BT Tower

The BT Tower is a tall communications tower in Fitzrovia, central London. It was built in 1964 as the Museum Radio Tower, then called the Post Office Tower and Telecom Tower, before getting its present name in 1991. The main concrete-and-glass structure is 177 metres high, and with its aerials the total is 189 metres.

When it was finished it was the tallest structure in London, and it kept that title until 1980. A revolving restaurant run by Butlins operated in the tower from 1966 until 1980. Today a 360-degree LED screen wrapped around the top shows news across central London. In 2003 it became a Grade II listed building.

Why it was built

The General Post Office wanted a tower to carry microwave aerials, which sent phone and TV signals across the country. It replaced a shorter steel tower on the roof of the Museum Telephone Exchange, near the British Museum.

A taller tower was needed so that tall buildings planned in London would not block the radio beams' line of sight.

Shape and building

The Ministry of Public Building and Works designed it, with chief architects Eric Bedford and G R Yeats. The narrow cylinder is a very steady base for aerials. Even in 150 km/h winds, it sways by no more than 25 centimetres.

The glass had to be tinted to keep the inside from overheating. Construction began in June 1961, and a tall crane on top made it a visible landmark long before it was finished.

On the globe

The model shows the slim round tower with its dish aerials, rising above central London.