Battersea Power Station, the iconic brick building with four white chimneys located on the south bank of the River Thames in southwest London, stood abandoned for nearly four decades.
Today, however, it has fully reemerged as one of the capital’s most ambitious redevelopment projects, welcoming millions of visitors each year as a major retail and leisure destination, and a popular stop on many food tour London itineraries.
Following a 9 billion pounds investment from Malaysian-backed developers and more than ten years of restoration work, the complex now includes around 250 shops, luxury apartments, offices, a cinema, and a seasonal ice rink. The grand reopening in the early 2020s was celebrated with a five-day free live music festival, marking the return of life to one of London’s most recognizable industrial landmarks.
Throughout the restoration process, the architectures tried to reuse as much of the original structure of the power station as possible. However, The four famous white chimneys had to be dismantled and rebuilt due to corrosion in their steel structures. The building gained worldwide fame after appearing on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album “Animals”, cementing its place in popular culture.
In several sections of the site, the power station’s characteristic brickwork was painstakingly recreated. Two companies that had supplied bricks for the original construction were commissioned to produce 1.75 million replacement bricks that matched the originals.
The roof of the building, located in Nine Elms in the borough of Wandsworth, also had to be replaced. It had previously been removed by an earlier owner during a failed attempt to convert the power station into a theme park.
According to the developers, more than three times the amount of steel used in the Eiffel Tower was required during the reconstruction process.
Not everyone welcomed the redevelopment project enthusiastically. Many activists said at the time that the power station had not been treated with the “respect it deserved”. Meanwhile, the Labour group on Wandsworth Council declined an invitation to the opening ceremony due to concerns over the limited number of affordable homes included in the redevelopment. Only 386 affordable units were ultimately built—about 40% fewer than originally planned.
Despite the criticism, many described Battersea Power Station as a new “destination”, a place where people can live, work, shop, and spend their leisure time.
Inside the shopping complex
Visitors can pay to ascend 109 meters inside the northwest chimney in a glass elevator, reaching a spectacular 360-degree observation deck overlooking London.
They can also shop or dine inside the restored turbine halls, which span three levels and host more than 100 stores and restaurants, making the power station one of the city’s newest culinary hotspots and a frequent stop on many modern food tour London itineraries for visitors eager to explore the capital’s dining options.
Turbine Hall A, built in the 1930s, houses many traditional luxury brands. Meanwhile, Turbine Hall B, a striking example of 1950s brutalist architecture, offers a more eclectic mix of contemporary brands.
The original Art Deco Control Room A, once crucial for distributing electricity across much of London, has been carefully preserved and now serves as an event space. The semicircular control desk and two long rows of switch panels remain intact.
The former boiler house was converted into Apple’s London headquarters, where more than 1,000 employees now work.
Above it sits the “crown jewel” of the project: 18 Sky Villas—luxury residences nestled among terraces and rooftop gardens. They form part of the complex’s residential offering of 254 apartments.
The redevelopment also introduced Electric Boulevard, a new pedestrian street adjacent to the power station that has become one of the neighborhood’s busiest shopping avenues.
Built by the London Power Company starting in 1929, the power station consists of two identical sections, each crowned by two tall white chimneys.
During the early years of the Second World War, RAF pilots reportedly used the station’s smoke plumes as a landmark to find their way home through the fog.
At its peak, Battersea Power Station supplied electricity to about one-fifth of London, including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
The power station was decommissioned in 1983 and remained abandoned and deteriorating for nearly 30 years—until its extraordinary transformation brought one of London’s most iconic buildings back to life.
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