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BT Tower

The BT Tower is a grade II listed communications tower in Fitzrovia, London, England, owned by BT Group. It was also known as the GPO Tower and the Post Office Tower.[3] It was later officially renamed the Telecom Tower.[4] The main structure is 581 feet (177 m) high, with a further section of aerial rigging bringing the total height to 620 feet (189 m).[2]

This article is about the BT Tower in London. For other uses, see BT Tower (disambiguation) and Telecom Tower (disambiguation).

BT Tower

Millbank Tower

Tower 42

Offices[1]

London, W1T
United Kingdom

51°31′17″N 0°08′20″W / 51.5215°N 0.1389°W / 51.5215; -0.1389

1961

1964[1]

British Telecommunications plc

620 feet (189 m)[2]

581 feet (177 m)

37

2

Eric Bedford

Peter Lind & Company

Upon completion in 1964, it overtook the Millbank Tower as the tallest structure in London until 1980, when it was overtaken by the NatWest Tower. It was opened in 1965 by Prime Minister Harold Wilson.[5] A 360° coloured LED screen near the top of the tower displays news across central London.[6][7]


In February 2024, BT Group announced the sale of the tower to MCR Hotels, who plan to turn it into a hotel. BT will retain ownership for a few years until the tower has been vacated.[8]

BT Tower under construction in the 1960s

BT Tower under construction in the 1960s

View of the British Museum and the Thames from the BT Tower, 1966

View of the British Museum and the Thames from the BT Tower, 1966

BT Tower in 1970

BT Tower in 1970

BT Tower from Queen's Tower, 2007

BT Tower from Queen's Tower, 2007

Top of BT Tower from the London Eye

Top of BT Tower from the London Eye

List of masts

List of tallest buildings and structures in Great Britain

List of towers

List of tallest buildings and structures in London

Telecommunications towers in the UK

Telecom infrastructure sharing

. Archived from the original on 6 April 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

"Connected Earth: Learning Centre"

at Structurae. Retrieved on 21 January 2015.

BT Tower (1964)

. Archived from the original on 29 April 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.

"Peter Lind and Company – Building Contractors"

Post Office Tower

The official tower guide, archive film footage, and more.

. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

"The Tower from Conway Street QuickTime Panorama, British Tours ltd"

. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

"BT Tower photo feature on urban75"

320 gigapixel panoramic view

A short film with the BT Tower in every shot.

"Thirty-six Views of a London Tower..."

BT Tower building information & photos