An Iconic London Building Is the Heart of a Regenerated District

It isn’t every day London gets a new tube station; it was over a decade ago that the last ones opened on the famous Underground network.

That’s about to change. Two 650-ton tunnel-boring machines have been busy extending the Northern line, just south of the River Thames. In fall 2021, two new stations—Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station—will open. They will serve an ambitiously regenerated district, resplendent with high-end retail, world-class dining, and luxury living with views to die for. It’s such an undertaking that it involves a brand-new High Street for Battersea.

And at the center of all this is the iconic Battersea Power Station and its remarkable rise from the ashes.

An Icon Reimagined

Most will recognize Battersea Power Station. Its chimneys—like four towering neoclassical columns—are immortalized on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals. It’s starred in movies, including Children of Men and The Dark Knight.

Already in Action

While work on the shopping center, apartments, and two Underground stations continues apace, the district has already become a destination for Londoners and visitors. 

At Nine Elms, the US Embassy has staked its position with a bold new vision of what an embassy can be. Not only does it eschew the traditional Grosvenor Square location, but its “crystalline cube of shimmering sails” has won plaudits among architecture critics and native Londoners, who queued to peek inside as part of the city’s Open House weekend.

At Battersea itself, the apartments at Circus West Village are already occupied by approximately 1,200 residents. Billed as the “first chapter” of Battersea Power Station’s regeneration, these SimpsonHaugh and Partners and dRMM-designed condominiums boast penthouses with substantial terraces—plus a residents’ club with an exclusive bar, dining, and screening and games rooms.

Residents have plenty more to keep them entertained. Anyone can enjoy fresh oysters on the half-shell from Wright Brothers or fiery Rajasthani lamb curries in Cinnamon Kitchen. Liquid refreshment comes from Battersea Brewery—a purpose-built micropub. 

The latest movie releases are screened at Archlight Cinema. There’s crazy golf with wacky cocktails in the neon-lit Birdies. Or you can choose to indulge in a high-energy spin class at Boom Cycle, where artisanal caffeine hits are provided by London Grind Coffee.

Inspired Features

A project like Battersea Power Station demands some out-of-the-ordinary touches—and its visionaries have not disappointed.

Designed by the world-renowned Foster + Partners, Battersea Rooftop Gardens will forge a serpentine park in the sky, from which you can admire vistas of Battersea Power Station and the Thames beyond it. The northern end of the gardens will feature a 167-room art’otel, with rooftop swimming pool and bar.

And in a Wonka-esque twist, one of the power station’s chimneys will be fitted out with a glass elevator—shooting visitors 109 meters to the chimney’s crown. Here, they can soak up 360-degree panoramic views over the city.

And while you’re waiting for the London Underground stations to be finalized, there’s another stylish way that you can arrive in this exciting new district: the Thames Clipper water taxi service moors up right outside the power station.