The team behind the transformation of London’s BT Tower has unveiled early plans for a rooftop swimming pool as part of the landmark’s redevelopment into a hotel.

The 189‑metre tower, completed in 1964, is being reimagined by its new owners following a major acquisition last year.

North American hotel management company MCR Hotels purchased the tower from BT Group in 2024 in a £275 million deal . The Texas‑based group which also owns the TWA Hotel in New York has committed to preserving the building’s status as an iconic London structure while opening it up to the public for the first time in decades.

As part of the proposed redevelopment, MCR plans to introduce public access to the top of the tower, new shops and restaurants, and a publicly accessible square at the base of the site. The most eye‑catching element is the intention to build a rooftop swimming pool, offering panoramic views across London from one of the city’s most recognisable silhouettes.

The project team is currently consulting with local residents and stakeholders, with a series of public events scheduled at University College London in mid‑May to present the proposals and gather feedback.

The BT Tower has a long and storied history. It first opened to the public in 1971 with a revolving restaurant at its summit, but public access ended following a bomb explosion later that year.  The restaurant closed permanently in 1980, and the tower was granted Grade II‑listed status in 2003.  BT Group continued to operate the building as a communications hub until the sale, with its original microwave aerials removed in 2014 as the network transitioned to fixed, mobile and cloud‑based systems.

For business travellers, the redevelopment signals the potential arrival of a new, high‑profile hotel in Fitzrovia, one that combines architectural heritage with contemporary hospitality and unprecedented skyline access. While timelines for construction and opening have not yet been confirmed, the rooftop pool proposal suggests the BT Tower could become one of London’s most distinctive hotel destinations.