BedZED Tours

Overview

For those who would like a more in-depth introduction to BedZED, we offer guided tours, led by a member of staff from BioRegional – BedZED’s co-developers and sustainability consultants.

Our tours are aimed at industry professionals and students - minimum age 18. To avoid disruption to local residents we are no longer able to offer tours to school groups.

Please note there is a maximum group size of 17 people.

Tour length: 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on the number of questions).

When: Tours are normally held on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. The tour booking page shows all available tours. Due to staff availability we are not able to offer tours on any dates or times apart from those shown.

PLEASE NOTE: We have introduced a number of changes to the tour programme for 2012 in response to funding and staffing changes. Click here for more information.

Each tour includes time spent walking around the BedZED site, visiting the show home and viewing the exhibition centre. We look at the green lifestyles strategies; how we have reduced the ecological footprint of waste, transport emissions and food. We also look at the strategies for reducing energy and water consumption, generating energy on site, and collecting and recycling water.

Cost: £25 per person, or £20 for students and charity employees.  The cost of the tour also includes a BedZED guide and light refreshments. All bookings should be made online, using the link below.

A presentation by a senior architect from ZEDfactory can be arranged for an additional £330 per group. Please contact us for more information on 020 8404 4880.

If you aren't fluent in English, please contact us to discuss translation, whether amongst friends/colleagues or with a professional translator.

Feedback

"…we found the tour very interesting and I shall be recommending a visit to my teaching colleagues…"
Lecturer, Cambridge University

"…the residents association and myself found the whole day very interesting and worthwhile…"
Manchester-based regeneration company

"…our Board Members had an excellent time and found the tour fascinating… I will be recommending the tour to others in the housing world…"
London-based housing association

Changes for 2012

We are making a number of changes to the BedZED tour programme for 2012, in response to reduced levels of funding and staffing. In summary, the changes are:

1. Tours can only be taken by over 18s.
2. There is a maximum of 17 people on a tour.
3. There are two tours each week - one tour will be available on a Wednesday at 14:20 and one on a Thursday at 14:20.
4. The tour will be cancelled (with advance notice) if less than 10 people book places.
5. All tours must be booked online, with payment in advance.

Why are we introducing these changes?

Unfortunately BioRegional is no longer able to offer BedZED tours to under 18s or to groups larger than 17 people. 

External funding that enabled us to run the BedZED tour programme as an educational resource came to an end in 2009. We have subsidised the tour programme from our charitable funds for the last three years, but in the current economic climate this is no longer sustainable. We are no longer able to employ a dedicated Tour Manager, and so we do not now have the staff capacity to deliver tours to large groups, or any staff experienced in delivering tours to under 18s.  Reduced staff capacity also means that we now require all tours to be booked online and paid for in advance.

In addition, our ability to offer tours depends on the goodwill of local residents. To minimise the impact of our tour programme we have agreed with local residents to introduce a voluntary limit on the capacity and frequency of tours. Currently our limit is two tours each week, with a maximum of 17 persons on each tour.

We appreciate that this is a disappointment to groups who had hoped to visit BedZED, including some organisations that have been able to visit in previous years. However, we are developing a resource pack for schools and other groups, comprising a 25 minute film on DVD, a BedZED visitor guide and a CD containing electronic copies of BioRegional's three BedZED research publications. We would be very happy to send you the resource pack for a nominal £10 charge to cover production and postage costs. Please call 020 8404 4880 to register your interest.