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Back in the day, when you could also blag a jump seat ride in the cockpit, nuclear plants used to do tours. Had a fascinating afternoon once in the Wylfa plant

Back in the day, when you could also blag a jump seat ride in the cockpit, nuclear plants used to do tours. Had a fascinating afternoon once in the Wylfa plant in Anglesey that included walking over the top and seeing the refuelling gear.

azza2110 2y ago
You can still visit Sizewell B, the plant in the article. I visited last year. Two very knowledgeable guides led our group of 4 on a 3-4 hour tour of the facility, including the turbine hall. https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/sizewell-b#visitorcentre https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/sizewell-b#v...
- littlestymaar 2y ago
  In France too, and they have an efficient way of solving the “what if there are terrorists among the visitors” problem: the groups are escorted by armed members of the French special forces (there's an on-site platoon of them on every nuclear site to act as a rapid reaction force).
- timthorn 2y ago
  I did too. I also visited Hinckley Point as a teenager, but for that we could just turn up whereas for last year's trip we had to book well in advance and submit ID information for vetting.
pm215 2y ago
I visited Sizewell A for a tour as a young teenager, though I don't remember much about it beyond walking over the top of the reactor, and getting an educational comic booklet about how nuclear power worked. I think this was when they were going through the planning process to build Sizewell B, so they were probably in a "community outreach and PR" phase. You can see both from a way along the coast; personally I think they add to the landscape rather than detract. The sea is also apparently noticeably warmer in the immediate vicinity due to the cooling outflow.
- RHSman2 2y ago
  I used to swim near it. It is indeed warmer and I have had no issues (other than my natural personality )
GJim 2y ago
Meh Sellafield visitors centre was open until 2008 and only closed because of falling popularity and visitor numbers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield#Sellafield_Visitor_Centre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield#Sellafield_Visitor_... (Yes that Sellafield)

azza2110 2y ago

You can still visit Sizewell B, the plant in the article. I visited last year. Two very knowledgeable guides led our group of 4 on a 3-4 hour tour of the facility, including the turbine hall. https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/sizewell-b#visitorcentre https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/sizewell-b#v...

littlestymaar 2y ago
In France too, and they have an efficient way of solving the “what if there are terrorists among the visitors” problem: the groups are escorted by armed members of the French special forces (there's an on-site platoon of them on every nuclear site to act as a rapid reaction force).
timthorn 2y ago
I did too. I also visited Hinckley Point as a teenager, but for that we could just turn up whereas for last year's trip we had to book well in advance and submit ID information for vetting.

pm215 2y ago

I visited Sizewell A for a tour as a young teenager, though I don't remember much about it beyond walking over the top of the reactor, and getting an educational comic booklet about how nuclear power worked. I think this was when they were going through the planning process to build Sizewell B, so they were probably in a "community outreach and PR" phase. You can see both from a way along the coast; personally I think they add to the landscape rather than detract. The sea is also apparently noticeably warmer in the immediate vicinity due to the cooling outflow.

RHSman2 2y ago
I used to swim near it. It is indeed warmer and I have had no issues (other than my natural personality )

GJim 2y ago

Meh Sellafield visitors centre was open until 2008 and only closed because of falling popularity and visitor numbers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield#Sellafield_Visitor_Centre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield#Sellafield_Visitor_... (Yes that Sellafield)