The BBC Television Centre at White City in London opened in 1960 as the headquarters of BBC Television.

The BBC was founded in 1922 and is the world’s largest broadcasting company. Most of the BBC’s national and international television productions, as well as radio and television news output, come from the Centre.

The building itself features a central circular building, officially known as the main block but often referred to as the “doughnut”. Offices, studios, and the new News Centre are arranged around that. The actual shape of the building when seen from the air resembles a question mark.

There is a statue of Helios at the centre of the main block that was originally designed as a fountain; however it proved to be too noisy and was deactivated.

The studios at the Centre range from about 100 square metres to a stunning 995 square metres and have been the location of many of the world’s most famous television programmes.

Hit comedies such as “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”, “Fawlty Towers”, and “Absolutely Fabulous” were filmed there, as were the famed “Dr. Who” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series.

The much beloved “Blue Peter” children’s show was also filmed at these studios.

The BBC offers an award-winning tour behind the scenes of the Television Centre. Each day is different at this “working museum”, so each tour will be a different experience.

You can wander the halls, investigate studios, and poke through dressing rooms. Keep your eyes open for a glimpse of a celebrity or two, you never know who might show up.

Tours change based on the broadcasting schedule but you can expect to see the newsroom, weather studio, and some of the recording studios. Don’t miss the interactive studio where visitors get to work on their own broadcast in front or behind the cameras.

The future of the centre is a bit uncertain. It appears that the BBC is planning to relocate some of its departments to Broadcast House in central London and Salford Quays, Manchester.

The building itself is now protected under the aegis of English Heritage, but whether the BBC will choose to keep their operations in the Television Centre is unknown.

Visiting BBC Television Centre

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, W12 7RJ

Telephone: 0370 901 1227

Opening Times

Tours: Monday to Saturday 10.10am, 10.20am, 10.40am, 1.15pm, 1.30pm, 1.45pm, 3.30pm, 3.45pm, 4pm

Ticket Prices

£9.50 (Adults) £8.50 (Concs), £7 (Students & Children 9-15) | Pre-booking essential

Photo courtesy: amandabhslater

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