London's BT Tower to Be Converted into Hotel by MCR Hotels

MCR Hotels, a US hospitality giant, has acquired London's iconic BT Tower from BT Group for £275 million (€320 million). The 177-meter tower (189 meters including antenna), opened in 1965 by Prime Minister Harold Wilson and designed by Eric Bedford, served as a television broadcasting station for decades. It was London's tallest building for about 15 years until the NatWest Tower was built, and once featured a revolving restaurant offering panoramic views. The tower survived an IRA bomb attack in 1971 and was later closed temporarily. It received Grade II listed status in 2003 and appeared in films like Doctor Who and The Bourne Ultimatum. MCR Hotels, which owns 150 luxury hotels including the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, plans to preserve the building and develop proposals for an iconic hotel. The sale marks the end of an era in telecommunications, with conservation group C20 celebrating the preservation of this 1960s icon.