Battersea Power Station
David Samuel, User:Hellodavey1902, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About this Site
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station (Units A & B, online 1935–1983), notable for its Art Deco interior designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and four chimneys. It was the world’s largest brick building and essential to London’s mid-20th-century electricity supply. After decades of decline, it was restored and reopened in 2022 as a mixed-use complex, preserving heritage structures such as Control Rooms A & B and the turbine halls, which now host tours. The renovation features modern structural reinforcement, adaptive reuse for commerce and residences, and integration of cultural and community spaces—presenting a model of industrial conservation.
Visitor Information
Official guided tours are held Mondays (approx. 75 min) and include access to restored Control Room A and the general turbine hall; tours involve walking and standing and are accessible. Self-guided Control Room B audio tours run from Sunday to Friday and last around 30 minutes, with optional champagne. Prices are £12 (tour only) or £23 (with glass). Visitors must be aged 16+, dressed appropriately, and tours are fully accessible with facilities available – https://www.controlroomb.com/event/audio-guided-tour-for-two/
Open City occasionally run walking tours of the Vauxhall, Battersea and Nine Elms area – https://open-city.org.uk/events/elms-25
Key Info
Type:Power Plant
Visitability:Visitable
Address:Battersea Power Station, London SW11 8BW, UK
Website:Visit
Map
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David Samuel, User:Hellodavey1902, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station, once the world’s largest brick building, supplied mid‑20th‑century London with electricity. Its Art Deco interiors and four chimneys remain central to the 2022 redevelopment into a mixed‑use complex. Guided tours explore restored Control Rooms and turbine halls, offering a striking example of industrial heritage conservation.