The former English-by-Radio department of the BBC World Service was established in 1943 taught English as a foreign language on radio from a building called the Queen's House in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. Familiar to listeners the world over, the unit produced programmes in English and in a bilingual format.
Queen’s House was the creative hub of the operation, and was to be joined by a TV production wing in the early 1960s. Radio programmes were broadcast from studios in Bush House, whilst TV programmes were made in a variety of BBC and non-BBC studios and sold internationally.
Although no longer in the Queen's House, the service is now online and known as BBC Learning English.
Buildings
Alexandra Palace
The birthplace of television
Broadcasting House
The first purpose-built broadcast centre in the UK
Broadcasting House, Belfast
BBC Northern Ireland's headquarters since 1941
Broadcasting House, Bristol
Former home of the Natural History Unit
Broadcasting House, Cardiff
The BBC's first bespoke headquarters in Wales
Bush House
Home of the World Service 1940-2012
Camden Palace Theatre
Light entertainment and music from North London
Caversham Park
Listening to the world, 1943 to 2018
Ealing Studios
The BBC Television Film Studios
Elstree Studios
Home of EastEnders
Lime Grove
A temporary measure for 42 years
Kingswood Warren
Former home of BBC Research & Development
The Langham
Sustaining the BBC during World War 2 and after
Maida Vale
The best acoustic in London
35 Marylebone High Street
The first headquarters of the Radio Times and BBC Radio London.
MediaCityUK
The BBC's Northern base in Salford
Pacific Quay
Headquarters of BBC Scotland
Paris Studios
Former London cinema which hosted The Beatles and Dad's Army
Pebble Mill
A hub for drama, entertainment and factual programmes in Birmingham between 1971 and 2004
Queen's House, WC2
Centre of English language learning
Riverside Studios
A film studio regenerated into a TV studio used by the BBC from 1954 to 1975
Savoy Hill
The first home of the BBC
Television Centre
The Television Factory
Television Theatre
A mecca for the stars of the 1960s
Wood Norton
The emergency broadcasting centre
