BBC Shows and Tours

Well I certainly don't know where some of the people on here have been to but it certainly wasn't the tour of the BBC...

We were taken through different studios (BBC News and shown all the different studios and what they're used for). The guides were extremely friendly, helpful and happy to answer any questions you had a long the way.

In the tour we were told about all the different aspects of the TV centre not just one specific point. We were taken into to the dressing room where different people had been and the guide told us very interesting stories of all the different celebrities the BBC had had in the room we were in...

The news centre was the first bit where we were shown the control room and the actual news studio where the presenter was about to go live on air. We were then shown the control room where the director was talking to the presenter and the subtitles man was typing away!

Next we were shown two studios, 1 which had the two pints set in the next had a show in that was being filmed there and then so it was very exciting to watch.

There was loads of interaction on the tour, there was a made up quiz show and some people got to read the news and present the weather. We were told how they actually do the weather and was shows live pictures from the studio (go to the tour and find out how its done!!)

I would recommend this tour to everyone but here are some tips that I think the other people on here didn't realize...

1. DON'T go expecting to see hundreds of celebrities...

2. The whole point of the tour is to see what happens BACKSTAGE! You don't get to be on TV (or work the proper equipment)

3. It's extremely good value for money!

4. What you see totally depends what time of the year you go or what day... The BBC can't say what exactly is going to happen because they don't know.

and finally... Read the terms and conditions the BBC give you before you go it basically explains everything i've said

Went on CBBC tour early August 07.

8 year old boy+dad. Very enjoyable. Guides were very good with the kids. Very interactive, with the kids all playing roles at different stages. Everyone had a great laugh.

Don't want to ruin the surprises along the way, but would recommend this to anyone with 7-10 year old children, who watch CBBC. Might be lost on tourists from outside British Isles.

Certainly good value, considering most other tours in London have become very expensive.

June 2005 was my first visit to London. I had arranged a tour of the BBC Television Centre (White City, London) for Day Two of my trip and, due to an intruder on the tracks, trains on the Underground in the direction I was travelling were seriosuly disrupted. I arrived at the recepetion area of BBC 15 mins late, to be told the tour had left. Staff at the front desk were extremely accomodating and it was not long before a friendly 'tour guide' greeted us and brought us through security. Luckily, there were only 3 people on the tour. We visited some of the production areas (and got to see some filming), the weather area, the news rooms/offices, the gift shop, and more....

This tour is certainly worth a visit. I am returning in August 2006 with some friends and I hope to bring them to the magnificent BBC TV Centre.