Battersea Power Station is the most ambitious building revival in modern London: a colossal 1930s coal-fired power station, its four white chimneys a fixture of the skyline for generations, reopened in 2022 after a long restoration as a riverside destination of shops, restaurants, offices and homes. Once derelict and famously pictured on a Pink Floyd album cover, it now draws millions a year to its vast turbine halls and landscaped river frontage.
Why visit Battersea Power Station
The appeal is the building itself. The Grade II* listed brick cathedral of industry has been opened up so visitors can walk through its two restored turbine halls, one a sleek 2020s atrium, the other preserving original Art Deco detailing. Even without spending a penny it is one of the capital's great free-to-enter interiors, and the river terrace is a fine place to take in the view.
What to see and do
The headline experience is Lift 109, a glass lift that rises 109 metres up the north-west chimney for a 360-degree panorama across London. Below, more than 100 shops and a wide spread of restaurants fill the halls, with a cinema, regular events and seasonal installations. The surrounding Electric Boulevard and riverside park reward an unhurried wander.
Visiting tips
Entry to the building and shops is free; Lift 109 is ticketed, and booking ahead is wise at weekends. The quickest arrival is the Northern line extension to Battersea Power Station station, or the river bus to Battersea Power Station Pier. Pair it with a walk along the Thames or nearby Battersea Park.
