US hotel owner and operator MCR has announced plans to redevelop London's iconic BT Tower as a hotel.
The 189-metre Fitzrovia Tower opened in 1965 and at the time was the tallest structure in London.
The Grade II listed building previously housed a revolving restaurant, but it closed in 1971 following an explosion, and public access to the tower ceased in the early 1980s, although it has continued to be used for corporate and charity events.
MCR said it would partner with London-based Heatherwick Studio “to consider how best to reinvent its use as a hotel”.
However, readers keen to visit the next hotel may have some time to wait: MCR said: “BT Group will take several years to vacate the premises, due to the scale and complexity of the work to move technical equipment, and there will be “significant time for design development and engagement with local communities before proposals are revealed.”
MCR also owns and operates The High Line Hotel on 10th Avenue in New York, as well as the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, which opened in 2019 and is currently redeveloping the Gramercy Park Hotel.
TWA Hotel opens the doors of the former JFK terminal
Commenting on the news, Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR, said:
“We are proud to become owners and custodians of the iconic BT Tower. “We will take our time to carefully develop proposals that respect the rich history of the London landmark and open up the building for all to enjoy.”
“We see many parallels between the TWA Hotel and the BT Tower. Both are innovative and world-renowned pieces of architecture. “It has been a privilege to adapt the TWA Flight Center to a new use for future generations, such as the BT Tower.”
For our complete guide to hotels that have opened in London in recent years, Click hereand to see our upcoming properties in the UK capital, see:
Upcoming hotels in London
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