Viewpoints · London
BT Tower
London's 191m Grade-II-listed 1964 telecoms tower; reopening as hotel.
ell brown — CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 20 min–45 min
- Best time of year
- Clear days year-round
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
About
The BT Tower in Fitzrovia, London (1964) is the 191-metre Grade-II-listed telecommunications tower built for the GPO. Closed to the public since 1981 (after a 1971 IRA bomb), it's been bought by MCR Hotels in 2024 for conversion into a hotel — making it accessible again for the first time in 40 years. Currently visible for miles across the West End.
Photo gallery
From the Wikipedia article
The BT Communication Tower, more commonly known as the BT Tower, is a Grade II listed communications tower in Fitzrovia, London, England, owned by MCR Hotels. It has also been known as the GPO Tower, the Post Office Tower, and the Telecom Tower. The main structure is 177 metres (581 ft) high, with aerial rigging bringing the total height to 189 metres (620 ft). Upon completion in 1964, it was the tallest structure in London and remained so until 1980. Butlins managed a revolving restaurant in the tower from 1966 until 1980. A 360° LED screen displays news across central London. The BT Tower was sold to MCR Hotels in 2024.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Architecture
The tower was commissioned by the GPO. Its primary purpose was to support the microwave aerials then used to carry telecommunications traffic from London to the rest of the country, as part of the GPO microwave network. It replaced a shorter, 1940s steel lattice tower on the roof of the neighbouring Museum Telephone Exchange. The taller structure was required to protect the radio links' line of sight against tall buildings then planned in London. Links were routed via GPO microwave stations Harrow Weald, Bagshot, Kelvedon Hatch and Fairseat, and locations including the London Air Traffic Control Centre. The tower was designed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, under chief…
Visiting
visiting the tower in May 1966]] The tower was opened to the public on 19 May 1966, by Postmaster General, Anthony Wedgwood Benn and Billy Butlin, with HM Queen Elizabeth II having visited on 17 May 1966. As well as communications equipment and office space, there were viewing galleries and a souvenir shop. Butlins' Top of the Tower revolving restaurant on the 34th floor made one revolution every 23 minutes and meals cost about £4 (). In the first year there were nearly one million visitors, and over 100,000 diners.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5215, -0.1389
- District
- Camden
- Parish
- Camden, unparished area
- Postcode
- W1T 4JZ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Holborn and St Pancras
- Established
- 1964
- Official site
- web.archive.org
Sources
- manual: bt-tower-london (manual)
- wikipedia: BT Tower (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is BT Tower?
- BT Tower is in London, United Kingdom (postcode W1T 4JZ), in the parish of Camden, unparished area.
- When was BT Tower built?
- Built or established in 1964.
- Who owns BT Tower?
- BT Tower is owned by MCR Hotels.
- Is BT Tower a listed building?
- BT Tower is officially recognised as Grade II listed.
- Is BT Tower free to visit?
- Yes, BT Tower is free to enter.
- How do I get to BT Tower?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode W1T 4JZ. It sits within the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary constituency.