Overview
Battersea Power Station is a preserved former coal-fired power station on the south bank of the River Thames in London.
Built by the London Power Company, it consists of two adjoining stations constructed in stages between 1929 and 1955. The complex was designed by engineers including Leonard Pearce, with architectural work by J. Theo Halliday and Giles Gilbert Scott. Its four chimneys and large brick exterior became one of London’s most recognizable industrial landmarks.
Battersea A began generating electricity in 1933 and was completed in 1935. Battersea B was added after the Second World War and entered service between 1953 and 1955, bringing the site’s generating capacity to more than 500 megawatts. The station was decommissioned between 1975 and 1983 and later received Grade II listed status. After decades of disuse and unsuccessful redevelopment proposals, restoration and redevelopment began under new ownership.
The station is also widely known for appearing on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album Animals. The main power station building reopened to the public in October 2022 with shops, restaurants, offices and other uses.
Quick Facts
- Status
- Existing
