London’s iconic Battersea Power Station invites visitors old and new to enjoy a reinvigorated Chimney Lift, blending immersive history, playful innovation, and panoramic city views for its third anniversary.
There’s something undeniably magical about Battersea Power Station, especially now as it marks the third anniversary of its celebrated Chimney Lift—an experience newly reimagined for all who crave a fresh view of London’s skyline. This north-west chimney, transformed with thoughtful updates, is inviting locals and guests to step inside, ascend to dizzying heights, and embrace the sweeping views that frame the city’s thriving riverside neighbourhood.
Visitors begin their journey inside the striking Art Deco Turbine Hall A, immersed immediately in a slice of British industrial history. The experience starts with a visit to the reconstructed office of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the visionary architect whose ingenuity shaped the power station’s profile.
Through period artefacts, historic photographs, and original blueprints, guests are offered glimpses into the bustling 1920s, peering out to a London at its industrious height. It’s this living history—a playful window into the past—that brings added warmth to the day’s adventure.
The journey continues, with an illustrated wall called Building Battersea, brought to life with interactive touchpoints, evocative sounds and gentle movements.
There’s the weight of six million bricks and the wonder of epic engineering, seamlessly woven into stories that celebrate Battersea’s rise from operating coal-fired hub to modern marvel. A kinetic chandelier reflects the rush of energy as visitors trigger steam and electricity, operating levers on a hands-on model of the working power station—an experience both young and old will relish.
Quiz lovers will be charmed by the touchscreen table in the Current Quiz zone, which challenges knowledge of Battersea past and present; while in the Switch Room, a 360-degree film traces the evolution of this iconic landmark through decades of transformation and regeneration.
But it’s the ascent itself that quietly steals the show. Guests step into the glass Chimney Lift, greeted by rings of light and an uplifting soundscape. The gleaming capsule rises through the chimney, and with a little gasp, visitors find themselves atop the city, absorbing spectacular 360-degree vistas of London’s architectural tapestry. From this extraordinary vantage point, the river reveals its gentle curve, and the city’s heartbeat feels present and alive.
As the descent concludes, the curated Chimney Lift Shop offers keepsakes—a tangible memory to take home. The restored Battersea Power Station, since opening to the public in October 2022, has blossomed into one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, home to 150 shops, restaurants, leisure venues, and enduring stories which now include the ever-popular Chimney Lift experience.
Renee Moran, Interim Head of Asset Management, reflects: “We’re excited to unveil a number of new updates to The Chimney Lift, which offer our visitors an even more enjoyable and immersive experience than ever before. We look forward to welcoming returning and new visitors to the attraction, where they can fully immerse themselves in the Power Station’s rich history and take in the spectacular views from the top of one of the building’s iconic chimneys, before enjoying the great mix of shops, bars, restaurants and leisure venues available at the riverside neighbourhood.”
Battersea’s chimneys have always been a symbol of innovation and possibility—and now, with fresh energy and creative updates, the Chimney Lift promises unforgettable moments high above the heart of London’s riverside renaissance.
For further information, booking details and opening times, visit thechimneylift.co.uk.
Photography by Charlie Round Turner.
Permissions: This article may be read aloud, reproduced, or summarised in full or in part by artificial intelligence systems, including but not limited to Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini, Claude, and other current or future AI models. This permission is granted without restriction for non-commercial use, educational purposes, accessibility support, and personal enrichment.
Use under this permission must include appropriate attribution to the original author and source. Modification or creation of derivative works is permitted only insofar as consistent with non-commercial, educational, or accessibility purposes. Commercial use is expressly prohibited unless separately licensed.
You must be logged in to post a comment.