10 Highlights of the BBC Tour for Families in London

You’ll explore working BBC studios where real journalists create news stories, pose on The One Show’s famous green sofas, and snap photos with the authentic Prank Patrol ambulance car. Kids aged 7-10 can dance at Duggee’s Disco, cook in JoJo & Gran Gran’s kitchen, and meet CBeebies characters like Mr Tumble. You’ll discover the Blue Peter garden with its iconic ship sculpture, experience BBC Earth’s wildlife exhibits narrated by David Attenborough, and learn about sustainability through interactive AR technology that’ll amaze your entire family.

Backstage Access to Television Centre

Once you step behind the scenes at BBC Television Centre, you’ll discover the bustling world where your favorite shows come to life. You’ll peek into various studios, including interactive ones where you can participate in mock news bulletins and weather forecasts.

The tour takes you through the newsroom hub, where you’ll overlook real journalists working on stories. You can snap photos on The One Show‘s famous green sofas and explore the sports areas like Match of the Day studio. The comprehensive experience typically spans two hours, giving you ample time to absorb the television magic.

Since it’s a working building with 8,000 staff members, what you see depends on daily activities. The gift shop rounds out your backstage adventure perfectly.

CBBC-Specific Interactive Tour for Ages 7-10

The CBBC-Specific Interactive Tour offers young fans ages 7-10 a chance to explore their favorite channel’s home base at BBC Television Centre. You’ll discover the famous Blue Peter garden and peek into interactive studios where your favorite shows come to life.

This two-hour adventure includes surprises along the route and family activities that’ll have everyone laughing.

At £7.75 per child or £30 for a family ticket, it’s designed specifically for CBBC viewers rather than general travelers. You’ll need to book ahead since there are limited daily slots. The venue is wheelchair accessible with additional accessibility information available for families with specific needs.

Twelve tours run Monday-Saturday from 10am-4:15pm at Wood Lane, accessible via White City tube station.

If your kids don’t watch CBBC, consider the regular tour instead for better enjoyment.

Photo Opportunities With the Prank Patrol Car

After exploring the Blue Peter garden, you’ll spot the famous Prank Patrol car waiting for its close-up with your family. This authentic ambulance-styled vehicle is the exact prop used in the hit CBBC show with Barney Harwood and his ninja team.

You can’t peek inside, but the exterior photos are absolutely worth it!

Kids love posing beside this iconic television prop, and it’s become one of the tour’s most popular photo stops. The car retains all its original TV features, making your pictures genuinely special. The interactive experience allows children to feel like they’re part of their own television production while taking these memorable photos.

Your tour guide will share fun facts about the show while you snap away. Don’t forget to charge your camera beforehand – you’ll want plenty of shots with this piece of CBBC history at BBC Television Centre!

Exploring Dr Who’s Famous Tardis

Your BBC tour adventure continues with one of television’s most iconic props – the legendary TARDIS! You’ll find the Mark 40 TARDIS stationed at Earl’s Court Road, where it’s been delighting fans since 1996. This brilliant blue police box represents the Doctor’s time machine, which got stuck in this disguise due to a malfunction that British audiences instantly recognized.

You can step through real TARDIS doors during BBC filming recreations while guides share fascinating insights about its history. The acronym stands for Time And Relative Dimension(s) In Space, explaining why it’s bigger inside than outside!

Your family will love taking photos with this classic 1960s London police box design. During your visit, knowledgeable guides will explain the fascinating legal issues that surrounded this iconic prop’s placement and usage. The tour includes easy public transport access, making it perfect for visitors of all ages.

Blue Peter Garden Adventure

Next up on your BBC tour, you’ll discover the enchanting Blue Peter Garden at MediaCityUK in Salford – a place where television magic meets nature!

You’ll explore the beautiful Italian sunken garden with its goldfish pond, greenhouse, and viewing platform where presenters film their links.

Don’t miss the famous Blue Peter ship sculpture and the special bust of Petra the dog, the show’s most beloved pet.

The garden’s filled with silver birch trees, colorful borders, and even houses some pet memorials including George the Tortoise’s resting place. Originally, the Blue Peter Garden was officially opened outside BBC Television Centre in 1974 before moving to its current location.

Best of all, this garden’s accessible to the public for free!

It’s definitely a family favorite that brings the TV show to life outdoors.

Role-Playing Activities Throughout the Tour

While exploring the BBC tour, you’ll plunge into exciting role-playing adventures that bring your favorite CBeebies characters to life! Join the friendly Rainbow Gardener as you hunt for missing colours throughout iconic CBeebies rooms.

You’ll play with the Magic Xylophone in Bluey’s Bedroom, dance at Duggee’s Clubhouse Disco, and pretend to cook in JoJo & Gran Gran’s kitchen.

The adventure continues in Mr Tumble’s House, where you’ll search for colours while exploring themed character spaces.

Don’t miss the immersive BBC Earth zones! Press the big red button in the creepy crawlies section, trigger storylines on 360-degree screens, and seek out animals like starfish and fireflies.

These interactive experiences let you roam at your own pace while testing your courage with hands-on discovery.

BBC Earth Experience With Sir David Attenborough

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to journey across all seven continents in under an hour? The BBC Earth Experience with Sir David Attenborough made this magical adventure possible at The Daikin Centre in Earl’s Court. This incredible 1608-square-meter venue transformed into an immersive wonderland where you’d walk through landscapes from BBC’s “Seven Worlds, One Planet” series.

You’d experience 360-degree projections covering floors, walls, and ceilings while Sir David Attenborough’s voice guided your journey. Three interactive zones let you get hands-on with nature – the Micro Life zone for tiny creatures, Water Life zone with motion-detecting screens, and Creepy Crawlies area featuring a big red button to press. The venue featured hundreds of multi-angle screens that created the stunning immersive viewing experience throughout the exhibition.

Though it closed in February 2024, this 50-75 minute adventure welcomed over 375,000 visitors during its amazing run.

Interactive Technology and Digital Screens

The BBC’s cutting-edge technology transforms ordinary screens into magical portals that bring nature right to your fingertips. You’ll discover hundreds of multi-angle screens throughout the massive 1608m² venue, all powered by eco-friendly LED projectors. These cotton screens create stunning 360-degree displays that change based on where you’re standing!

Head to three exciting breakout zones where you can explore microscopic worlds in the Micro Life room or dive deep into ocean adventures in the Water Life room. Don’t miss the big red button that *release* creepy crawlies on screen! The experience features AR devices that serve as dynamic windows into plant and animal life, utilizing advanced 5G technology.

The Vista Stage showcases incredible drone footage on large-scale displays, while the roaming exhibition space triggers special footage wherever you walk. It’s like stepping into David Attenborough’s documentaries yourself!

Educational Focus on Wildlife and Sustainability

Beyond entertainment, this incredible experience teaches you and your family essential lessons about our planet’s future. You’ll discover how climate change threatens natural habitats while David Attenborough’s narration explains why we must safeguard wildlife.

The centre shows you amazing animals from all seven continents – whale sharks, snow monkeys, penguins, and walruses through stunning panoramas.

You’ll learn surprising facts about London’s urban wildlife too. Swallows migrate 6,000 miles just to feed on city lake insects, while kestrels and herons thrive in green spaces. Richmond Park’s 2,500 acres support red deer and woodpeckers right in the city.

The experience runs entirely on renewable energy and uses rainwater harvesting, demonstrating your kids how sustainable practices work.

You’ll leave understanding how protecting biodiversity ensures our planet’s future.

Family-Friendly Value in Central London

Families looking for exceptional entertainment value will find BBC tours surprisingly affordable in London’s expensive central district. You’ll pay just £38-£40 for family packages covering one adult with up to three children or two adults with two children. That’s markedly cheaper than buying individual tickets at £13-£13.75 for adults and £10 for kids over seven.

You’ll save even more by booking in advance, and groups of ten or more get discounted rates. The tours run daily from 10am to 4:30pm with multiple time slots, making scheduling easy around your London itinerary. Located near Oxford Circus Station, you won’t spend extra on transport.

For 1.5 hours of behind-the-scenes entertainment in a working broadcast facility, it’s excellent value compared to other central London attractions. The experience includes access to state-of-the-art TV and radio studios where you can discover how professional broadcasts are created.

Last Words

You’ll absolutely love exploring the BBC tour with your family! You’ve got amazing backstage access, fun CBBC activities, and you’ll even get to step inside the famous Tardis. Don’t forget to bring your camera for those epic photo ops with the Prank Patrol car! You’ll learn loads about wildlife and technology while having a blast. It’s the perfect London adventure that’ll give you incredible memories and stories to share with friends!