For me personally, Battersea Power Station is one of the most interesting attractions in London.

This monumental former power station now forms the centrepiece of a new neighbourhood on the banks of the Thames. Inside, you’ll find shops and restaurants, whilst the surrounding area features a pedestrian zone, a park and modern buildings; one of the chimneys is home to the unique observation lift, The Chimney Lift.

If you’re visiting London for the first time and only staying for two or three days, Battersea is probably not a higher priority than the main sights in the city centre.

However, I would definitely recommend it to lovers of industrial architecture, brownfield regeneration and unusual attractions.

I’d long put off visiting Battersea because of its location, saving it for another time. This time, we made it one of the main highlights of our itinerary and we didn’t regret it.

Accommodation tip:The luxurious and iconicart’otel London Battersea PowerStation is situated right in the new neighbourhood and features a rooftop pool. We compare other, more affordable options in the ‘Accommodation in London’ section.

• Entry to the power station, the shopping centre and the outdoor areas is free.
• Allow around 1 to 2 hours to explore the building and the surrounding area.
• The full Chimney Lift experience lasts about 45 minutes and is a paid attraction.
• The most scenic way to get there is by Uber Boat; the quickest way back to the city centre is by the Underground.

What is Battersea Power Station?

Battersea Power Station was a coal-fired power station that operated from 1933 to 1983. At the height of its output, it supplied up to a fifth of the electricity consumed in London.

The four white chimneys and the imposing brick building gradually became one of the city’s landmarks.

After it closed, the site fell into disrepair for decades and several plans for its redevelopment failed. The power station reopened to the public in 2022 as the centre of a new neighbourhood featuring flats, offices, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities.

What we particularly like about such places is the blend of original industrial architecture with the modern city. Here, the transformation has been carried out with great taste. Today, the power station functions as a shopping centre, but thanks to the preserved turbine halls and the building’s enormous dimensions, it certainly does not feel like an ordinary shopping centre.

Music fans will also recognise the building. Battersea Power Station, complete with its flying inflatable pig, featured on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album *Animals*.

What you can see for free

You can walk through the entire public area of the power station and its surroundings without a ticket.

• Turbine Hall A has retained its Art Deco features from the 1930s.
• Turbine Hall B has a more recent and austere industrial look from the 1950s.
• Electric Boulevard is a modern pedestrian street between the Underground station and the power station.
• Power Station Park and the promenade along the Thames offer places to relax as well as the best close-up views of the building.

Even if you’re not interested in shopping or the paid lift, a visit is well worth it for the architecture alone and a stroll along the riverfront.

The Chimney Lift, also known as Lift 109

The Chimney Lift, formerly known as Lift 109, is the main reason for us to head to Battersea.

The glass-walled lift travels through the north-west chimney and takes you up to a height of 109 metres above ground level.

The visit begins in Turbine Hall A with a short interactive exhibition on the history and construction of the power station. This is followed by a film, and only then do you step into the circular lift cabin.

The cabin rises above the top of the chimney, offering a 360° view.

During our visit, it remained at the top for approximately 15 minutes. You do not step out of the cabin, so it is not a traditional viewing platform where you can stay for as long as you like.

The view is particularly unique thanks to the sight of the power station itself, its other chimneys, the Thames and the new district.

Battersea is further away from the historic centre, so you’ll only see Big Ben, the City and other famous landmarks in the distance. If you’re primarily looking for the best views of London’s landmarks, choose a different viewing point.

If you’re looking for an unusual experience, The Chimney Lift is well worth a visit.

Admission and bookings

Standard ticket prices for adults start from when purchased online at 16 gbp, and for children at 12 gbp.

Prices vary depending on the date and availability.

However, you can always buy the most expensive ticket at 24 gbp for any date.

I’d definitely recommend comparing ticket prices on the official website and on GetYourGuide, where tickets may be cheaper for certain dates.

• 👉thechimneylift.co.uk
• 👉 getyourguide.com

We recommend booking in advance, as online tickets are cheaper and you can choose a specific time slot. It was the only London attraction that we managed to book in advance despite our last-minute planning, and there were still quite a few time slots available. However, don’t count on this at weekends or during the holidays.

The whole experience, including the exhibition and the lift ride, takes about 45 minutes.

The best spots for taking photos of Battersea Power Station

• Chelsea Bridge – the best classic view of the whole power station, the four chimneys and the Thames.
• Power Station Park and the riverfront – a good spot for detailed photos of the brick façade and chimneys.
• Uber Boat – as the boat moves, the angle of view changes, allowing you to photograph the power station directly from the river.
• The Chimney Lift – the most interesting view from above of the power station’s roof and the remaining three chimneys.

We consider late afternoon and early evening to be the best times for photography, when both the interior and the surrounding neighbourhood are lit up. If you want to photograph the city from a lift, choose a time before sunset and be prepared for reflections on the glass.

Uber Boat: the most scenic way to Battersea

We recommend combining your visit with a cruise along the Thames on a regular Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service. It’s not a guided sightseeing tour, but a regular ferry service, so you’ll get both a practical journey and a long scenic cruise through London.

We travelled from the Tate Modern through the city centre to Battersea Power Station Pier.

From the boat, we gradually saw central London from a different perspective, and arriving right beneath the four chimneys was a brilliant way to end the cruise.

We reckon the best option is to take the boat to Battersea and return by the Underground. You’ll save time without missing out on the experience of the boat trip. Uber Boat has its own fares; you can find details on payments and prices in the ‘Transport in London’ section.

How to get to Battersea Power Station

The site isn’t located near the main historical landmarks, but thanks to the Underground, it’s now quite easy to reach.

• Underground: Battersea Power Station station, Northern line, Zone 1. From the station, it’s about a 5-minute walk to the power station along Electric Boulevard.
• By boat: Battersea Power Station Pier is situated right next to the power station. The journey from Blackfriars takes approximately 20 minutes.
• Bus: routes 44, 137 and 211 stop at Chelsea Bridge. Routes 156, 211, 344 and 436 stop at the south entrance on Battersea Park Road.
• Train: from Battersea Park station, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the power station.

Details on the Underground, daily travel limits and contactless payment are set out in our separate guide to the London Underground.

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