UPDATE: Tour closed!
Sadly, the BBC Broadcasting House tour in London has now closed and they are no longer offering this tour. Below is a review for historical reference only. However, they continue to take tours of other BBC buildings across the UK found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/
What will I see?
As the BBC buildings are working buildings they cannot guarantee who or what you will see on the day of your visit, but you should see the newsroom and learn more about the BBC before you have a chance to try to read the news or a weather report in an interactive news set. Hopefully you also watch the Radio Theater and can do a radio drama too.
How long is the tour?
Tours last approximately 1.5 hours.
Can I take photos?
Due to copyright and security reasons, photography at BBC Broadcasting House does need to be restricted in some places, but there are many places along the tour where photography and fun are encouraged. Please note that long lens cameras are not allowed on the tour.
How to book
You can book online or call 0370 901 1227 (from outside the UK +44 1732 427 770).
All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under the age of 9 cannot take this tour.
BBC Broadcasting House Tour Review
You walk into Portland Place, on the side of the building, and you’ll have to scan your purse, so pack wisely when you visit. (There are no cloakroom facilities).
Tours start from the Media Cafe, where you can have a drink and a snack, or visit the little BBC shop. When I visited, there was a TARDIS and a Dalek for great Doctor Who photos too.
Tours start quickly and there is an introductory talk in front of a big screen to show some of the studios in the building and explain about the new and old Broadcasting House buildings and the spirit of the BBC.
We then moved on to get a better look at the newsroom and just when the Guide was telling us that BBC news readers are actually trained journalists who write 85% of the news they read, we saw Sophie Raworth, one of the best known. BBC News Readers, who was at his desk preparing the news report at lunchtime.
From here, it was our turn to try to read the news and we visited an interactive news set where some of the tour group tried to read the news and present the weather. Newsreaders were given a script, but the weatherman wasn’t how the pros work.
Look outside
When we entered the side of the building, the next part of the tour went out so that we could better see the new Broadcasting House. There is a lot of glass and it seems that the architect chose that material to show the ‘most open and honest’ way that the BBC wants it to look.
The dedicated entry for Radio 1 was pointed out, so we know where to stand if we hope to meet the A-list celebrities who visit regularly, such as One Direction, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus.
The BBC had to offer some large-scale works of public art in exchange for planning permission for its new building. One is on the floor and the other is on the ceiling. In the square in front of the new Broadcasting House you can see ‘World’ by Canadian artist Mark Pimlott. It is a series of longitude and latitude lines embedded in the pavement along with many place names.
If you look up, you can see ‘Breath’ rising 10 meters from the roof of the East Wing. It is by the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa and is a monument to all the reporters and the team who have lost their lives in conflict zones. At 10 p.m. M. Every night when BBC1 TV broadcasts ten o’clock, a beam of light is projected from the base of the sculpture up to approximately 900 meters into the night sky.
Old broadcasting house
The tour continues inside the Old Broadcasting House with a little history and a chance to admire its elegant Art Deco style. Tour guides have an iPad to show more images as well.
We also sat in a dressing room and heard about the demands of certain celebrities, but how the BBC doesn’t pay for outrageous requests (I’m looking at you Mariah Carey and your request for a box of puppies!)
We visit the Radio Theater, described as one of London’s ‘best kept secrets’, where you can watch new recorded shows. (See Tickets for TV and radio shows in London). Before ending our tour in a Radio Drama Studio where we were able to read scripts and create fun sound effects.
The writer received a free tour in order to review those services. While you have not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy .
