BBC studio tours at MediaCityUK

The BBC studio tours at MediaCityUK let you see backstage at BBC’s main studio complex in Salford Quays.

What to see at BBC studio tours at MediaCityUK

There are two different tours available, the standard tour that is suitable for everyone and the CBBC Interactive Tour which is geared toward children aged 6–11 years old.

Standard BBC tour

The tour takes you to different parts of the studio complex and will involve walking from one building to the next.

Channels and programmes produced at these studios include A Question of Sport, BBC Breakfast, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Sport, Blue Peter, CBBC, Dragon’s Den, Mastermind and Match of the Day and tours generally let you see into some of these studios, depending on availability.

The tour also involves an interactive element where you can try your hand at producing your own news and weather bulletin.

Because this is a working television studio complex, each tour will be slightly different and some studios may not be available when filming is in progress.

CBBC Interactive Tour

The CBBC Interactive Tour essentially follows the same route as the standard tour, except that it has a much more child-friendly emphasis focusing on studios where children’s television programmes such as Blue Peter are made.

This tour is aimed at children aged 6–11 and all children on the tour aged under 18 must have an adult with them on the tour.

Visiting the BBC studios at MediaCityUK

The BBC studio complex is located at MediaCityUK in Salford. The easiest way to get here is by tram and the closest Metrolink tram stop is MediaCityUK.

Leave any large bags, including shopping bags, at your hotel as these cannot be taken on the tour and there is nowhere to leave your bags while you are on the tour.

Tours last around 1½ hours although you should allow twice this time as you need to arrive 15 minutes earlier than your tour time and you also have to allow for time to travel to and from the studio complex.

Since it is a bit of a hike to come out to MediaCityUK it is best that you combine a trip to the BBC studio complex with other attractions in the area, which include the Coronation Street tour at the ITV studio complex, The Lowry arts centre and IWM North which are all only a five-minute walk from the BBC complex.