the pink floyd power station, reborn
The cathedral of brick and its four white chimneys, now restored as a riverside destination free to walk into and around.
Free to visit · Battersea · Battersea Power Station · SW11 8DD
Opening: Public areas daily · shops own hours
For decades Battersea Power Station stood as a magnificent brick ruin, its four white chimneys familiar from the cover of a Pink Floyd album and countless films. After years of decay it has been restored and reopened, and while the chimney lift charges, simply walking into the building and around the riverside grounds is free.
Inside, the vast old turbine halls have been kept as soaring brick-and-steel spaces lined with shops, and you can wander them just to gawp at the scale and the preserved Art Deco control rooms. Outside, new parks and a riverside promenade run along the Thames.
It is a strange and impressive piece of industrial London brought back to life, and you can soak up the architecture without spending a penny. The walk along the river to or from Vauxhall, past the new district that has grown up around it, is a free outing in itself.
Getting there: Right by Battersea Power Station station on the Northern line, or a riverside walk from Vauxhall.
Best time to go: A bright day for the riverside, or evening when the building is floodlit.
Insider tip: Walk into the turbine halls just to see the restored Art Deco control room, free and genuinely jaw-dropping. The riverside park outside is the best free spot to take in the chimneys, especially at dusk.
Official site: https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide