Final look of London's iconic BT Tower before sale to hotel for £275,000,000
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The BT Tower, once the heart of the country's most modern of technology, is being internally dismantled and sold to a hotel chain.
Work has just started to move out the now aging wires, telephone exchanges and switchboards in place for beds and ensuites by 2030.
Although a 620 ft piece of British history, the site, has been somewhat limited to the public since a bomb went off in one of the viewing galleries in 1971.
No one was injured, but it meant the days of fine dining and spontaneous trips up to the 34th floor came to an end.
Now the sale to hotel chain MCR may mean the public will have greater access to one of London's most iconic buildings.
Anne Archer, archivist at BT, told Metro: 'No matter what, the history of this building will always be preserved – there is no other building like this.
'But the new owners may be able to make the most of it more now. If a restaurant opens up inside the new hotel, more people will be able to come again.'
So Metro took one last look at the tower before evidence of its hay day is moved out.
BT confirmed they simply didn't have use for the building anymore, as modern communications has come in, and full-fibre broadband is tucked away in the little green boxes dotted around street corners.
The 14th floor of the building is essentially a time capsule, which technology from the 1960s and 1970s in a layer of dust.
Even a forgotten salt shaker and handbook sit at a desk after its previous owner put them down – but never came back up to the floor again.
BT said it hasn't quite been decided what happens with all the old equipment.
But it is possible the metal will be recycled, MCR will choose to keep it or it will be preserved in the archives.
The 34th floor of the BT Tower is one of the few areas of the building which looks like it has been touched the 21st century.
It offers a view of London which 'cannot be beaten anywhere else' – and it even revolves.
Anne said: 'Because of its function, the building had to be erected at a considerable height and have nothing obstructing it so as not to interrupt communication waves.
'So it offers this stunning panoramic view.'
The space is mainly used for private booked events, meaning tourists are unable to simply book a ticket and take the lift up to have a look.
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The BT sits in the middle of Fitzrovia in central London.
The main structure is 581 ft high, with a further section of
aerial rigging bringing the total height to 620 ft.
After it was built in 1964, it became the tallest structure in London until 1980, when it was surpassed by the NatWest Tower.
BT Group has agreed to the sale of the tower for £275 million to MCR Hotels.
The chain is planning on preserving the iconic building, which is firmly apart of London's skyline.
BT said they did not want to 'hang on to something they no longer need', with many once-important features such as microwave aerials being removed more than a decade ago.
Brent Mathews, Property Director, BT Group said: 'The BT Tower sits at the heart of London and we've been immensely proud to be the owners of this important landmark since 1984. More Trending
'It's played a vital role in carrying the nation's calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we're delivering content and communication via other means.'
MCR said they want to preserve the building as much they can, with the hope more people will now be able to access it.
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.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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