London is home to many of the country’s ‘firsts’. The UK’s first bookshop, cinema, and door can all be found within the confines of the capital city. But a particularly exciting inaugural establishment comes in the form of the BBC Broadcasting House.
The UK’s first purpose-built home for radio is perched proudly on Portland Place, just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and Regent Street. It’s an iconic institution, to say the least – and here’s how some lucky Londoners will have the chance to have a sneak peek inside it (without having to pay a penny) next month.
The BBC Broadcasting House
Designed by G Val Myer and completed in 1932, the BBC Broadcasting House was the second comprehensive broadcasting centre to be built in Europe. Built from Portland stone, the building in its original form boasted 9 floors above ground and 3 floors below. The central heavy masonry tower is where all of the studios were found, and the steel-framed ‘shell’ provided the acoustic buffering.
The building suffered significant bomb damage during World War II and has been restored, renovated, and extended at various points over the years – but it now stands as one of the largest broadcasting centres in the world. With 36 radio suites, 6 TV studios, and 60 editing suites, it’s the beating heart of British broadcasting and ‘a jewel of Art Deco design’.
Next month – for one day only – the Broadcasting House is swinging open its doors as part of London’s Open House Festival. The annual free-to-visit festival offers Londoners and beyond a peek behind the curtain of some of the London’s most exclusive establishments. On September 19, the BBC Broadcasting House is offering 13 hour-long guided tours around its buildings – giving visitors access to a whole host of activities and photo opportunities.
The tours will be available to book from midday today (August 19), so you’ll need to be very speedy if you want to secure a spot. The tours will take place at various times between 9.30am and 4pm on September 19 and are completely free of charge. So, what are you waiting for? Snap up a space at 12pm today here.
