An aerial photo of Battersea Power Station.

LONDON: Battersea Power Station has been named one of the 20 Best Cultural Spots in National Geographic’s Best Of The World 2024 series thanks to the meaningful and unique experiences the former coal-fired power station now offers.

The annual Best Of The World 2024 list is created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic’s international editorial teams, serving millions of readers through their magazines and websites around the world.

The landmark former coal-fired Power Station in Central London is the only UK destination on the culture list. It was restored and transformed into a mixed-use destination by a consortium of companies comprising Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), Sime Darby Property Bhd, SP Setia Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Opened in October 2022, nearly forty years after it was decommissioned, the Battersea Power station was reopened and welcomed over 11.2 million visitors in 2023. There are over 140 shops, restaurants, cafes and various other leisure experiences to explore across the riverside neighbourhood. Highlights include Lift 109, the Power Station’s unique chimney lift experience which ascended the building’s northwest chimney 21,500 times in 2023, offering visitors a wide 360-degree view of the London skyline.

The Grade II listed power station is also home to 565,000 sq ft of office space, including Apple’s new 500,000 sq ft UK headquarters as well as 254 apartments. The iconic landmark sits at the heart of a new 42-acre riverside neighbourhood. Upon completion, it is expected to create over 4,000 new homes, 3.5 million sq ft of mixed commercial space, 19 acres of pubic realm and 20,000 jobs.

As part of the masterplan, a new extension to the London Underground’s Northern Line opened in September 2021 provides Battersea Power Station with its own Zone 1 tube station bringing the neighbourhood within 15 minutes of the West End and the city.

“In restoring Battersea Power Station, our hope was always to create a world-class destination that brought this iconic landmark into public use for the first time in history, to be enjoyed by the local community, Londoners, and visitors from around the globe. To have received recognition by National Geographic in their ‘Best of the World’ list, and to witness our vision become a reality, is a source of enormous pride for the shareholders and all who have been involved in delivering this special project. We look forward to welcoming millions more visitors to Battersea Power Station in 2024 and beyond, as the neighbourhood continues to grow with new experiences, store openings and events for all to look forward to,” said Tan Sri Jagan Sabapathy, chairman of the Battersea Project Holding Company.

“From the 1930s until the 1980s, this hulking brick coal plant provided up to a fifth of London’s power [...] the smokestack-capped, 1.5 million-square-foot building is now a stylish shopping, dining, and entertainment hub. Repurposed elements include Control Room B, a cocktail bar amid the dials and synchroscopes of a one-time command post, and Lift 109, a glassed-in viewpoint atop one of Battersea’s iconic 357-foot-tall smokestacks. Visitors can stay onsite at the art’otel with its rooftop pool and art gallery,” described National Geographic in their round-up.

As part of its popular annual events programme, Battersea Power Station is currently hosting its annual Light Festival until Feb 25, 2024, with seven spectacular pieces of artwork from British and international artists lighting up the neighbourhood. As part of the festival, Battersea Power Station has partnered with Malaysia Airlines and The Danna Langkawi for the chance to win a fantastic holiday to Langkawi for four people. 

Looking further ahead into 2024, further retail, leisure and food and beverage brands will open in the riverside neighbourhood. Battersea Power Station has also been announced as the official London fan zone for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, building on The Battersea Games which launched in the summer of 2023.

Thanks to the Zone 1 Battersea Power Station underground station, travelling to the power station is more accessible than ever. The riverside neighbourhood is within 15 minutes of the West End and the city. The power station even has its very own Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier. The neighbour is also easily accessible by bus, bike and car.

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