BBC sound effects 1940–86

In 2018, the BBC made freely available for non-commercial use around 16,000 of its sound effects recordings. A few hundred come from known locations around the UK, and most of those have been presented here in a sound map. All recordings © BBC.

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LONDON

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London Central Mosque 2 4:53

BBC DESCRIPTION: London Central Mosque, Regents Park, call to prayer (long version) for weekly midday Friday prayers, recorded outside in mosque forecourt, some traffic noise.

Lincoln's Inn clock 0:36

BBC DESCRIPTION: Lincoln's Inn clock striking twelve o'clock.

Inside Big Ben 1:25

BBC DESCRIPTION: Sound of Big Ben chiming and striking 12 o'clock, recorded prior to repair in 1956. Inside clock tower.

Lloyds of London Lutine bell 0:06

BBC DESCRIPTION: Lloyds of London, Lutine bell rung once (for a total wreck). Poss 1984?

London Stock Exchange 3:58

BBC DESCRIPTION: Atmosphere on floor of London Stock Exchange during trading, June 1969.

London Futures Exchange 2:01

BBC DESCRIPTION: London International Financial Futures Exchange. Rec.1985.

London Metal Exchange 2:02

BBC DESCRIPTION: London Metal Exchange. Rec. 1985.

London Sugar Futures Market 1:53

BBC DESCRIPTION: London Sugar Futures Market. Rec. 1985.

City dealing room 6:20

BBC DESCRIPTION: City dealing room, large crowded electronic office.

Times newspaper newsroom 3:56

BBC DESCRIPTION: National newspaper newsroom atmosphere, with voices, typewriters and telephones. Recorded at The Times.

Times newspaper teleprinter room 2:03

BBC DESCRIPTION: Teleprinter room atmosphere, with telex machines, tearing of paper, distant typewriters and telephones. Recorded at The Times.