A brief history of Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a stunning Grade II* listed Art Deco building, and its four tall white chimneys make it an iconic part of the London Skyline.
Designed by renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, it stands grandly on the banks of the River Thames, and if you're on a train from Gatwick into London Bridge it's sure to grab your attention.
It served as a coal-fired power station that generated electricity for London from the 1930s up until 1983. At its peak, it was providing a fifth of London's power.
After it was decommissioned, Battersea Power Station's future remained uncertain.
There were lots of fruitless proposals about what to do with the site (including ideas of turning it into a theme park!).
But in 2014 it was bought by a Malaysian consortium of investors and underwent huge redevelopment to breathe new life into the iconic building.
The renovated Battersea Power Station was officially opened to the public in October 2022 and is now a swanky development, featuring residential, commercial and cultural spaces. It's a place to live, work, shop, eat, drink, and play, and it's an attraction that has transformed Battersea into one of the most desirable areas to live in London.
The Lift 109 experience
Lift 109 opened at Battersea Power Station in November 2022. It's a paid-for experience that includes a glass elevator ride to the top of the Power Station's north-west chimney.
I visited with my husband and our two sons, Odhran, 10, and Reuben, 7, on a Friday evening during the summer holidays.
Reuben still talks about the time we went to the top of 'The Walkie-Talkie' building in central London, and he enjoyed the view from ArcelorMittal Orbit, so I knew he'd be excited to hear we would be going up one of the chimneys at Battersea Power Station. It's also nice for the kids to have the opportunity to step inside some of London's most iconic buildings and have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the city they're growing up in.
The Lift 109 experience begins at the Power Stations Art Deco Turbine Hall. There was a bag search and we had to step through a metal detector before entering a small exhibition space, where there were displays detailing how Battersea Power Station has evolved through the decades and been reinvented and transformed. I wasn't aware it held such cultural significance in terms of its role in film and music history. So, it was interesting to follow the timeline of its evolution, and the boys enjoyed the big interactive display table in the centre of the space. There's a small bar if you wish to purchase a drink before your ascent.
We were in a group of about 12 people, including another family, a couple, and a group of three friends. After the exhibition space, we entered a room with interactive walls for a lights show, where swirling energy particles react to your touch. Then we had to climb 39 steps to the main lift for the chimney ascent (Hint: try to enter first to you can nab a seat at the centre of the lift for the best view as the circular glass elevator makes it's way up the north-west chimney ). It's a short but impressive ride through a tunnel of lights. There was a collective 'wow' as the elevator emerged from the top of the chimney and we were presented with incredible 360° views.
Standing 109 metres above ground (hence the name Lift 109), the panoramic view takes in loads of other London landmarks. There were little information plaques around the lift pointing out attractions to search out. The boys enjoyed spotting the Elizabeth Tower with Big Ben, The Shard, the London Eye, and St Paul's Cathedral. But it was also a great way to get a birds eye view of Battersea Power Station itself, and there was something incredibly relaxing about allowing your gaze to wander down along the Thames, especially as it was a clear evening with the sun setting. But it felt like we only had about 10 minutes viewing time and I would have liked five or 10 minutes longer to find all of the places highlighted on the information plaques.
Overall, we loved the Willy Wonka style glass elevator, and the views from the top of the chimney were truly spectacular.
How much does it cost?
It's cheapest to purchase your tickets online in advance. A booked time slot will cost from £16 for an adult (16+ years old) and from £12 for a child (3-15 years old). Kids aged 2 and under can enter free of charge and do not need a ticket. A family ticket (admission for four guests, max two adults) will cost you from £48. There are options to purchase flexible tickets, where you can reschedule if necessary, or an Any Time Ticket (allowing you to arrive at any time on your selected date. But these will cost you more.
It's worth noting that pushchairs are not allowed into the experience but can be stored in a buggy area. There are 39 steps to climb up and down during the experience. If you need step free access you need to reserve the Accessibility Lift during the booking process.
The Lift 109 experience is open seven days a week and until 8pm Thursday to Sunday. Find out more here.
Where to eat with kids at Battersea Power Station?
You'll be spoilt for choice with dining options, but we were drawn to Arcade Food Hall & Bar. It has 13 kitchens, serving a variety of street food under one roof. But there's the sense of being in one restaurant, as you take your seat and a waiter comes to your table to take your order from a menu that lists the offerings from each kitchen. There's everything from burgers, tacos, Middle Eastern food and dumplings, to pizza, Indian food, dim sum, and sushi. The venue is low-lit and stylish. But there are big family-friendly tables.
Arcade also has two bars, and we spent time pouring over the extensive drinks menu. The cocktail section had a broad range of classics with a twist and signature offerings. The Solero - gin, spiced Brandy, syrup, passionfruit, yogurt and coconut - sounded tempting. But after much indecision, I ordered the Baijiu Bramble - blackberry gin, tarragon, lemon juice and raspberries. It was one of the best cocktails I've ever had! My husband was equally impressed by the Piña Colada Old Fashioned - a lovechild of two popular classics. Cocktail prices are between £9 and £16. Arcade has an 888 offer - 8 select cocktails, for £8 each, from 8pm.
It took us a while to order, as the menu is extensive and it all sounded so appetising. Reuben ordered and polished off the Sushi Set - six pieces with a choice of salmon or tune (priced £15.50/£17). Odhran opted for a choice of bao buns, priced from £6.50 each. I went for vegetable MOMO - handmade Nepali dumplings, served in a hot and spicy sauce. You can choose between three or five, priced £9.50 or £13.50. My husband went for a chicken version of the same dish, priced £10 or £14.
There is something here to tickle all tastebuds, and there are also sharing menus available. The staff at Arcade were friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. We ate before doing the Lift 109 experience and didn't have time for dessert, but the choice of sundaes, puddings and tortes, (priced from £6) sounded delicious. Family days out can involved disagreements around what to eat. Arcade takes away the headache by offering plenty to keep everyone happy!
Where to shop with kids at Battersea Power Station?
Battersea Power Station is home to the only official, standalone Transformers store in the World! Fans travel from all across the globe to visit this store, which sells all sorts of merchandise, from comics, clothing, and accessories, to toys, gifts and collectibles. Visitors can play video games and enjoy the photo opportunities. Reuben was keen to have his picture taken next to a giant D-16. I thought this was Megatron, but apparently D-16 is the character who later becomes Megatron. There are other fan favourites standing guard at the top of the stairs outside the store, and Odhran hopped in for a picture next to Bumblebee.
The staff are exactly as you'd hope for in this kind of store - passionate about Transformers and incredibly knowledgeable on this specialist subject. We loved watching a demonstration by one of the sales assistants of the transforming figures. Through voice recognition he was also to command them to transform and engage. Around me, kids were turning to parents and saying 'I want one of those!'. But these were prototypes of big boy toys with hefty price tags. Still, it was great fun to watch. And from smaller transformer figures to stationary and plushies, there are plenty of pocket friendly items on offer if you want to treat your child.
The industrial history of Battersea Power Station makes it a fitting building to house the world's only standalone Transformers store, and you can purchase limited edition clothing merch with stylish designs that set popular Transformer characters against the iconic profile of Battersea Power Station. If you're visiting the complex with kids, you must stop in at the Transformers store. And right next door, there's the world's first standalone Peppa Pig store for those shopping with toddlers.
What else is there for kids to do?
Battersea Power Station makes the most of its location by the Thames with a beautiful outdoor space. Sit and enjoy food or a drink along the river, or relax on one of the many colourful deck chairs on the grass. Throughout the year, there are several great events taking place. So, keep an eye on website for details. CelebrASIA returns this weekend (5th-7th September) for a free-to-enter, three-day celebration of South East Asian food, culture and community. Pop-up food outlets will take over the neighbourhood, and there are lots of bookable workshops and masterclasses for both adults and kids, from paper lantern making to creating a handcrafted pewter bowl. Find out more here. Meanwhile, for dino fans, Jurassic World: The Experience has come stomping into NEON - a new immersive visitor destination, right next door. So, whatever you decide to do, you won't be short of fun options for keeping the kids occupied on a family day out to Battersea Power Station.