All About The Archers Pilot Tours – book your place here.
BBC BIRMINGHAM
Address: BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham. B1 1RF. Sat Nav: B1 1RF
BBC Birmingham is situated on Level 3 of The Mailbox, towards the back of the complex near the canal and restaurants.
PHOTO ID
Please make sure everyone aged 18 and over brings photo ID with them to present when checking in for the tour.
SECURITY
Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of your tour to allow for all security checks to take place before the tour starts. Guests will be subject to a person and bag search. Please only bring essential items and keep belongings to a minimum.
The following items are permitted on the tour:
Small bags including handbags
(under 40cm x 35cm x 19cm – approximately the size of an A3 sheet of paper)
Prohibited Items
No Backpacks
No Large bags including shopping bags
(over 40cm x 35cm x 19cm – approximately the size of an A3 sheet of paper)
No Suitcases
No item where the contents cannot be verified on search such as wrapped presents/gifts
Please note there are no temporary storage facilities for non-permitted bags, it will be left to the guest to find a safe temporary storage facility.
GETTING THERE BY TRAIN
The nearest railway station to The Mailbox is Birmingham New Street. Turn left at the exit and walk down Navigation Street, crossing over the pedestrian crossing at the junction with Hill Street. Continue down Navigation Street and walk under the Suffolk Street Queensway road bridge, following the painted lines on the path which will direct you to The Mailbox.
This walk should take approximately 5 minutes.
ON FOOT FROM FRONT OF THE MAILBOX
Enter the front of The Mailbox through the shopping centre and proceed up two sets of escalators to reach Level 3. BBC Birmingham will be on your left.
Wheelchair user access from the street from the front of The Mailbox – Face the Mailbox and enter the Car Park with the Malmaison Hotel on your left. Follow the corridor and go through the car park to the lifts. Take the lift to Level 3. Exit the lift and follow the walkway round and you’ll see BBC Birmingham on your left.
ON FOOT FROM BACK OF THE MAILBOX
From the back/canal side of The Mailbox – From Broad Street join the canal near Brindley place or Gas Street. Follow the canal to your right. Take the metal slope over the canal bridge. Enter The Mailbox past the restaurants, up the slope through the glass doors. BBC Birmingham is on your right.
BY BUS
There are lots of buses across the West Midlands which go into the city centre. Please visit Network West Midlands
CANCELLATION
The BBC reserves the right to cancel the All About The Archers pilot tours for operational reasons. If this happens, we will give you as much notice as possible and an alternative date will be offered, but unfortunately we can’t be held responsible for any expenses you have in getting to us.
On the day of your tour – if you find you need to contact BBC Tours to advise of cancellation, late arrival or to query any detail of your tour – please contact Lynsey Burford on 07714957083 or Debbie Jaura on 07710842231.
PARKING
If driving, please use the main Mailbox public pay-and-park car park which is underneath BBC Birmingham.
The height restriction for this car park is 2.05m. Park near to the H2O car valet on The Lower Ground Level and use the nearest lift. Alternatively, you can park near the customer service station on the Ground Level and again use the nearest lift. Both will get you to Level 3 where you’ll find BBC Birmingham. Be aware however that not all lifts in the Mailbox car park go to Level 3.
Blue badge parking can be found near these lifts.
TOUR LENGTH AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Your All About The Archers pilot tour will last approximately 2 hours. The tour consists of walking around the building and periods of standing whilst listening to the guides. The Tours have been designed to take place on chosen days to allow maximum access to ‘Ambridge’ – when the radio drama recording studio is not being used. Please note that it is unlikely you will see any recordings in production for this reason.
MAKE UP OF GROUP
Tour groups will often reflect the diversity of BBC audiences, involving people of different ages and
Nationalities and we are not able to guarantee the make-up of your particular tour group.
REFRESHMENTS
We’re sorry but we don’t have any public refreshment facilities at BBC Birmingham but there are plenty of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants close by, particularly in The Mailbox complex. Click here for more information.
CHILDREN
All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. We’re sorry, but the tour isn’t suitable for children under the age of 7. This is because the tour content is not appropriate for children of this age. BBC Tours comply with the BBC’s child protection policy which is available here: http://bbc.in/1FQc5fB .
PHOTOS
For copyright and security reasons, there are a few areas at BBC Birmingham where photography and videoing isn’t allowed. However, there are some great photo opportunities for Archers fans on the tour and your guides will point them out – so don’t forget to bring your camera or use your smart phone. By entering a BBC building, visitors could potentially be photographed, recorded or filmed directly or inadvertently. By coming on a tour, visitors are agreeing to this.
ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
As BBC Birmingham is a large building, the tour covers a fair distance. A wheelchair is available and needs to be booked in advance of your tour. If you are a wheelchair user or have any other access needs, please contact Lynsey Burford on 07714957083 or Debbie Jaura 07710 842231. Assistance Dogs are welcome. Please visit our website to view our access statement.
FEEDBACK
All About The Archers Tours are new to BBC Birmingham, so we’re offering free pilot tours to make sure we deliver the best possible experience for Archers fans, before launching them to the general public later in the year.
The BBC Birmingham Tours team really value your opinion and would like to know what you thought of the tour. We will invite you to complete a simple online feedback form after the tour.
Thank you and we look forward to meeting you on your All About The Archers tour at BBC Birmingham.