The Chimney Lift at London’s Battersea Power Station (BPS) has reopened with a new interactive experience area designed to engage and inform visitors about the huge and historic former electricity generating plant.

What is the Chimney Lift?

It’s a glass enclosed lift that rises up through one of the power station’s four iconic chimneys and pops out at the top, giving visitors a 360° view of London and the Thames.

The Chimney Lift, formerly called ‘Lift 109’ because it rises to 109m above the city, was first opened in November 2022, a month after the restored power station itself. What’s new is the interactive display area on the gallery floor in Turbine Hall A. Timed groups get to explore the displays before their ascent in the lift.

What is there to see & do in the new interactive area?

Well, it’s not a huge area. Once you are checked in at your pre-booked time and have passed through a security check (which is a little ‘airporty’ with a scanner gate and hand-held ‘wand’ but very friendly) you start your tour in a reproduction of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s office, the BPS’ original architect. There are some interesting photographs on the wall and blueprints on his draughtsman drawing board. Sir Giles, by the way, also designed the red pillar box.

Next is an interactive illustrated wall which explains the construction of Battersea Power Station using touchpoints to activate sound and movement, and nearby there’s a hands-on model of the power station that lets visitors operate levers to bring coal from the River Thames, release steam into the turbines, generate power and send energy into the grid, which lights up and activates sound in a kinetic chandelier above.

There are a number of smaller interactive displays that feature the working life of the power station, and a touchscreen quiz table where visitors can compete answering questions about BPS.

The last room before the lift shows a short 360° film telling the story of Battersea Power Station through the decades, from its heyday as a working coal-fired power station to its closure in 1983, and various different proposals put forward to regenerate the site.

What is Chimney Lift like?

Before boarding, your group takes a lift to the top floor of BPS before climbing a short spiral staircase to the Chimney Lift itself. The lift not only has glass walls but also a glass ceiling so you can watch as it rises up the chimney.

Once there, the views are spectacular. My visit was at 6.30pm yesterday when it was dark and very rainy! There is an illustrated panel around the observation platform (lift) to help identify landmarks. I couldn’t help thinking ‘Heathrow Airport’ and ‘the Greenwich Observatory’ were a little ambitious even in the clearest conditions! As it was, even ‘The Shard’ just down river, was drifting in and out of visibility with the rain squalls.

Was it a waste of time? No, it was still pretty amazing. London, lit up at night, makes a terrific panorama and it’s a part of London not often seen; most tall building viewpoints are to the east. From the Chimney Lift at BPS you are looking down on the railway tracks coming out of Victoria Station and crossing the Thames, Battersea Park, and the illuminated Albert Bridge. BUT, there’s no doubt about it, if you can, you need to book a daylight visit and aim for a period of good forecast weather!

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Declaration: I was a guest, entry was complementary.