NU
As another posted said, I don't think they checked mine - just asked for my name.
Not quite a real autocue I'm afraid! Just a monitor stuck below the (semi-pro) camera.
I quite enjoyed the NBH tour but as is the case for all of the other BBC tours I've done, it's a bit disappointing if you have a technical interest. I had to stop myself from audibly tutting when one of my fellow tourees asked if we were in the same building where Graham Norton is made!
It's great to see the news room though, even though you aren't allowed to take pictures once you get a decent view of it. Probably the best thing we saw was the BBC London Studio - for no other reason than it's an active studio. The radio theatre is nice to see but after a couple of minutes of looking around it just turns into the usual anecdote fest.
I think the best tour I ever did was of BBC Manchester prior to its closure. Not only did we go into the NWT studio but they took us into the gallery too.
It's not their fault - I'm sure these tours are great for your average viewer. But I wish they'd do a geeky tour with smaller groups and led by someone who knows what they are talking about. By all means charge more - I'd pay!
Well, I found a copy of the e-ticket on the e-mail server downstairs. I wonder how good I will be at reading autocue! 
Not quite a real autocue I'm afraid! Just a monitor stuck below the (semi-pro) camera.
I quite enjoyed the NBH tour but as is the case for all of the other BBC tours I've done, it's a bit disappointing if you have a technical interest. I had to stop myself from audibly tutting when one of my fellow tourees asked if we were in the same building where Graham Norton is made!
It's great to see the news room though, even though you aren't allowed to take pictures once you get a decent view of it. Probably the best thing we saw was the BBC London Studio - for no other reason than it's an active studio. The radio theatre is nice to see but after a couple of minutes of looking around it just turns into the usual anecdote fest.
I think the best tour I ever did was of BBC Manchester prior to its closure. Not only did we go into the NWT studio but they took us into the gallery too.
It's not their fault - I'm sure these tours are great for your average viewer. But I wish they'd do a geeky tour with smaller groups and led by someone who knows what they are talking about. By all means charge more - I'd pay!
JB
I did the tour this afternoon, I found it very informative. Its started off in the BBC London news studio (which is very small) but i was expecting that as I've visited TV set's before that seem bigger on TV but are small when you see them in person.
We then moved on to old broadcasting house where the radio theatre is. They showed us the BBC Timeline and the original BBC microphone. The group starred in our own radio drama (i was in charge of providing the sound effects!)
Before we visited the new newsroom, i had ago with reading the news. I don't know if they change it every time but my headline was about Camilla using the Oyster card.
Didn't see anyone famous lurking around but i did see some filming taking place around the main entrance.
I enjoyed the tour. I was a bit disappointed there was no photography allowed at the main thing I came to see, the newsroom!
We then moved on to old broadcasting house where the radio theatre is. They showed us the BBC Timeline and the original BBC microphone. The group starred in our own radio drama (i was in charge of providing the sound effects!)
Before we visited the new newsroom, i had ago with reading the news. I don't know if they change it every time but my headline was about Camilla using the Oyster card.
Didn't see anyone famous lurking around but i did see some filming taking place around the main entrance.
I enjoyed the tour. I was a bit disappointed there was no photography allowed at the main thing I came to see, the newsroom!
CH
A lot of the stuff you could look up on the internet. People go on tours to see things rather than having a glorified PowerPoint at the start and looking at a timeline of the BBC. You don't get to see one radio studio which I found very odd considering the size of the building and the number available!
Definitely not as good as the Manchester tour and certainly not as good as TVC was, but I suppose they've got to work with what they've got - it is a security-tight, working building after all.
As another posted said, I don't think they checked mine - just asked for my name.
Not quite a real autocue I'm afraid! Just a monitor stuck below the (semi-pro) camera.
I quite enjoyed the NBH tour but as is the case for all of the other BBC tours I've done, it's a bit disappointing if you have a technical interest. I had to stop myself from audibly tutting when one of my fellow tourees asked if we were in the same building where Graham Norton is made!
It's great to see the news room though, even though you aren't allowed to take pictures once you get a decent view of it. Probably the best thing we saw was the BBC London Studio - for no other reason than it's an active studio. The radio theatre is nice to see but after a couple of minutes of looking around it just turns into the usual anecdote fest.
I think the best tour I ever did was of BBC Manchester prior to its closure. Not only did we go into the NWT studio but they took us into the gallery too.
It's not their fault - I'm sure these tours are great for your average viewer. But I wish they'd do a geeky tour with smaller groups and led by someone who knows what they are talking about. By all means charge more - I'd pay!
Well, I found a copy of the e-ticket on the e-mail server downstairs. I wonder how good I will be at reading autocue!
Not quite a real autocue I'm afraid! Just a monitor stuck below the (semi-pro) camera.
I quite enjoyed the NBH tour but as is the case for all of the other BBC tours I've done, it's a bit disappointing if you have a technical interest. I had to stop myself from audibly tutting when one of my fellow tourees asked if we were in the same building where Graham Norton is made!
It's great to see the news room though, even though you aren't allowed to take pictures once you get a decent view of it. Probably the best thing we saw was the BBC London Studio - for no other reason than it's an active studio. The radio theatre is nice to see but after a couple of minutes of looking around it just turns into the usual anecdote fest.
I think the best tour I ever did was of BBC Manchester prior to its closure. Not only did we go into the NWT studio but they took us into the gallery too.
It's not their fault - I'm sure these tours are great for your average viewer. But I wish they'd do a geeky tour with smaller groups and led by someone who knows what they are talking about. By all means charge more - I'd pay!
A lot of the stuff you could look up on the internet. People go on tours to see things rather than having a glorified PowerPoint at the start and looking at a timeline of the BBC. You don't get to see one radio studio which I found very odd considering the size of the building and the number available!
Definitely not as good as the Manchester tour and certainly not as good as TVC was, but I suppose they've got to work with what they've got - it is a security-tight, working building after all.
GO
To be fair I think all of the radio studios in NBH are situated within office space rather than just off corridors (don't know if the same can be said for the old building) so they couldn't take a tour through that.
You don't get to see one radio studio which I found very odd considering the size of the building and the number available!
WH
To be fair I think all of the radio studios in NBH are situated within office space rather than just off corridors (don't know if the same can be said for the old building) so they couldn't take a tour through that.
What became of the old BBC Experience at Broadcasting House? There was definitely a radio studio as part of that tour.
Whataday
Founding member
You don't get to see one radio studio which I found very odd considering the size of the building and the number available!
What became of the old BBC Experience at Broadcasting House? There was definitely a radio studio as part of that tour.
OF
Do any of you know whether I could visit the bbc london studio on the broadcasting house tour?
Edited: Because I couldn't find it on the information on the booking form
Edited: Because I couldn't find it on the information on the booking form
Last edited by oflahertya on 9 July 2013 9:42pm
CH
I visited the BBC London studio when I toured a few weeks ago but since then London has moved to Studio A.
Do any of you know whether I could visit the bbc london studio on the broadcasting house tour?
Edited: Because I couldn't find it on the information on the booking form
Edited: Because I couldn't find it on the information on the booking form
I visited the BBC London studio when I toured a few weeks ago but since then London has moved to Studio A.
NG
noggin
Founding member
I believe that the BBC London studio was on the BBC Tour when it was in the ground floor space in the Peel/Egton Wing. However since they have now moved out to make way for The One Show, that space is now a building site (and less a visitor attraction, more a hard hat area).
BBC London now broadcast from the BBC News Virtual Reality studio, which is much busier than BBC London's former studio, and in a more secure part of the building, and less suitable for a genreal BBC Tour (particularly as it is more likely to be used ad hoc).
BBC London now broadcast from the BBC News Virtual Reality studio, which is much busier than BBC London's former studio, and in a more secure part of the building, and less suitable for a genreal BBC Tour (particularly as it is more likely to be used ad hoc).
JB
I'm glad I went when I did then!
I believe that the BBC London studio was on the BBC Tour when it was in the ground floor space in the Peel/Egton Wing. However since they have now moved out to make way for The One Show, that space is now a building site (and less a visitor attraction, more a hard hat area).
BBC London now broadcast from the BBC News Virtual Reality studio, which is much busier than BBC London's former studio, and in a more secure part of the building, and less suitable for a genreal BBC Tour (particularly as it is more likely to be used ad hoc).
BBC London now broadcast from the BBC News Virtual Reality studio, which is much busier than BBC London's former studio, and in a more secure part of the building, and less suitable for a genreal BBC Tour (particularly as it is more likely to be used ad hoc).
I'm glad I went when I did then!