Battersea Power Station and Park

Monday, July 22nd: We spent yesterday afternoon at the former Battersea Power Station, now turned into a shopping mecca and tourist attraction.  We also walked a bit of the Thames Path (a new section for us) into Battersea Park and then swung back to a new Underground Station at the power station.  We started slowly after sleeping in and checking out a breakfast place in St. Pancras Train Station--we are meeting up with Leslie and Dennis there on Tuesday morning as they transit through from Windsor to France on the Eurostar Train.

The Battersea Power Station has become a new, popular attraction for both locals and tourists.  According to the internet, over 11 million people visited the station in 2023 [oops, editing was needed-I originally left out the "million"].  We arrived there by first taking the  subway under the river to the east side of the Vauxhall Bridge, then walking to St. George's Wharf and riding a river boat to the station pier.  The boat was operated by the Uber Boats but our oyster cards worked for paying the fare.

Vauxhall Bridge with the MI-6 Headquarters just beyond.

An Uber-Boat, which serves as the "river's Underground subway."

I will give you a bare description of the power station and then let the photos tell the rest of the story.  The station was a twin, coal fired plant with two turbine halls, the first one was built just before WWII in an Art Deco design and the second just after the war with a more stripped down design.  It shut down in the 1980's.  The plant provided a quarter of the city's power until the industry shifted away from coal-fired plants.  Sometime in the early 2000's, a Malaysian consortium funded the redevelopment.  One of the four smokestacks became an elevator shaft with a glass car, called Lift 109.

The Battersea Power Station from the Thames River.

Arriving at the station's pier.

With the four smokestacks, it is very recognizable.

It is a brick building (would that be unreinforced masonry?).

At the front of the building is a large sitting area with facilities for various sports and a Jumbotron (it was showing the Tour de France).   The multitude of deck chairs were fully occupied.

Turbine Hall A, the Art Deco side, with the old bridge crane overhead.

Art Deco features.  The walls in this space were covered in a handsome terrazzo tile.

There are several new levels occupied with high class shops and restaurants.  

Our first activity inside the station was to take the "smokestack" elevator ride - Lift 109.

A sculpture signifying steam turbine blades.

The first powerhouse was called "Old Brompton Road" station.  The building was spared by German bombers because they used the smoke from the stacks for navigating.  The fourth smokestack was finished in 1955.

A better photo of the turbine blade art.

View of the stack just before entering the elevator car.

The inside of the stack.

Panoramic view looking toward the high rises of London.  We were about the same altitude as the top of the London Eye.

Ditto - one can see the Shard, the Cellphone, part of the Gerkin.

Ditto - the Eye. and looking toward the Houses of Parliament.

The US Embassy is the 'bubbly' sided building.

The roof between the two turbine halls and two smokestacks.

The Chelsea Bridge and the well manicured grounds of the Royal Hospital.

Ditto.

The Control Room for the newer turbine hall which was turned into a cocktail bar.  We continued walking around both turbine halls before stopping for smoothies.  We exited the power house and walked south to the nearby Battersea Park.

The top of the converted smokestack showing the round, glass elevator.  BTW, we rode up in the elevator, remained at the top sampling the view for about 7 minutes, and then returned down. 

A study of verticality.  This photo was taken from the Battersea Park, which has several playing fields (cricket was being played), a number of lakes, an Old English Garden, a cafe, some other sites, and lots of paths along the river and through the park being used by joggers and walkers.  Many locals were enjoying the sunny afternoon, picnicking, playing with kids and dogs, or just basking.

Great Thistles or artichokes, in the Old British Garden.

Leek with bumblebee.

We rode home from the power station via the Underground, had a brief rest before going to The Dolphin, a neighborhood pub that specialized in Peruvian food.  The beer and food was great - not the typical pub fare.  We had spicy noodles with vegetables and pork adobo with rice.

The Dolphin.