BT Tower: Unusual hotels and amazing holiday homes from around the world

The famous BT Tower has been part of London's skyline for decades, after being officially opened in 1965 - but now it's set to be converted into an upmarket hotel.

Its owners the British telecoms company agreed to sell the London landmark to MCR Hotels, who have said they will preserve the Grade II-listed building for the future.

It's 177 metres tall and for many years was a main hub for UK communication networks BT Group.

At one time it even featured a revolving restaurant on its top floor that was open to the public, giving diners 360-degree views of the City.

It's sure to have spectacular views over London, but would you fancy staying here? Or maybe one of the other weird and wonderful places on our list would be your dream holiday home.

Let us know your favourite in the comments below.

Shrek's swamp home

If you fancy a taste of the quiet life

A holiday home that's advertised as being covered in mud and moss might not sound like the most appealing of places to stay... but what if we told you it's actually Shrek's house?

A new listing on holiday rental site Airbnb, says guests can: "relax in the ambiance of earwax candlelight" as they stay in a recreation of the home made famous by the DreamWorks Animation.

Based in the grounds of Ardverikie Estate, in the Scottish Highlands, Shrek's home has enough room for three guests over the age of five.

The house, described as "fit for a solitude-seeking ogre - and for the first time ever, a handful of his biggest fans," has two nights available for free on 27 and 29 October 2023.

Those wanting to book can do so from 13 October.

Check out some other weird and wonderful places to stay below.

Winnie the Pooh

For that escape to an enchanted forest

Ever wondered what it would be like to visit the Hundred Acre Wood - home of Winnie the Pooh?

Well wonder no more, because as part of Disney's 95th anniversary celebration of the children's character, visitors had the chance to stay in a recreation of Pooh's iconic home in Ashdown Forest, in East Sussex.

SpongeBob SquarePants hotel

For those who want to stay in a pineapple (not under the sea!)

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

SpongeBob Squarepants does of course. But one hotel is giving people the opportunity to live the SpongeBob Squarepants experience by recreating his famous home.

It may not be under the sea, but it is shaped like a huge pineapple. AMAZING.

The pineapple villa, which is part of the Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts in the Dominican Republic, even includes a recreation of SpongeBob's living room.

Home Alone house

For those wanting to stay in the iconic 1990s movie house

Recognise this from the movie?

It's arguably one of the greatest Christmas films of all time and fans of the film were able to book a night's stay in the original house from Home Alone in 2021.

Guests were greeted on arrival by actor Devin Ratray, who played Kevin McAllister's older brother Buzz.

Not only that, but the house was fitted with booby traps just like in the film - we hope they avoided falling paint cans.

The Star Wars hotel

Pefect for those wanting to escape to a galaxy far, far away

Fans of Star Wars were able to holiday in a galaxy far far away... Sort of.

Disney built a Star Wars themed hotel, The Galactic Starcruiser, at Disney World in the US.

It opened on 1 March 2022, but is expected to close on 30 September 2023.

Many fans complained the resort was too expensive costing $4,809 (£3,456) for two guests.

But what was included for that price? Each cabin has its own window into "space", guests can head on an adventure to the planet Batuu and there are of course lightsabers too.

A deep sleep underground

A room without a view?

The cabins in the old Victorian mine are thought to be the deepest overnight accommodation in the world

Fancy taking the deepest sleep in the world's deepest hotel?

That's what's on offer at one disused Victorian slate mine in north Wales, which is thought to be the world's deepest accommodation.

The long-abandoned site in Gwynedd has been transformed into an underground hotel, but it's not for the faint hearted.

Guests will need to hike for around two hours before they get to their stay - which is situated a whopping 419 metres underground.

The entrance to the mine lies hidden in deep quarry workings

The Cwmorthin quarry and mine is on a hillside near the village of Tanygrisiau and sits right in the heartlands of Eryri National Park in Gwynedd, previously knowns as Snowdonia.

It was first set up early in the nineteenth century and used to employ hundreds of miners that worked there.

But like much of the slate industry in north Wales, it was closed down in the mid-20th century.

However, the area has made a bit of a comeback recently - it boasts the world's deepest zip line and free-fall - and now has the deepest overnight stay.

There are four log cabins on offer as well as a special slate-roofed chamber.

The eSports hotel

For the person who lives, breathes and sleeps gaming

This eSports-themed hotel has nine floors and 94 bedrooms.

The first three floors are just for gaming, with the bedrooms on the floors above.

The gaming floors contain over 70 gaming consoles and computers and loads of live-streaming gaming tech.

This is the hotel for the ultimate gaming fan.

The dog hotel

Hope the bedding here isn't too ruff

If you love pooches, then a stay in this dog-themed hotel might be for you. Dog Bark Park Inn in Idaho, in the US, is a bed and breakfast guesthouse inside a giant beagle.

There are dog pictures, cushions and books and there's even a loft room for anyone who wants to spend the night inside the head of a beagle.

The car hotel

Get a vroom with a view

For car-crazy types Motorworld in Stuttgart, Germany, is the ultimate destination. It is a huge facility showcasing vintage cars, and for people wanting to stay overnight, there is even a hotel.

The V8 hotel includes 10 themed rooms where you can sleep in a bed shaped like a classic car if you're tyre-d.

The rock climbing hotel

Climb into bed

Whitney Peak Hotel is home to the Guinness Book of World Records' tallest artificial climbing wall.

The massive wall is built onto the side of the hotel in Reno, Nevada in the US.

Those who do not fancy scaling the outside can tackle a huge indoor bouldering park instead.

The plane hotel

Lose your head in the clouds

Plane spotters can find out what it is like to sleep in an actual Boeing 747 cockpit at Jumbo Stay, a hotel built in an old jumbo jet on a disused runway at Stockholm airport in Sweden.

Guests even have access to a shared balcony, located on the jumbo jet's wing.

It is certainly one way to drift off to sleep and float away in.

Which place would you want to stay in? Let us know in the comments below.