Battersea Power Station

★ 4.6 (31,145)Free

Battersea Power Station's four white chimneys have loomed over the Thames since the 1930s, decades spent disused after the plant closed in 1983 before a major redevelopment reopened it in 2022 as shops, restaurants and homes, with the original Control Room turbine halls preserved as dramatic event and dining spaces. Reviewers with a 4.6 rating repeatedly describe the transformation as impressively done, praising both the industrial character retained inside and the wider Nine Elms riverside area that's grown up around it. Its free entry and 75-minute suggested visit make it easy to browse casually, and it suits anyone curious about adaptive reuse or looking for a newer, less crowded alternative to the central London circuit.

✨ Reasons to go

1Its four white chimneys have been a Thames landmark since the 1930s, closed as a power plant in 1983 and left disused for decades before reopening in 2022.
2Lift 109 takes visitors up inside one of the original chimneys via a glass elevator to a viewing platform over London.
3The original turbine halls and Control Room have been preserved and repurposed as event and dining spaces, and the site has its own dedicated Northern line tube extension stop.

💡 Good to know

1Take the lift or the glass Lift 109 to a viewing platform inside one of the original chimneys for a different vantage point on the city
2go in the early_evening to catch shops, riverside bars and the building lit up as dusk falls
3the power station has its own Northern line tube extension stop, making it an easy standalone trip.

⏱️ Typical visit

1h15

🕰️ Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening or evening

🚶 Walking intensity

Moderate walking

📍

Address

Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD, UK · Nine ElmsGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"I was genuinely impressed by how Battersea Power Station has been transformed from a historic industrial landmark into such a vibrant and useful destination. The redevelopment has been done beautifully, preserving the character of the building while creating a fantastic space filled with shops, restaurants, and public areas to enjoy. The Lift 109 experience offers great views and is worth doing, but visitors should be aware that there isn’t any walking around at the top. The elevator takes everyone up, you spend around 10 minutes enjoying the panoramic views, and then return back down. It’s still an interesting experience, but it may be different from what some people expect. Overall, a remarkable example of how a historic building can be given a new life. Definitely worth visiting whether you’re interested in architecture, history, shopping, or simply exploring one of London’s most impressive redevelopments."

— Ferhat Yildiz

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