BT Tower: 'Iconic' landmark to be turned into a hotel after £275m sale

The BT Tower, a well-known landmark in London, is set to be turned into a hotel after it was sold for £275m.

Opened in 1965 by then Prime Minister Harold Wilson, the 177-metre (600ft) tower was primarily used by television broadcasters for sending signals.

It was London's tallest building for 16 years until the NatWest Tower in the City of London was built.

The tower's former owners, BT Group, announced on Wednesday it had sold it to MCR Hotels.

BT's property director Brent Mathews said the tower had played a vital role in carrying the nation's calls, messages and TV signals.

"This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come," he said.

Its role in communications diminished as fixed and mobile technology changed, and its microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago as they were no longer needed to connect London to the rest of the country.

In 2003, it was awarded Grade II listed status, but it also made it to the number two spot in a survey of London's ugliest buildings that same year.

It was pipped to the number one spot by the Barbican arts centre, another Grade II listed building.

Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels, said: "We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy."

'End of an era'

Ben Wood, a technology analyst at CCS insight, said: "BT's decision to sell the BT Tower will be considered the end of an era by many in the communications industry for whom the landmark is synonymous with the evolution of telecommunications history."

He said the building itself was likely "highly impractical" and required "a significant amount of upkeep".

"The public has not been able to access the BT Tower for years so there will be plenty of people who will jump at the opportunity to stay in such an iconic building.

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"It's exciting that such a fantastic landmark is being repurposed for leisure use."

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