friends studio tour uk

• Washington, D.C
• San Francisco
• Philadelphia
• Birmingham, UK
• Salt Lake City
• NYC Flagship
• Washington, D.C.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Feeling Curious?
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

A bonkers ‘Friends’-themed immersive experience has opened in Birmingham

The NEC is currently filled with stuff from the legendary TV show, featuring sets, props, costumes and more

‘Friends’ fans, buckle up. After travelling through the US and Europe, the Friends Experience has finally arrived in the UK . It made its British debut on Saturday July 8 at Birmingham’s NEC and provides visitors with the chance to live out iconic moments from the beloved series. 

Cue the theme tune. Guests will be able to roam through an interactive set that features the likes of Chandler and Joey’s recliners, the infamous fountain from the opening credits, Central Perk, and Monica and Rachel’s purple front door. Poses at the ready, it’s got photo ops galore. 

You’ll also get to feast your eyes on Ross’s armadillo costume, Phoebe’s keyboard and a revolving head showcasing Jennifer Aniston’s widely imitated Rachel haircut. Birmingham Live gave the experience four out of five stars, calling it a ‘nostalgic treat to see these places where so many dramas have been shared over the years.’

The experience has been brought to the UK by Warner Bros Discovery Global Themed Entertainment – in other words, the same company behind the hugely popular Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour in London . 

So tell us, could you BE anymore excited? Tickets to The Friends Experience start from £26.50 and you can purchase them right here . It runs from 10am everyday and is at the Birmingham NEC until August 18.

ICYMI: T his quiet Welsh village has been named the best holiday destination in the UK

Plus:  The best pint of Guinness outside Ireland has been named – and it’s in Manchester

• Amy Houghton Contributing writer

Share the story

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising
• Time Out Market

Time Out products

• Time Out Worldwide

• Visitors Home
• What's On
• Getting Here
• Parking at the NEC
• Travel Updates
• Find a Hotel
• Food and Drink
• Destination NEC
• Accessibility
• Venue Protect
• Visitor FAQs
• Organisers Home
• Host an Exhibition
• Meetings & Events
• Space Search
• Exhibitors Home
• Products and Services
• Suppliers Directory
• Exhibitor Parking
• On Stand Hospitality
• On-Stand Hospitality
• Advertising
• Exhibitor FAQs

The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Birmingham

Event information.

• Tickets Information Tickets Ticket Prices From £26.50
• Opening Times Opening Times Opening times From 10am Daily
• Pre-Pay Your Parking
• Event website
• FriendsTheExperience, TheOneInBirmingham, FriendsUK

Event Details

Could we BE anymore excited?

Featuring a variety of nostalgia-packed, interactive sets including Monica’s kitchen and the iconic FRIENDS ™ fountain, The FRIENDS ™ Experience provides guests with plenty of opportunities to explore the show’s history and re-create their favourite scenes, such as peeking around Rachel and Monica’s purple door, relaxing in Chandler and Joey’s recliners or helping Ross with the infamous sofa pivot. Of course, no FRIENDS ™ experience would be complete without paying homage to the sitcom’s famed coffee house, Central Perk, which will be fully recreated at the NEC Birmingham, complete with the legendary orange sofa. FRIENDS ™ fans will also be able to take home a momento of their visit from The FRIENDS ™ Experience shop where they will find a selection of exclusive merchandise.

FRIENDS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s23)

Connect with this event

Arriving by car? Pre-pay for parking online before the day of your visit and you can make a saving of £5* (T&C's apply). That's one less thing to think about on the day! Pre-pay is available in our standard & disabled public car parks.

Make the most of your upcoming visit to the NEC. From booking your hotel, sorting out travel, pre-booking your parking or scoping out the excitement that awaits across the NEC campus, our visiting us page has everything covered.

Stay just 2 miles from NEC Birmingham and enjoy our onsite leisure center, 24-hour dining options, onsite parking and complimentary shuttle to Birmingham International Train Station/The NEC. Plus, indulge in our Open Lobby Bar & Restaurant with a 24-hour Starbucks Café. Quote the code NEC10 for 10% off our Best Flexible Rates!

Make the most of your stay right by the action in this recently renovated contemporary Hotel. With exquisite dining options at your fingertips for you to enjoy, end the day with dinner in our beautiful new restaurant Brightsmith by the water, sipping a cocktail, overlooking the scenic Pendigo Lake. Then relax into one of our newly refurbished rooms and wake up to the famous Hilton Breakfast in the place where it all happens.

Offering scenic accommodation, diverse dining options, together with golf, spa & leisure facilities. Conveniently located only 5 miles from the NEC, making it an easy commute. Quote NEC24 for 10% off our Best Available Rates.

Elevate your NEC experience at Voco St. John's Hotel. Minutes away from the NEC with 201 stylish rooms, 13 versatile meeting spaces, and ample parking for 250 cars. Your gateway to comfort and convenience.

When it comes to wining and dining, we naturally wanted to ensure a range of lip-smacking options was always on the menu.

From luxury resorts to simple rooms to please, you’ll find a host of hotels right on our doorstep. Head to our Visitors page to view your nearest options.

By entering your details you will be indicating your consent for The NEC Group to send you e-mails about events which we think you may be interested in. For more information about the companies within The NEC Group and how we use your information, please see our Privacy Policy . 

Stay in the loop

Sign up now to get the latest NEC Group news and Ticket Factory updates.

By entering your details you will be indicating your consent for The NEC Group to send you e-mails about events which we think you may be interested in. For more information about the companies within The NEC Group and how we use your information, please see our  Privacy Policy .

Sign up today to get the latest NEC Group news and Ticket Factory updates

Sign up now and

Never miss a moment, all the latest nec group & ticket factory news.

The FRIENDS™ Experience

Follow The FRIENDS™ Experience on Ents24 to receive updates on any new tour dates the moment they are announced...

• Be the first to know about new tour dates
• Alerts are free and always will be
• We hate spam and will never share your email address with anyone else
• More than a million fans already rely on Ents24 to follow their favourite artists and venues

Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for The FRIENDS™ Experience. Were you there?

• Sat 8 Jul ➙ Fri 18 Aug Birmingham, The NEC The FRIENDS™ Experience

Never Miss The Artists You Love!

Register for a See account here to import your Spotify library or ‘follow’ artists you find on our site to add them to your ‘favourites’. We will send you email alerts every time one of your favourite artists goes on tour.

In your user account, you can import your Spotify library or ‘follow’ artists you find on our site to add them to your ‘favourites’. We will send you email alerts every time one of your favourite artists goes on tour.

FriendsFest In London Dates and Times

To purchase your tickets, please select a date you'd like to book, then select a time for your Set Tour and complete the booking process.

Your Set Tour ticket also serves as your admission ticket into the site, you will receive a single ticket for both site entry and set tour. You can arrive at any time during our opening hours, but please make sure you are on site at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time.

The Set Tour experience is approximately 30 mins long but we recommend you allow 2 - 2.5 hours for your overall visit, as there are plenty of other fantastic Friends experiences on site.

The site closes at 8pm (Sun - Wed) and 9.30pm (Thur - Sat). If your set tour time falls in the last hour before the site closes, we suggest you arrive at least 2 hours before your set tour, to fully enjoy the rest of the event.

SOME DATES SOLD OUT

There are no dates currently available.

More Information about FriendsFest In London

If there is only the option to purchase 1 ticket, it means that there is only one left for the time you have selected. If you want more than 1 ticket, please select a different time.

Under 5s are free and do not require a ticket to gain entry to the event. All children aged 5+ need to buy an admission ticket.

For further details on how to get to the event, food and drink options and other event information, please visit www.friendsfest.co.uk

FriendsFest is returning to Bristol this summer - and tickets are selling out fast

The iconic tour will return to the Blaise Castle grounds this summer on Friday, July 16

• 13:14, 10 JUN 2021

Fans of the hit TV show Friends will be thrilled to know that the award-winning FriendsFest from Comedy Central is coming back to the UK this year for its longest tour ever.

For an epic 55 days and in collaboration with The Luna Cinema, the extravaganza will take over venues across the country including in London, Manchester and Milton Keyes.

For a limited time only, the tour will be coming to Bristol's Blaise Castle grounds from Friday, July 16, 2021, until Sunday, July 25, 2021 - promising a fun-filled and memorable day for visitors of all ages.

What better way to spend the summer than by immersing yourself in the world made famous by Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross with your nearest and dearest?

Fans will be able to see the renowned studio sets from the TV show in person, including Monica’s apartment, Ross' apartment and Joey and Chandler’s apartment complete with corridor. They can also recreate iconic scenes from the sitcom such as 'PIVOT!' and ‘Could I BE wearing any more clothes’ during unique photo opportunities and GIF booths.

There will also be a variety of other activities for visitors to enjoy, including interactive quizzes where you can test your knowledge from all 10 seasons of the show, a gift shop selling exclusive Friends merchandise, and regular showings of all your favourite episodes on the big screen.

If fans are feeling peckish they'll have the chance to dig into all sorts of delicious themed food throughout the experience, including from Joe's Pizza stand, Phoebe's vegetarian and vegan buffay, and even pick up a coffee or two from the well-known Central Perk cafe.

The tour will be running in line with government guidelines with strict Covid-19 safety measures in operation.

Places are already selling out quickly, tickets start from £26.50 plus a booking fee for admission and guests are recommended to buy theirs as soon as they can to avoid disappointment.

To buy tickets for FriendsFest at Blaise Castle between Friday, July 16 - Sunday, July 25, visit the website here.

What can fans expect from the tour?

This year's highly anticipated FriendsFest in Bristol will take place on the stunning open-air venue of Blaise Castle Estate - the grade II registered building boasts 650 acres of beautiful countryside and will be a fantastic backdrop for the event.

When booking their festival tickets, guests will be prompted to select a 'set tour' slot for touring the Friends' apartment sets which will last for approximately half an hour.

However, the rest of the site will be a free-flowing event where guests can pick and choose which activities they want to participate in.

So whether you want to re-create the sitcom's legendary opening title, walk on your own Friends red carpet, or relax in the seating area while enjoying some mouth-watering food and re-living your favourite Friends moments on the big screen - the choice is yours!

On-site vendors will be serving a range of tasty treats each day of the tour.

This will include baked to perfection pepperoni, BBQ chicken and veggie pizza at Joey's Pizza stand, appetizing katsu curry, burgers and fries at Phoebe's vegetarian and vegan buffay, plus a variety of hot drinks, hotdogs and doughnuts at Central Perk cafe.

Gluten-free options will also be available.

Of course, taking lots of pictures of memorable moments during the tour will be an important part of FriendsFest for everyone, so the event organisers have invested in installing a completely contact-free and socially distanced photo solution this year.

All ticket holders will be contacted to set up their own photo account before attending FriendsFest.

All they have to do is enjoy posing around the set during the day and all of the attending party's pictures will automatically be uploaded onto their private dashboard, ready for posting on social media afterwards.

Katie Harding, campaign manager for The Luna Cinema says: "We're delighted that FriendsFest is back in Bristol for 2021 and we've got lots going on this year.

"As well as touring the filming sets, visitors will be able to take part in lots of other opportunities such as pose for pictures in the Friends photo frame, re-create the New Year's eve dance that the Gellers did, and interact with live QnA games being hosted on stage."

How event organisers are keeping guests safe

FriendsFest 2021 has been organised with visitor health and safety in mind - the event will be running in line with England's current state of unlocking which commenced on Monday, May 17 this year and further restrictions may be eased depending on future government advice.

FriendsFest 2021 will be operating as a predominantly outdoor event, with regular disinfecting of all surfaces by staff and hand-sanitisation stations available throughout the site.

During the event's indoor experiences, the rule of six will apply and visitors will be expected to wear masks and maintain social distancing. All set tours and marquees will also be fully ventilated.

Although there will be lots of friendly staff around during the event to answer any questions, there will be contact-free photo opportunities on-site so there's no need to hand your phone or camera over to anyone else to get a memorable snap.

FriendsFest will only be offering pre-booked tickets and the on-site shop will be accepting card payments only.

• In the News
• Things to do in Bristol
• Partner Stories
• Most Recent

'FriendsFest' Returns: Here's How To Get Tickets For The Six Week UK Tour

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost UK

Get excited, ' Friends ' fans - Comedy Central have announced the return of 'FriendsFest', and this time it is touring the UK.

The exhibition of sets and props from the comedy series proved to be a massive hit when it was held in London last year , and now organisers have confirmed it will travel to six new destinations over the summer.

Fans will have the chance to chill out in a replica of Monica's apartment, grab a coffee in Central Perk, or have some food at Monica's Moondance Diner, but there will also be some new additions when the exhibit returns.

A replica of Joey and Chandler's apartment will also be added, as will one of the Las Vegas Chapel of Love, where Ross and Rachel drunkenly married at the end of season five.

The six-week tour will run from 24 August through to 1 October, but if you want tickets, you're going to have to act fast.

You can register to be the first to try and get tickets by signing up here by midnight on Tuesday 28 June. You will then receive an email on Wednesday 29 June giving you access to an exclusive sale.

Tickets then go on general sale on Friday 1 July, with tickets priced at £24 each.

Be prepared, though, as last year's event sold out in just 13 minutes due to high demand.

Check out the full list of venues and dates for 'FriendsFest' below:

Haggerston Park, Hoxton, London: 24 - 29 August August

Chiswick House and Gardens, London: 1 - 4 September

Hylands House, Essex: 7 - 11 September

Harewood House, Yorkshire: 14 - 18 September

Knebworth House, Hertfordshire: 21 - 25 September

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire: 28 September to 1 October

Tap the image below to launch the slideshow...

11 Minor Friends Characters We Wish We'd Seen More Of

Before you go, more in entertainment.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Inside out 2, back to black, vue birmingham tickets, furiosa: a mad max saga, the fall guy, alton towers resort.

The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Birmingham

⭐ Immerse yourself in the world of FRIENDS™ like never before with interactive set recreations, like Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s apartment, and Central Perk. After tremendous success overseas, this unique experience makes its way to Birmingham until 3 September only!

🚨 Bring your lobster to The FRIENDS™ Experience. Buy one ticket and get the second 50% off using code LASTCALLBHX at checkout! Don’t miss out!  🚨

Tickets for The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Birmingham

🎫 General Admission - includes full access to the experience at the date and time selected

• General Admission
• Friends Ticket (min. 10 people)

🎫 Admission Plus - includes access to the experience and...

• Arrive at the experience at any time during the day on your chosen date
• Dedicated arrival desk and team member
• Skip the queue to enter the experience
• Lanyard and card
• Skip the queue at Monica’s door and Pat the Dog photo ops
• 10% off at the onsite FRIENDS™ Retail Store

🎫 VIP Admission - includes access to the experience and...

• All of the Admission Plus benefits above
• FRIENDS™ Fan Pack
• Digital suite of photos
• An extra 10% off at the onsite FRIENDS™ Retail Store (20% total)

🎫 FRIENDS™ Fan Pack : The One in Birmingham - (experience ticket not included)

• 1 Magnet or keyring

Highlights 📺 Step into the iconic TV show like never before in an interactive experience 🛋️ Explore set recreations including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s apartment, and Central Perk! ⛲ Dance in front of the fountain 📸 Pose on the iconic orange couch and take many more photos

General Info 📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector 🕒 Opening hours:  - Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ⏳ Duration: approximately 1 hour 📍 Location: The NEC Hall 10. North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT 👤 Age requirement: all ages are welcome. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Guests under 16 should be accompanied by an adult ♿ Accessibility: this experience is accessible to wheelchair users and those who are neurodivergent ❓ Please consult the FAQs of this experience here 🎁 Treat your friends and family to a gift card for this experience here

Description The FRIENDS™ Experience is coming to Birmingham! Explore a variety of nostalgia-packed rooms including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s apartment, and Central Perk. You’ll even get to dance in front of the fountain! Buy your tickets now for The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Birmingham!

FRIENDS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

How to get there?

National Exhibition Centre

North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, B1 2EA

Sorry, JavaScript must be enabled to use this web app

Best film and TV studio tours to take in 2023: from Call the Midwife to James Bond

Can’t get enough of your favourite TV show? Not to worry. We’ve compiled a list of the best behind-the-scenes tours for any obsessed movie fan

• Olivia Garrett
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter
• Share on pinterest
• Share on reddit
• Email to a friend

Whether you’re a casual viewer or a full-blown Netflix binger, it’s natural to want to get more out of your favourite film or TV show. Most series leave us wanting more, and the best movies get us interested in how they were made. So, how do we cope with this feeling of longing once the credits roll?

Well, one way is to completely step into the world of your screen heroes and take a studio tour of where the show was filmed. From the renowned Warner Bros studio in north London to a local bus tour of a programme’s filming locations, there are plenty of ways to find out more about the actors in and the production of your favourite world.

Luckily, RadioTimes.com is here to show you all the best film and TV studio tours taking place across the UK, because what better place to come to than a site dedicated to TV? We’ve got you covered for everything from big-budget blockbusters to classic soap operas, with costs ranging from under £10 to over £150.

So, for a list of TV and film studio tours you might want to try in 2023, look no further.

For more top tours, take a look at the best London bus tours and great upcoming Easter trails in our best Easter activities list.

More like this

Best film and tv studio tours to take in 2023, cheapest ways to travel across the uk, top places to stay in the uk, best studio tours to take in 2023 at a glance:.

• Iconic Notting Hill: Walking Exploration Game, £8.49
• Film & TV Location Tour at the Old Royal Naval College, £13.50
• Paddington Bear Walking Tour for Four, £59
• Doctor Who Walking Tour of London for Two, £30
• Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London for Two, £30
• Call the Midwife Tour at The Historic Dockyard Chatham for Two, £64
• Coronation Street: The Tour for Two, £70
• Emmerdale: The Village Tour for Two, £70
• Only Fools and Horses Bus Tour for Two, £70
• Liverpool Peaky Blinders Bus Tour for Two, £75
• James Bond Themed Bus Tour of London for Two, £75
• All Creatures Great and Small Locations Tour for Two, £154

Coronation Street: The Tour for Two

Step into the world of the UK’s longest-running soap opera with this walking tour of Coronation Street. Matched up with an expert guide, visitors will get an inside look at the best the Street has to offer. Highlights include a stroll past Roy’s Rolls Café, Webster’s Auto Centre and even the Rover’s Return.

Buy Coronation Street: The Tour for Two for £70 at Virgin Experience Days

For exciting things to do in London, take a look at the top London walking tours and best immersive experiences .

Emmerdale: The Village Tour for Two

After more than 50 years on screen, Emmerdale fans will be pleased to know that the village is open for visitors. During a 90-minute walking tour in Leeds, soap lovers will see where all the drama happens at this historic set. From a visit to The Woolpack to a look at David’s shop, this tour has everything.

Buy Emmerdale: The Village Tour for Two for £70 at Virgin Experience Days

Are you a thrill seeker? Then be sure to take a look at the best UK driving experiences and the best UK zombie experiences .

Call the Midwife Tour at The Historic Dockyard Chatham for Two

Doubling as the dingy streets of Poplar is the historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. With your very own midwife as a guide, visitors can explore the streets where the nuns of Nonnatus House go to work and learn a load of behind-the-scenes titbits from the beloved BBC drama.

Buy Call the Midwife Tour at The Historic Dockyard Chatham for Two for £64 at Virgin Experience Days

Paddington Bear Walking Tour for Four

According to VisitBritain.org and the British Film Institute , 29 per cent of Brits have said a film or TV location was the main reason for selecting a holiday destination - and with plenty of iconic locations on home soil too, there are lots of options to choose from.

If, like us, you're a fan of the Paddington Bear films, head on down to London this month to visit neighbourhoods and sites which feature in the film, plus make a visit to the Paddington statue and Paddington shop.

Buy Paddington Bear Walking Tour for Four for £59 at Activity Superstore

We love Paddington Bear on the RadioTimes.com team, and have included the Paddington Bear afternoon tea bus tour on our best Mother's Day experiences list.

Only Fools and Horses Bus Tour for Two

If you’re craving a behind-the-scenes look at one of Britain’s most-loved comedies, then head over to Bristol for the Only Fools and Horses tour. The coach will take you to filming spots from over 10 episodes of the sitcom, including a look a Nelson Mandela House, Sid’s Café and the road where Batman and Robin scared off those muggers.

Buy Only Fools and Horses Bus Tour for Two for £70 at Virgin Experience Days

Liverpool Peaky Blinders Bus Tour for Two

Sadly, Peaky Blinders is not filmed in Birmingham (we understand if you feel lied to), but that doesn’t mean that fans won’t love a day out in Liverpool visiting the show’s grittiest locations. Hop on a bus tour to see the homes of Polly and Field Marshal Russell, as well as Garrison Lane and much more. Plus, visitors will hear all about the real history of the Peaky Blinders gang from an expert guide.

Buy Liverpool Peaky Blinders Bus Tour for Two for £75 at Virgin Experience Days

If you like the look of Virgin Experience Days, be sure to check out how to buy a Virgin Experience Days gift card .

All Creatures Great and Small Locations Tour for Two

Fancy a more rural day out? Then step into the country life of James Herriot with a tour of the locations from All Creatures Great and Small. On this trip, you’ll meander through the Yorkshire Dales and visit the pubs, fields and churches that inspired the show. Highlights include a lunch at The Drovers Arms and even a visit to James’s veterinary practice.

Buy All Creatures Great and Small Locations Tour for Two for £154 at Virgin Experience Days

Doctor Who Walking Tour of London for Two

The average Doctor Who fanatic will know that most of Britain’s favourite sci-fi show is filmed in Wales, specifically Cardiff - but over the past few years, the TARDIS crew has often disappeared and re-materialised for a spot of shooting in London. Who could forget the iconic shot from the classic series of Daleks trundling along Westminster Bridge, or the time the Doctor met Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre? Well now you can visit these spots too with an expert tour guide to show exactly how and where they were filmed.

Buy Doctor Who Walking Tour of London for Two for £30 at Virgin Experience Days

For more exciting things to do in the Big Smoke, be sure to take a look at the best London theatre shows , top London comedy shows and Just For Laughs London tickets .

Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London for Two

Get clued up on this walking tour with an inside look at the great detective. This two-hour tour around London will cover the famous sites of some of Sherlock’s best brainwaves. From Jeremy Brett’s classic series to locations used by Robert Downey Jr and Benedict Cumberbatch, this day out promises to be an exciting puzzle - plus dress-up is encouraged.

Buy Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London for Two for £30 at Virgin Experience Days

If you're a fan of period dramas check out our guide to the best Downton Abbey tours across the UK.

James Bond Themed Bus Tour of London for Two

Fiction meets reality on this London tour as James Bond fans will be able to take a look into the world of actual British spies. Kicking off with a visit to the real MI6 building, this coach tour treats its guests to a look at locations from Goldeneye, The World is Not Enough, and Spectre.

Buy James Bond Themed Bus Tour of London for Two for £75 at Virgin Experience Days

Want to watch your favourite films on the big screen? Here's how to get cheap cinema tickets and the best luxury cinema experiences in London .

Iconic Notting Hill: Walking Exploration Game

If you fancy more than listening and picture-taking, try out this walking exploration game set in London’s iconic Notting Hill. The home of scenes from Paddington, Love Actually and, of course, Notting Hill, visitors can learn all about the neighbourhood’s star-studded history, all the while solving tricky riddles and cracking codes.

Buy Iconic Notting Hill: Walking Exploration Game for £8.49 at Fever

Film & TV Location Tour at the Old Royal Naval College

Movie buffs will have spotted this building in the likes of Les Misérables, Cruella, The Crown, Bridgerton and much more. In just one hour, you can explore one of the most popular filming locations in the world and walk the same paths as dozens of actors and production crews. Tickets include a look inside and outside the College, where you can enjoy the gorgeous views Greenwich has to offer.

Buy Film & TV Location Tour at the Old Royal Naval College for £13.50 at Fever

In our best list of film and TV studio tours, we've included tours from various places in the UK, such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Kent, because after all, great telly isn't limited to one city, it's UK-wide! If the tour isn't on your doorstep, however, you'll need to travel there. Driving isn't usually the best option — traffic jams are enough to ruin anyone's day, and petrol isn't exactly cheap — so we'd recommend taking public transport. Here are the best and cheapest ways to travel across the UK.

By coach. National Express and Megabus are two of the top coach companies in the UK, with their services operating between a multitude of UK cities. Travelling by coach is almost always cheaper than catching a train, however, it'll take you longer.

For example, if you travelled from Nottingham to Manchester (let's say you were visiting the Coronation Street tour) via National Express, a one-way journey would cost £14.40 and take five hours five minutes. However, using the exact same time and date but with a train, it would cost £29.60 and take two hours two minutes.

• Shop coach journeys at National Express
• Shop coach journeys at Megabus

By train. If time is of the essence, and it usually is with day trips, we recommend travelling by train. Although it's more expensive than taking a coach, there are ways to keep the cost down, for example, with a Railcard. A Railcard will save you 1/3 of the train fare and, on average, a Railcard user saves £140 per year. For more top tips on how to get cheap train tickets , take a look at our guide.

Buy a Railcard at Trainline

If you're travelling to a film or TV studio tour outside of your hometown, you might want to book an overnight stay. After all, it can be tiring to make the journey there and back in one day, plus, it gives you the opportunity to explore more of the city.

For the top places to stay in the UK on a budget, we recommend taking a look at deal of the day site, Wowcher. The site boasts deals on four star hotels UK-wide, many of them coming with offers on breakfast, evening meals, and even bubbly.

Shop hotel deals at Wowcher

Check out our Going Out section for more activities to get up to around the UK, such as the best UK candlelight concerts , best UK Harry Potter experiences and tours , and best Edinburgh ghost tours .

Subscribe to Radio Times

Try 10 issues for just £10!

Classic Car Insurance

Get quotes and save with one of the UK's leading independent insurance brokers specialising in classic cars cover.

Transform your later life

Unlock the cash tied up in your home to pay off debts or help your family, says Paul Lewis.

The best TV and entertainment news in your inbox

Sign up to receive our newsletter!

By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy . You can unsubscribe at any time.

How to Visit the “Friends Studio Tour” in LA with the Warner Bros Hollywood Tour

*FYI - this post may affiliate links, which means we earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For the full scoop on what this means, feel free to check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure.

Looking for a Friends studio tour or Friends set tour to do in LA? Read on for a guide on how to visit some of the most iconic and famous sets from Friends with one of the best studio tours in LA.

We here are GeekTrippers are obsessed with finding the best filming locations around the world, and as avid Friends fans, one of our biggest bucket list items has been visiting the Friends set in real life!

We got to fulfill this dream a few years ago in LA, and again recently with a return to the (newly improved) version of the tour that includes way more sets and fun photo opps, including the original Friends fountain.

For movie and TV lovers, Los Angeles offers several studio tours that bring you right into the action so you can personally witness where the magic of film and television come alive.

In this post, we’ll share with you how you can tour the Friends set in LA (sort of) and show you the wonders of the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Burbank.

IMPORTANT: If visiting the Friends set and Warner Bros Studio Tour is important to you, make SURE you book your tour in advance online . This attraction is wildly popular and we almost missed out on going because we procrastinated. There are very limited tickets available on-site, so buying in advance these days is 100% the way to go. Check ticket price and availability here.

How to Tour the Friends Set and Studio in LA

Unfortunately, there is no Friends Studio Tour in LA that will allow you to visit all your favourite Friends sets from the show (i.e. every apartment).

The closest thing to a Friends set tour where you can visit Monica and Rachel’s apartment set, along with Joey and Chandler’s apartment set, Ross’ apartment set and even the Central Perk set all in one go is the FRIENDS Experience , which doesn’t have any stops in Los Angeles.

When people talk about doing the Friends studio tour in LA though, what they are really talking about the Warner Bros Studio Hollywood Tour in Burbank, which is not a 100% Friends themed set tour, but rather a studio tour that takes you to various sets and backlots including ones seen in Friends.

If you love TV, this is a must-do experience, with wonderfully familiar sets from Friends, Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, and more.

As of 2021 though, there is WAY more to offer for Friends fans, including a full-on “Central Perk Café” and Friends boutique, where you can grab a coffee amidst recreated apartment sets.

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood: Details

The Warner Bros Studio Tour is located in Burbank and tickets start at $69 per person.

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours total (1 hour guided, 2 hours self guided), and is capped at 12 people per tour to ensure a more personal experience.

Be sure to book your tour  online in advance, as time slots can get filled quickly.

We opted for the cost-effective Studio Tour (as opposed to the pricier Deluxe tour), and it was more than enough for us! 

Tours are offered from 8:15am-4:00pm Monday-Friday.

Our Experience Touring the Friends Studio/Set at the Warner Bros Hollywood Studio Tour

Warning: spoilers ahead! I’ll be going into detail about where they brought us and what we saw on the tour, so you better look away if you’re a fan of surprises! The photos and experience below are from our most recent in visit in 2022.

1. Getting to the Warner Brothers Studio Lot

The address for the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Hollywood is 3400 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505.

This is the address you would put into a rideshare app or taxi, but there is also covered parking available here at the Tour Center for $15 per vehicle.

2. The Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Welcome Center

Here, you’ll find a full-service Starbucks where you can grab a drink by the Tri-Wizard Cup from Harry Potter, as well as the Warner Bros. Studio Store, which is filled with amazing merch from across fandoms.

The tour will bring you back into the store at the end, so don’t worry about buying all your souvenirs now. It’s highly recommended you buy your ticket online because day-of tickets are highly limited, and the experience is just way smoother if you have your tickets already.

3. Warner Bros Storytelling Showcase

After you show your tickets, your tour begins with a storytelling showcase that explores the century-long history of Warner Bros through old photos and displays.

While this is a more general showcase area, there are some fun props for Friends fans, like one of Phoebe’s guitars:

4. The Warner Bros Hollywood Studio Tour Pre-Show 

After you go through the Storytelling showcase, you are brought into a nice waiting area that has decorated with international posters from famous Warner Bros movies.

From here, you are brought into a theatre for a pre-show introduction to Warner Bros, featuring clips from the myriad of films and shows that they have produced.

This little film does an awesome job of pumping you up for the tour! After this, you will meet your tour guide and will then be sent on your way.

5. Warner Bros Backlot Tour

After the intro film, you are loaded onto the giant golf carts and sent off to explore some backlots. Since the studio is a working one, which specific backlots you see will depend on what is currently in use for filming.

The tour guides here are really knowledgable and fun, and tend to start the tour by asking which Warner Bros movies/shows you like.

Don’t be shy here, because they will tailor the tour based on your interests, so if your goal is to see as many Friends filming locations as possible, they will help point them out!

As well as Midwest Street, which is supposedly one of the most used sets in Hollywood.

Most notably, it has appeared as Star’s Hollow from Gilmore Girls, and Rosewood from Pretty Little Liars. While here, we got off the carts to explore a bit on foot, taking time for lots of photos at the Star’s Hollow gazebo:

We then stopped off to see the interior of a house set, which happened to be the house where Monica and Rachel’s  prom video  was shot. Can’t you picture sad Ross on those stairs?!

We also went past Stage 24, which is the Friends stage. Unfortunately, it was in use, so not open to visitors!

Stage 48: Script to Screen

After the backlot tour, you will be brought to Stage 48, which is home to an exciting museum-esque display of sets, costumes, and props, arranged in a sort of way that mimics the production process, from initial scriptwriting all the way to special effects at the end.

The best part is that this stage is super interactive, with plenty of staff photographers scattered around to help you get the perfect photo.

You’ll find the real Central Perk set here, which is so much smaller in real life than it looks on TV.

There were also a few sets from the Big Bang Theory.

And a really fun interactive area where you can see some special effects at work.

Central Perk Café and Friends Boutique

At the end of the Stage 48 experience, you are brought to the new Central Perk Café and Friends Boutique.

If your main goal for doing the tour is seeing sets from Friends in real life, then THIS is your place to shine.

There’s of course the cafe itself, which serves a variety of coffee/deli treats, some of which are named after the Friends themselves, or based on the show (e.g. Rachel’s English Trifle, luckily without any meat).

We’d advise 1000% to get your coffee for here, rather than to go, because you have your pick at fun places to sip and marvel at the MANY Friends easter eggs scattered around the cafe/boutique.

You can sit and have a drink at “Central Perk”:

Grab a seat at Monica & Rachel’s kitchen table or sofa:

Or enjoy some chill time on one of Joey and Chandler’s BarcaLoungers, before spending your life savings around the gift shop, where every single item is Friends themed. We couldn’t resist going home with a Central Perk mug. It just had to be done.

Action and Magic Made Here

After you’ve spent all your money, you step outside and take a short golf cart shuttle over to the final part of the tour, which is called “Action and Magic Made Here”.

During our visit, this part of the tour was clearly divided into two sections: the world of DC and the world of Harry Potter.

The DC section had lots of cool costumes and props from the more recent DC movies, including old Batmobiles and outfits from the Justice League & Suicide Squad.

The Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts section had a few different rooms, including a Potions classroom, Herbology classroom, and the interior of Newt’s briefcase.

This part of the tour concludes with a display of the awards Warner Bros has won, and you get to take a photo with your own real life Oscar if you so wish!

Warner Bros. Studio Store

The final stop was of course the gift shop, where you could find a variety of fun souvenirs from across fandoms.

If you’re not sick of photos just yet, there are also some unique costumes on display! During our visit, we got to see some more costumes from the DC Universe, like suits from Grant Gustin’s Flash and Stephen Amell’s Arrow.

How to Visit the Friends Set in Real Life

So, to recap, if your goal is to explore the sets from Friends in real life, you either have to wait for a travelling exhibition like FriendsFest, or you should go to LA and book the Warner Bros Hollywood Studio Tour so you can see the Central Perk set, Friends fountain, and other recreated sets at the Central Perk Café and Friends Boutique.

We hope you enjoyed this guide to doing a Friends set tour. Let us know in the comments if you have any more questions!

GeekTrippers Team

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

<< Previous page

Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

Shopping Cart Items: 0 Cart Total: 0,00 € place your order

Price pdf version

student - 2,75 € individual - 3,00 € institutional - 7,00 €

Copyright В© 1999-2022. Stratum Publishing House

London International Friends

Weekend city breaks

Overnight weekend tours, fully guided small group day trips - maximum 16 people per tour.

MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION CENTER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.