About.com Rating

Please note, this was a review of the tour in 2009 before the new BBC Broadcasting House opened. To see the latest details please see BBC Broadcasting House Tour Review (2013).
Broadcasting House was the UK's first ever purpose-built broadcast center and you can book a tour to find out more about BBC Radio and the stunning building.

What Will I See?

Broadcasting House is a working building so there are no guarantees on who or what visitors will see on the day of their visit.

You should be able to see a Rehearsal Room, a couple of radio studios, the main Radio Theatre, and a view from a high roof terrace.
 

How Long Is The Tour?

Tours last approximately 1.5 hours.

Can I Take Photos?

You are allowed to bring a camera, but photography is not allowed within the building as it is a working building. Do bring your camera though as there is an excellent view to be found up on the roof terrace.

How To Book

Tours are open to anyone aged 12 years and over when accompanied by an adult.
Tours are only on Sundays and must be booked in advance.
Book online or call 0370 901 1227 (from outside the UK +44 28 9053 5904)

BBC Broadcasting House Tour Review

You meet your tour guides in Reception and there can be up to 20 people in each tour group. Tours are on Sundays as most radio shows are recorded so you can get access to the studios that are busy all week.
Back Outside
Weather permitting, the tour starts outside the building where you can find out more about the 1932 Art Deco building that many say looks like a ship.

When I visited (late 2009), Broadcasting House was partway through an extensive refurbishment project that was due to be completed in 2012. The 1932 Art Deco building is considered to be of architectural significance so the BBC have restored instead of rebuilding, and a large additional building is being constructed too.

Outside we also found out about the controversy when Eric Gill unveiled his sculpture of Ariel and Prospero above the entrance due to the size of the boy's "manhood". It was even discussed in Parliament and adjustments had to be made.

 

Our "school ma'am" tour guides then ushered us inside to see the Lobby and its significant Art Deco features before we all went through the security process which involves a bag scanner and walk-through body scanner, like the ones at airports.

We were then all ordered to use the toilets before the tour started as well as to spit out our chewing gum. Everyone complied but we did feel like naughty school children for a while.

Rehearsal Room
The tour really gets started when you visit a Rehearsal Room and 'volunteers' have a go at making a radio drama complete with music and sound effects. Boots in a box of gravel were available but sadly no half coconuts.

Radio Theatre
This is where radio shows are recorded so many famous shows and artists have performed here including The Goon Show and, more recently, Robbie Williams.

Guides gave out information on how to book a ticket for a radio show recording and explained that shows often start on radio before being commissioned for TV. The room has been restored and is now fully accessible, but this had meant covering some of the unique architectural features.

 

Council Chamber
This oak-panelled boardroom has been restored and visitors on the tour get to sit around the large meeting table.

Radio Studios
Radio 3 and Radio 4 programs are recorded at Broadcasting House and we were lucky enough to see the studio used for Woman's Hour and Desert Island Discs, two immensely popular and long-running shows.

Rooftop Terrace
Our tour ended on a roof terrace, high on the front of the building, which gave us excellent views and photo opportunities.

Do note, there is no BBC shop in this building, unlike the BBC Television Centre Tour.

 

Conclusion

The Broadcasting House tour is probably more specialist than the BBC Television Centre Tour, which possibly has a wider appeal, but I enjoyed the tour and would definitely like to return when the building works are complete.
The writer was provided with a complimentary tour for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.