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BBC Tours / Broadcast House?

W

Wimmmex

Hello All!

I heard that the BBC does not do tours of it's building anymore. Is that true?

If that's true, do they have a welcome center or a BBC museum of the past?

(Mostly interested in BBC Radio, and such...)

Planning a London trip, and would like to get a glimpse of the operations after being a lifelong listener to the World Service.

Thanks!
 
Wimmmex said:
Hello All!

I heard that the BBC does not do tours of it's building anymore. Is that true?

If that's true, do they have a welcome center or a BBC museum of the past?

(Mostly interested in BBC Radio, and such...)

Planning a London trip, and would like to get a glimpse of the operations after being a lifelong listener to the World Service.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Why don't you contact them and ask?
 
radiofan2023 said:
Why don't you contact them and ask?
Click to expand...

I tried a few different ways, and did not get a response, or got to people who did not know the current info. (Some thought I was asking to be in the audience of a quiz show.) I thought the radio fans on this page might have more reliable info.
 
Not a thing any more at Broadcasting House, sadly. The only current BBC studio tours available are at the BBC Wales HQ:

BBC Cymru Wales - Central Square, Cardiff | Shows and tours

Step into the future of broadcasting at BBC’s newest and most advanced studios.Ever wondered how sound effects are added to your favourite podcasts? Or what it's like to read the news? Join our friendly guides for an exclusive behind-the-scenes award-winning tour of BBC Cymru Wales. Visit our...
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

They occasionally run open days at BH for things like Open House Festival (September), but these may or may not happen in 2026. It's a while since I've been near, but I'm pretty sure even the BBC merchandise shop is online-only now - all the main BBC sites used to have a little shop selling BBC branded gear, show CDs and DVDs, and so on. There is a branch of chain coffee place Caffè Nero on the ground floor of BH, technically in the building, but you can't see or access any BBC areas from there.

There is just too much risk of political protesters or other miscreants gaining access to the studios or control rooms on a public tour and causing trouble. The BBC sites are very secure now - they are above all other things a workplace, and I'm not sure how I'd feel about tour groups tramping round my office three times a day if my workplace ran tours. It would be very difficult to find someone who works at BH who would either be empowered to or want to take the risk to let a stranger in.

Modern radio buildings are not all that interesting in any case - they look much like any other office with computers, the only difference being a few mics.
 
Radio Caroline has an active radio service (a good listen most times I stream them) including doing some weekend broadcasts from the Ross Revenge ship. They have tours of the ship which may be of interest, but it's out in Essex. Radio Caroline
 
Superdave2351 said:
Radio Caroline has an active radio service (a good listen most times I stream them) including doing some weekend broadcasts from the Ross Revenge ship. They have tours of the ship which may be of interest, but it's out in Essex. Radio Caroline
Click to expand...
I have been on one of these and it was excellent - far more interesting than touring a modern corporate radio building. You go out on a little tender and have to climb the ladder to board the ship.

When I went, the tour was conducted by someone who had been on the ship as a pirate in the 1980s and regaled us with stories as we went around. A live broadcast was also taking place from the on-board studio. A really enjoyable day out and I'm sure accessible by train from London somehow!
 


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