This whole area of London is classed as “BBC Land” as it’s dominated by various BBC buildings. Television Centre being the most impressive and the one open to the public. They run tours here but I would recommend catching a show and being part of the audience. What better way to spend an evening as a freebie, watching a programme you enjoy live! I have many fond memories of this place and remember dancing in the crowds to Top of the Pops and also worked as a Steward. The building has improved considerably over the years, as a while ago, the audience had to wait outside but now the audience have the luxury of waiting indoors and sipping a drink in the bar before a show. It’s great for star spotting too and when you are being led to the studio, remember to take in the many pictures decorating the walls of years gone by and the shows and actors that graced the building’s presence.

Went to see QI being filmed here and I had an absolutely brilliant time. The tickets were free (most BBC shows are) and we had amazing seats. You could literally lean forward and grab Stephan Fry by the nose. Staff and ushers were very friendly. The only thing i would say is get to the studio early. If you want good seats you will need to arrive at least an hour and a half before the show starts.

Highly recommended week night fun.

I have been to Television Centre on a few occassions and each time its a powerfull experience. I remember the first time I went there a few years back, I had only ever seen the building in photos and at the start of Live And Kicking when I was younger, it truely blew me away. Now having been there many times since, it still has a powerfull impact on me. All the years of Top Of The Pops, BBC News, comedy shows such as 2 Pints of Larger And A Packet of Crisps and Little Britain filmed in these very studios. It is no secret that alot of the BBC's programming is filmed in other location such as Pinewood Studios, but the Television Centre is the home of the BBC and BBC Comedy, it is the daddy shall we say.
I have never gone on the BBC Tour but here it is very good. So if your down Shpeards Bush way, I recommend you go and have a look at the daddy of British Television, while you still can. I believe they also do a CBBC Tour for the kids to.

If there is ever to be a war like the 1st and 2nd big ones, then I’m heading straight to TV Centre. I’ve only ever been there for auditions so I don’t know what the tour is like or anything but I do know it is expansive and labyrinthian in structure. As one of the leading centres for television in the world, it is pretty snazzy and feel a bit like the future in some sections. Other sections less so, like the canteens.

To back up my opening sentence – almost everything you’d ever need is at BBC White City with shops throughout the building. Little coffee kiosks scattered about and then a WH Smith. It’s like a microcosm of a city in one inconveniently designed building where the population is littered with TV stars. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Andrew Marr wandering about. I can, it’s three.

It's a shame that the Beeb are going to sell this landmark.The familiar face of 'Auntie' since the sixties, it must have seen so many stars come and go from here, it almost has a magical aura around it. You can take tours around the famous 'doughnut'
and see the studios at work, or you can get free tickets for shows if you apply in advance. Either way, it's probably best to take a look now as I'm sure it won't be here for many years longer.

BBC Television Centre Tours are a fascinating way to look into how the media permeates our lives in almost everyway possible.

This world famous organisation is offering tours which will last for one and a half to two hours. In that duration you will get a very rough idea of how the news is presented in the UK and world-wide.

The tour includes visiting the BBC News Room,playing in their interactive studio and visiting other studios which have been the home of many controversial,amusing and interesting productions.

Do keep in mind that you do have to book and there is a fee but its not extortionate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tours