed BT Tower into a hotel, crafted by the London-based firm Orms Architecture. Standing at 177 meters, the tower was purchased by the American hotel chain MCR from BT Group for £270 million in 2024. The design includes a rooftop swimming pool reminiscent of MCR's TWA Hotel in New York, a public square accessible via Howland and Maple Streets, and ground-floor retail spaces. Plans also involve revamping the 1930s Howland building into hotel rooms, adding a second staircase, and placing four rooms around the original concrete core. While the 1960s façade will be updated for shops, the revolving restaurant will not return. Construction is slated to start in 2029, with a 2033 opening anticipated, following Camden Council's planning approval. The tower, completed in 1964 for the General Post Office, had a revolving restaurant until 1971 and was closed to the public in 1981. Orms' proposal represents the most significant changes since the early 2000s when a 360-degree lighting display was added.