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{{short description|Communications tower in London, England}}
{{about|the BT Tower in London|other uses|BT Tower (disambiguation)|and|Telecom Tower (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = BT Tower
| image            = BT Tower (Seen From Conway Street - 01).jpg
| caption          = BT Tower in 2022
| start_date       = 1961
| completion_date  = 1964<ref name="skyscraper">{{Cite web |title=BT Tower |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6765 |access-date=26 June 2008 |publisher=[[SkyscraperPage.com]] |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828071006/http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=6765 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| highest_prev     = [[Millbank Tower]]
| highest_next     = [[NatWest Tower]]
| highest_start    = 1964
| highest_end      = 1980
| highest_region   = the [[United Kingdom]]
| building_type    = Offices<ref name="skyscraper" />
| location         = London, {{postcode|W|1T}}<br />United Kingdom
| coordinates      = {{coord|51.5215|-0.1389|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| top_floor        = 
| antenna_spire    = {{convert|189|m|0}}<ref name="bt-com-bt-tower">{{Cite web |title=We take an exclusive look behind the scenes at the BT Tower |url=https://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/behind-the-scenes-at-the-bt-tower-11364182741212 |website=BT |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815170329/https://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/behind-the-scenes-at-the-bt-tower-11364182741212 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| roof             = {{convert|177|m|0}}
| floor_count      = 37
| floor_area       = 
| elevator_count   = 2
| architect        = [[Eric Bedford (architect)|Eric Bedford]]
| structural_engineer = 
| main_contractor  = [[Peter Lind & Company]]
| developer        = 
| owner            = [[MCR Hotels]]
| management       = 
}}

The '''BT Communication Tower''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT Communication Tower |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1350342?section=official-list-entry |access-date=10 September 2022 |publisher=Historic England |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910082248/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1350342?section=official-list-entry |url-status=live }}</ref> more commonly known as the '''BT Tower''', is a [[Listed building|Grade II listed]] [[Radio masts and towers|communications tower]] in [[Fitzrovia]], [[London]], [[England]], owned by [[BT Group]]. It has also been known as the '''GPO Tower''', the '''Post Office Tower''',<ref>{{cite book| editor=Perkin, George |date=1968 |title=Concrete in Architecture |location=London |publisher=The Cement and Concrete Association}}</ref> and the '''Telecom Tower'''. The main structure is {{convert|177|m|0}} high, with aerial rigging bringing the total height to {{convert|189|m|0}}.<ref name="bt-com-bt-tower" />

Upon completion in 1964, it was the [[List of tallest buildings and structures in London|tallest structure in London]] and remained so until 1980. [[Butlins]] managed a [[revolving restaurant]] in the tower from 1966 until 1980.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BT Tower among icons of technology |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/mar/27/arts.artsnews |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Maev |last=Kennedy |author-link = Maev Kennedy|date=27 March 2003}}</ref> A 360° [[LED screen]] displays news across central London.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BT Tower lights up with 'It's a Girl' in pink |url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-05-02/bt-tower-lights-up-with-its-a-girl-in-pink/ |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=ITV| date=2 May 2015}}</ref>

The BT Tower was sold to [[MCR Hotels]] in 2024.<ref name="InquirerConstruct">{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=BT Tower to become hotel |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2024/02/22/bt-tower-to-become-hotel/ |access-date=12 August 2025 |publisher=Construction Enquirer}}</ref>

==History==
===Design and construction===
The tower was commissioned by the [[General Post Office|GPO]]. Its primary purpose was to support the [[microwave]] [[Antenna (electronics)|aerials]] then used to carry telecommunications traffic from London to the rest of the country, as part of the [[General Post Office microwave network|GPO microwave network]].<ref>''Belfast Telegraph'' Thursday 2 February 1961, page 10</ref>

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 [[Wrotham transmitting station|Fairseat]], and locations including the [[London Terminal Control Centre|London Air Traffic Control Centre]].<ref name="BT Timelapse">{{cite web |title=BT Tower Timelapse |url=https://www.londontimelapse.co.uk/items/british-telecom-tower-time-lapse-also-known-bt-telecom-tower/ |website=London Time Lapse |publisher=Pukka TV Group |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="Science Museum">{{cite news |author1=Dr. Elizabeth Burton |title=The BT Tower and a Classified Communications Network |url=https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/the-bt-tower-and-a-classified-communications-network/ |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=London Science Museum |publisher=Science Museum Group |date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

[[File:cmglee BT Tower.jpg|thumb|Wide-angle view of the tower and its base from Cleveland Mews in August 2012]]

The tower was designed by the [[Ministry of Works (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Public Building and Works]], under chief architects [[Eric Bedford (architect)|Eric Bedford]] and G R Yeats. Typical for its time, the building is concrete clad in glass. The narrow cylindrical shape was chosen as a stable platform for microwave aerials. It shifts no more than {{convert|25|cm|in|0}} in wind speeds of up to 150&nbsp;km/h (95&nbsp;mph). To prevent overheating, the glass cladding had to be tinted.<ref name="ICE">{{cite web |title=Post Office Tower (BT Tower) |url=https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/infrastructure-projects/post-office-tower |website=ICE Group |publisher=© Institution of Civil Engineers |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref>

Construction began in June 1961; owing to the building's height and its having a tower crane [[Jib (crane)|jib]] across the top virtually throughout the whole construction period, it gradually became a very prominent landmark that could be seen from almost anywhere in London. A question was raised in Parliament in August 1963 about the crane. [[Reginald Bennett]] MP asked the [[First Commissioner of Works|Minister of Public Buildings and Works]], [[Geoffrey Rippon]], how, when the crane on the top of the new Tower had fulfilled its purpose, he proposed to remove it. Rippon replied: "This is a matter for the contractors. The problem does not have to be solved for about a year but there appears to be no danger of the crane having to be left in situ."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 August 1963 |title=Post Office Tower (Crane) |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1963/aug/02/post-office-tower-crane#S5CV0682P0-03632 |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> Construction reached 475 ft by August 1963. The revolving restaurant was prefabricated by [[Ransomes & Rapier]]<ref>''Daily Herald'' Friday 1 November 1963, page 8</ref> and the lattice tower by [[Stewarts & Lloyds]] subsidiary Tubewrights.<ref>''Birmingham Daily Post'' Wednesday 7 October 1964, page 7</ref>

The tower was [[topped out]] on 15 July 1964, by Geoffrey Rippon<ref>''[[Coventry Evening Telegraph]]'', 15 July 1964, page 40</ref> and inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] on 8 October 1965. The [[General contractor|main contractor]] was [[Peter Lind & Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT Tower |url=http://www.lightstraw.co.uk/ate/main/postofficetower/index.html |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=lightstraw.co.uk |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727151218/http://www.lightstraw.co.uk/ate/main/postofficetower/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The tower was originally designed to be just {{convert|111|m|ft|0}} high; its foundations are sunk down through {{convert|53|m|ft|0}} of [[London clay]], and are formed of a concrete raft {{convert|27|m|ft|0}} square, {{convert|1|m|ft|0}} thick, reinforced with six layers of cables, on top of which sits a reinforced concrete pyramid.<ref>"BT Tower: serving the nation 24 hours a day", BT, 1993</ref>

Initially, the first 16 floors were for technical equipment and power. Above that was a {{convert|35|m|ft|adj=on}} section for the [[microwave]] aerials, then six floors of suites, a revolving restaurant, kitchens, technical equipment, and finally a [[cantilever]]ed steel lattice tower. The construction cost was £2.5 million.<ref name="ICE" />

The first microwave link was to [[Norwich]] on 1 January 1965. The [[Met Office]] put a weather radar on top of the tower.<ref>''Liverpool Echo'' Thursday 1 October 1964, page 8</ref> Much of the telecommunications equipment was made by [[General Electric Company|GEC]].<ref>''Coventry Evening Telegraph'' Friday 8 October 1965, page 63</ref> The stainless steel clad windows were made by [[Henry Hope & Sons Ltd]].<ref>''Birmingham Daily Post'' Monday 26 July 1965, page 24</ref>

===Opening===
[[File:HM the Queen visiting the Post Office Tower on 17 May 1966.jpg|thumb|left|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] visiting the tower in May 1966]]
The tower was opened to the public on 19 May 1966, by [[Postmaster General of the United Kingdom|Postmaster General]], [[Tony Benn|Anthony Wedgwood Benn]] and [[Billy Butlin]],<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Fx7S2ZLwvo8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140419081321/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx7S2ZLwvo8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web |title=Post Office Tower Opening (1966) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx7S2ZLwvo8 |access-date=20 October 2018 |website=YouTube | date=13 April 2014 |publisher=British Pathe}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Post Office Tower – 18 May 1966, Volume 728 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1966-05-18/debates/d4cd9526-de56-4297-ad55-4717f62d4b96/PostOfficeTower |access-date=20 October 2018 |website=Hansard |publisher=Parliament |archive-date=21 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024817/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1966-05-18/debates/d4cd9526-de56-4297-ad55-4717f62d4b96/PostOfficeTower |url-status=live }}</ref> with [[Elizabeth II|HM Queen Elizabeth II]] having visited on 17 May 1966.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/EK-3H9yEIro Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140419193940/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-3H9yEIro&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite news |date=17 May 1966 |title=Queen Enjoys View From The Top |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK-3H9yEIro |access-date=20 October 2018 |agency=British Pathe}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

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<ref>{{Cite web |title=Look at Life - Eating high, 1966 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMPXmnK8G8E&t=142 |website=[[YouTube]] |date=September 2011 |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601091022/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMPXmnK8G8E&t=142 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''Liverpool Daily Post'' Wednesday 3 June 1964, page 14</ref> and meals cost about £4<ref>''The Tatler'' Saturday 17 September 1966, page 51</ref> ({{Inflation|UK|4|1966|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-1}}{{Inflation/fn|UK}}).

In the first year there were nearly one million visitors,<ref name="btplc.com">{{Cite web |title=Events in telecommunications history |url=https://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1912to1968/1965.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020182102/https://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1912to1968/1965.htm |archive-date=20 October 2018 |access-date=20 October 2018 |publisher=BT plc}}</ref> and over 100,000 diners.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Glancey |first=Jonathan |date=7 October 2005 |title=The great communicator |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2005/oct/07/architecture |access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

===Bombing===
A bomb exploded in the ceiling of the men's toilets at the Top of the Tower restaurant at 04:30 on 31 October 1971;<ref name="btplc.com" /> the blast damaged buildings and cars up to {{convert|400|yds|m}} away.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 1971 |title=1971: Bomb explodes in Post Office tower |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464143.stm |access-date=16 June 2021 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307113253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464143.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Responsibility for the bomb was claimed by members of [[the Angry Brigade]], a far-left [[anarchist]] collective.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bangor Daily News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19711102&id=ICs0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=G-EIAAAAIBAJ&pg=3240,422159&hl=en |access-date=21 April 2016 |website=news.google.com |via=Google News Archive Search}}</ref> A call was also made by a person claiming to be the Kilburn Battalion of the [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2007 |title=BBC ON THIS DAY – 31 – 1971: Bomb explodes in Post Office tower |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464143.stm |access-date=31 December 2009 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307113253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/31/newsid_2464000/2464143.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The tower for visiting was closed to the general public following the 1971 bombing, but the restaurant reopened. In 1980, Butlins' restaurant lease expired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 August 2010 |title=BT Tower to open for first time in 29 years |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/16/bt_tower/ |website=theregister.co.uk |access-date=10 August 2017 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810173032/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/16/bt_tower/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The tower has been used for events including a children's Christmas party and [[Children in Need 2010]].<ref name="Wales">{{cite news |title=Children in Need raises £26m on the night |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/children-need-raises-26m-night-1796834 |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=WalesOnline |publisher=Reach PLC |date=21 March 2013}}</ref> It retains the revolving floor.<ref name="Revolving">{{cite news |last1=Feilden |first1=Eloise |title=Will the revolving restaurant in London’s BT Tower return to its former glory? |url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/02/will-the-revolving-restaurant-in-londons-bt-tower-return-to-its-former-glory/ |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=The Drinks Business |publisher=© Union Press Ltd |date=29 February 2024 |location=London, UK}}</ref>

===Recent===
The tower's microwave aerials remained in use into the 21st century, connected to [[Subterranean London|subterranean]] [[optical fibre]] links.<ref name="Independent">{{cite news |last1=Vincent |first1=James |title='Fastest ever' commercial internet speeds in London: Download 44 films in a second |url=https://www.the-independent.com/tech/fastest-ever-commercial-internet-speeds-in-london-download-44-films-in-a-second-9077061.html |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=Independent |publisher=The Independent |date=22 January 2014}}</ref>

{{Wide image|BT Tower Evening Panorama 2014-03-05 18.30.jpg|2120px|Panoramic view from BT Tower in the evening, 2014.}}

In 2009, a 360° coloured screen was installed {{convert|167|m|ft|abbr=on}} up,  over the 36 and 37th floors of the tower. It replaced an earlier light projection system and incorporated 529,750 [[LED]]s arranged in 177 vertical strips around the tower. It was then the largest of its type in the world,<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2009 |title=BT Tower of power: World's biggest LED screen set to light up the night |url=http://crave.cnet.co.uk/televisions/0,39029474,49304098,00.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102034258/http://crave.cnet.co.uk/televisions/0,39029474,49304098,00.htm |archive-date=2 November 2009 |access-date=31 October 2009}}</ref> occupying an area of {{convert|280|m2|sqft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} and with a circumference of {{convert|59|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It displayed a countdown of the number of days until the start of the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="BT Olympics">{{cite web |title=The BT Tower |url=https://www.bt.com/bt-plc/assets/documents/about-bt/our-history/bt-archives/information-sheets-and-timelines/bt-tower.pdf |website=BT Archives |access-date=19 June 2025 |date=October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Trust">{{cite news |last1=Peracha |first1=Qasim |title=The little-known story of how tragedy struck at London's BT Tower |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/bt-tower-london-tragedy-story-17083714 |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=My London |publisher=The Trust Project |date=4 April 2021}}</ref>

In April 2019, the screen broadcast a [[Windows 7]] error message for almost a day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |title=BT Tower broadcasts error message to the nation as Windows displays admin's shame |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/08/bt_tower_broadcasts_error_message_to_the_nation_as_windows_crashes/ |access-date=15 April 2019 |website=www.theregister.co.uk |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418010719/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/08/bt_tower_broadcasts_error_message_to_the_nation_as_windows_crashes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:BT Tower, London 13 January 2023.jpg|thumb|right|The tower's LED screen]]

In October 2009, ''[[The Times]]'' reported that the revolving restaurant would be reopened in time for the 2012 London Olympics.<ref name="Goodman">{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Matthew |date=1 November 2009 |title=High times as BT reopens its revolving restaurant |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/eating_out/article6898128.ece |access-date=27 April 2010 |work=The Times |location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, in December 2010, it was noted those plans had been "quietly dropped".<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2010 |title=BT Tower Restaurant Won't Re-Open |url=http://londonist.com/2010/12/bt-tower-restaurant-wont-re-open.php |access-date=21 January 2015 |website=Londonist |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121074527/http://londonist.com/2010/12/bt-tower-restaurant-wont-re-open.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Wide image|London panorama from the BT Tower.jpg|2560px|360° panoramic view from the revolving restaurant in September 2022}}

For the tower's 50th anniversary, the 34th floor was opened for three days from 3 to 5 October 2015 to 2,400 winners of a lottery.<ref name="50 ingenious years">{{Cite web |title=Celebrating BT Tower's 50 ingenious years – come and visit the top of the BT Tower! |url=http://home.bt.com/news/bt-life/BT-Tower-event-11363983181830?s_cid=con_FURL_BTcom_BTTower50 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620224249/http://home.bt.com/news/bt-life/BT-Tower-event-11363983181830?s_cid=con_FURL_BTcom_BTTower50 |archive-date=20 June 2017 |access-date=6 October 2015}}</ref>

[[File:BT Tower, London, 15 March 2011.jpg|thumb|BT Tower at night, 2011]]

The BT Tower was given Grade II [[listed building]] status in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 March 2003 |title=Honour for Post Office Tower |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2886617.stm |access-date=16 June 2021 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195701/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2886617.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Several of the defunct antennae attached to the building were protected by this listing, meaning they could not be removed unless the appropriate listed building consent was granted. Permission for their removal was given in 2011 on safety grounds, as they were in a bad state of repair and the fixings were no longer secure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2011 |title=London's BT Tower to lose dish-shaped aerials |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14721413 |access-date=30 August 2011 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428073908/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14721413 |url-status=live }}</ref> The last of the antennae was removed in December 2011, leaving the core of the tower visible.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Engineers remove microwave dishes from the BT Tower in London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/8937926/Engineers-remove-satellite-dishes-from-the-BT-Tower-in-London.html |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=The Telegraph |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408092514/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/8937926/Engineers-remove-satellite-dishes-from-the-BT-Tower-in-London.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Entry to the building is by two high-speed lifts, which travel at a top speed of 1400 feet per minute ({{convert|7|m/s|mph|sigfig=3}}) and reach the top of the building in under 30 seconds.  The original equipment was installed by the [[National Lift Tower|Express Lift Company]], but it has since  been replaced by elevators manufactured by [[ThyssenKrupp]]. Due to the confined space in the tower's core, removing the motors of the old lifts involved creating an access hole in the cast iron shaft wall, and then cutting the 3-ton winch machines into pieces and bringing them down in one of the functioning lifts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT TOWER LIFT REMOVAL |url=https://www.liftout.net/liftout-bt-tower/ |access-date=22 February 2024 |website=Liftout - Corporate Site |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222161714/https://www.liftout.net/liftout-bt-tower/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  In the 1960s an [[Act of Parliament (UK)|Act of Parliament]] was passed to vary fire regulations, allowing the building to be evacuated by using the lifts&nbsp;– unlike other buildings of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Telecom Tower |url=http://www.urban75.org/london/telecom.html |access-date=18 March 2011 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108125429/http://www.urban75.org/london/telecom.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, the tower began to be used for short-term air-quality observations by the [[UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology]] and this has continued in a more permanent form as BT Tower Observatory, an urban atmospheric pollution observatory to help monitor air quality in the capital.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helfter |first=Dr Carole |date=28 June 2018 |title=BT Tower (London, UK): an urban atmospheric pollution observatory |url=https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bt-tower-london-uk-urban-atmospheric-pollution-observatory |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621151327/https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bt-tower-london-uk-urban-atmospheric-pollution-observatory |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2019 |title=Research provides quality check on air pollution strategy |url=https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/blogs/research-will-provide-quality-checks-air-pollution-strategy |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology}}</ref> The aim is to measure pollutant levels above ground level to determine their source. One area of investigation is the long-range transport of fine particles from outside the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT Tower in pollution study |url=http://www.btplc.com/Innovation/News/tower.html |access-date=8 November 2007}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On 21 February 2024, BT Group announced the sale of BT Tower to [[MCR Hotels]], who plan to retain the tower as a hotel.<ref name="Kolirin 2024 m662">{{Cite web |last=Kolirin |first=Lianne |date=21 February 2024 |title=The BT Tower, London's futuristic landmark, to become hotel |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/travel/londons-iconic-bt-tower-to-become-hotel-intl-scli-gbr/index.html |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=CNN |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222004451/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/travel/londons-iconic-bt-tower-to-become-hotel-intl-scli-gbr/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Laursen |first=Christian Moess |title=BT Group Sells London's BT Tower for $347 Million to MCR Hotels |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/telecom/bt-group-sells-londons-bt-tower-for-347-million-to-mcr-hotels-57fd5b02 |access-date=2024-02-21 |work=WSJ |language=en-US |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221103245/https://www.wsj.com/business/telecom/bt-group-sells-londons-bt-tower-for-347-million-to-mcr-hotels-57fd5b02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Jess |date=21 February 2024 |title=BT Tower: 'Iconic' landmark to be turned into a hotel after £275m sale |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68352275 |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221101102/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68352275 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
[[File:Model of BT Tower in Miniland, Legoland Windsor.JPG|thumb|upright|Model of BT Tower in [[Legoland Windsor Resort|Legoland Windsor]]]]
The tower has appeared in novels, films and on television, including ''[[Smashing Time]]'', ''[[The Bourne Ultimatum (film)|The Bourne Ultimatum]]'', ''[[Space Patrol (1962 TV series)|Space Patrol]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[V for Vendetta (film)|V for Vendetta]]'', ''[[28 Days Later]]'', ''[[28 Weeks Later]]'', ''[[The Union (2024 film)|The Union]]'' and ''[[Danger Mouse (1981 TV series)|Danger Mouse]]''. It is toppled by a giant kitten in ''[[The Goodies (TV series)|The Goodies]]'' 1971 ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' parody ''[[Kitten Kong]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 June 2015 |title=Golden opportunity to relive 60s and dine at top of BT Tower |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/19/bt-tower-restaurant-to-reopen-to-public |access-date=16 October 2021 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jury |first=Louise |date=19 June 2015 |title=The BT Tower restaurant is going to reopen this summer! |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/reveller/restaurants/bt-tower-restaurant-your-chance-to-turn-back-time-and-dine-at-the-top-of-a-landmark-10331448.html |access-date=17 January 2021 |website=Evening Standard |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601192433/https://www.standard.co.uk/reveller/restaurants/bt-tower-restaurant-your-chance-to-turn-back-time-and-dine-at-the-top-of-a-landmark-10331448.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tower and the Glory: The BT Tower on Film (1960s parties and The Queen goes for a spin…) – British Pathé and the Reuters historical collection |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/blog/the-tower-and-the-glory-the-bt-tower-on-film-1960s-parties-and-the-queen-goes-for-a-spin-2/ |access-date=10 November 2020 |website=www.britishpathe.com |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602012555/https://www.britishpathe.com/blog/the-tower-and-the-glory-the-bt-tower-on-film-1960s-parties-and-the-queen-goes-for-a-spin-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

It was referenced by the [[Dudley Moore]] Trio's track "GPO Tower" used in the soundtrack for ''[[Bedazzled (1967 film)|Bedazzled]]'' in which it also appeared<ref name="gpo film">{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/237523-Dudley-Moore-Bedazzled|title=Discogs - Bedazzled|website=[[Discogs]]|date=1968|access-date=2024-08-04|archive-date=4 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804213614/https://www.discogs.com/master/237523-Dudley-Moore-Bedazzled|url-status=live}}</ref>, as well as [[Cressida (band)|Cressida]]'s track "Goodbye Post Office Tower Goodbye", released on the ''Asylum'' album in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-10 |title=Lyrics |url=https://cressida-group.co.uk/welcome-to-the-official-web-site-for-cressida/the-albums/lyrics/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=Cressida |language=en}}</ref>

Two stamps depicting the tower, designed by Clive Abbott (1933–2008), were issued in 1965.<ref>''West Lothian Courier'' Friday 6 August 1965, page 9</ref><ref>''East Kent Times'' Wednesday 13 October 1965, page 11</ref>

===Races===
The first documented race up the tower's stairs was on 18 April 1968, between [[University College London]] and [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh University]]; it was won by an Edinburgh runner in 4 minutes, 46 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GPO Tower Race 1968: celebrating 50 years of UK tower running |url=https://towerrunninguk.com/tag/bt-tower/ |access-date=20 October 2018 |website=Running UK}}</ref>

In 1969, eight university teams competed. John Pearson from [[Victoria University of Manchester]] was fastest in 5 minutes, 6 seconds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 January 1969 |title=GPO Tower Race To Top 1969 |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/gpo-tower-race-to-top |access-date=20 October 2018 |agency=British Pathe |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020223758/https://www.britishpathe.com/video/gpo-tower-race-to-top |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 1969, the tops of the GPO Tower and the [[Empire State Building]] in [[New York City]] served as the start and finish lines of the [[Daily Mail Trans-Atlantic Air Race]]. The race between the two buildings was held over an eight-day period and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first non-stop [[transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown]]. A total of 21 prizes were offered to entrants for categories based on the type of aircraft they utilised and their direction of travel.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 May 1969 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/05/12/archives/air-race-ends-proving-a-point-speed-on-land-helps-the-victors-cross.html |title=Air Race Ends, Proving a Point |work=The New York Times |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 1968 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qjJUpdt0o2YC&pg=PA4 |title=From the tower |magazine=Flying |pages=4, 6 |access-date=10 February 2025 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

==Secrecy==
[[File:Post Office tower secrecy flyer 1978.jpg|thumb|upright|A flyer distributed in advance of a demonstration on 1 May 1978 in support of the defendants in the [[ABC trial]]]]

Information about the tower was designated an [[Official Secrets Act|official secret]] and in 1978, journalist [[Duncan Campbell (journalist, born 1952)|Duncan Campbell]] was [[ABC trial|tried]] for collecting information about such locations. The judge ordered the tower could only be referred to as "Location 23".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grant |first=Thomas |title=Jeremy Hutchinson's Case Histories |publisher=John Murray |year=2015 |page=315}}</ref>

It is often said that the tower did not appear on [[Ordnance Survey]] maps, despite being a {{convert|177|m|adj=on}} tall structure in the middle of central London that had been open to the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=London Telecom Tower, formerly BT Tower and Post Office Tower, Fitzrovia, West End, London |url=http://www.urban75.org/london/telecom.html |access-date=19 November 2014 |publisher=urban75 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108125429/http://www.urban75.org/london/telecom.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this is incorrect; the 1971 1:25,000 and 1981 1:10,000 Ordnance Survey maps show the tower<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kennett |first=Paul |date=August 2016 |title=Not so secret tower |journal=Sheetlines |publisher=The Charles Close Society for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps |issue=106 |page=27}} ([http://www.charlesclosesociety.org The Charles Close Society])</ref> as does the 1984 [[Geographers' A–Z Street Atlas|London A–Z street atlas]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=A–Z London de luxe Atlas |publisher=Geographers' A–Z Map Company Ltd |year=1984 |page=59}}</ref>

In February 1993, MP [[Kate Hoey]] used the tower as an example of trivia being kept secret, and joked that she hoped [[parliamentary privilege]] allowed her to confirm that the tower existed and to state its street address.<ref>{{cite hansard |title=Column 634 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1993-02-19/Debate-5.html |house=House of Commons |date=19 February 1993 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807071423/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1993-02-19/Debate-5.html |date=7 August 2017 }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Post Office Tower during construction.jpg|BT Tower under construction in the 1960s
File:View from the Post Office Tower in 1966 (4) (geograph 6862425).jpg|View of the [[British Museum]] and the [[River Thames]] from the BT Tower, 1966
File:Tottenham Court Road a Great Russel Street torkolatál, szemben a Euston Tower felhőkarcoló, balra a BT Tower TV torony látszik. Fortepan 100630.jpg|BT Tower in 1970
File:BT Tower.jpg|BT Tower from [[Queen's Tower, London|Queen's Tower]], 2007
File:London - View from London Eye - BT Tower - panoramio.jpg|Top of BT Tower from the [[London Eye]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|London|Architecture}}
* [[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]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|BT Tower, London}}

* {{Structurae|id=20009407|title=BT Tower (1964)}}. Retrieved on 21 January 2015.

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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of tallest buildings in the United Kingdom|Tallest Building in the United Kingdom]]|years=1967–1980<br /><small>177 m</small>}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tower 42|NatWest Tower]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[List of tallest buildings in London|Tallest Building in London]]|years=1967–1980<br /><small>177 m</small>}}
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{{Buildings in the United Kingdom timeline}}
{{BT Group}}
{{London landmarks}}
{{UKSkyscrapers|Completed}}
{{MCR Hotels}}

[[Category:BT Group buildings and structures]]
[[Category:BT Group]]
[[Category:Butlins]]
[[Category:Communication towers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Fitzrovia]]
[[Category:General Post Office]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Observation towers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Radio masts and towers in Europe]]
[[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in London]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1964]]
[[Category:Towers in London]]
[[Category:Towers with revolving restaurants]]