Whats On At Battersea Power Station

So there I was, last Tuesday, standing in the middle of Battersea Power Station’s Art Deco turbine hall, a £12.50 flat white in one hand (okay, it was a regular latte, but you get the inflation-joke) and a bag of artisan doughnuts in the other. A woman in a tweed blazer glided past me on rollerblades, her golden retriever trotting beside her in a tiny Burberry coat. I blinked. Twice. And I thought: Right, this is not your dad’s old power station. This is the new London.

That surreal little moment sums up everything about this place. Battersea Power Station isn’t just a building anymore—it’s a whole vibe. A gleaming, slightly ironic, Instagram-friendly universe where you can eat, drink, shop, and stare at a chimney that once powered half of London. And the best part? The What’s On calendar is so packed, you practically need a spreadsheet.

Let’s start with the obvious: food.

If your stomach growls at the sight of a glowing neon sign, you’re in luck. The Battersea Power Station food scene is a glorious, chaotic mix of street food and sit-down gold. Head to Arcade Food Hall on the ground floor—it’s loud, it’s messy, and the Korean fried chicken from Buns & Rice will ruin all other chicken for you. (Sorry, KFC. You had a good run.)

For a quieter date, book a table at Fountain, the rooftop spot with views of the Thames. The cocktails are named after old power station parts. I’m not kidding. One is literally called “The Turbine.” It tastes like gin and hubris.

But wait—there’s culture too. Honest.

You think it’s all avocado toast and rollerbladers? Nope. Battersea Power Station has art installations that change faster than London weather. Right now, Lumen, a massive interactive light sculpture by artist Wolfgang Buttress, is hanging in the Turbine Hall. It pulses with your heartbeat. Yes, you can literally dance with it and watch the lights flicker. I did. I looked like a strobe-lit penguin. No regrets.

And if you’re into film, the Cinema in the Power Station series is running every Thursday evening. They screen old classics—think Brief Encounter or Withnail & I—on a giant screen inside the old control room. The seats are velvet. The popcorn is truffle-infused. You will feel like a 1930s film star who time-traveled and forgot to change out of their hoodie.

For the kids (or the inner kid in you).

Every Saturday morning, the station hosts Little Sparks, a free creative workshop for children aged 3–7. They build things out of cardboard and LED lights. I saw a five-year-old make a “robot unicorn” that actually blinked. I was jealous. I still can’t wire a lamp without crying.

There’s also Battersea’s Weekend Market, every Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It spills out onto the riverside promenade, with vintage vinyl, handmade ceramics, and a pop-up crepe stand that sells one called “The Chimney Stack”—bacon, maple syrup, and a sprinkle of chili. It is the most British thing I’ve ever eaten, and I loved every messy bite.

Get ready to shop till you drop (or just window-stare).

Battersea Power Station has a curator’s pick of independent shops. Check out Story Coffee for the best flat white in South London—the barista has a PhD in milk frothing, I swear—and Gather & Co. for minimalist homeware that makes your IKEA shelves look like a crime scene. Need a gift? Workshop sells hand-stitched leather journals and candles that smell like “Thames Sunset.” I laughed. Then I bought one.

But the real gem? The architectural tour. Every Tuesday at 2pm, a guide named Nigel (he’s been working here since the 1980s) walks you through the old boiler room. He tells stories about the shift workers who used to slide down coal chutes for fun. The building whispers with history, even as the escalators hum with tourists.

Live music and late-night vibes.

Friday nights belong to Control Room B, a basement bar that transforms into a live music venue. Last week, a jazz trio played covers of Daft Punk. The week before, a spoken-word poet performed a piece about the grammar of skyscrapers. It was weird, wonderful, and exactly what London needs right now.

If you prefer quiet, head to Battersea’s Rooftop Cinema (weather permitting). They show cult films—The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Blade Runner—under fairy lights. Blankets are provided. So are cushions that look like fluffy clouds. You will never want to leave.

And then there’s the hidden secret.

Nobody talks about it, but the lift to the top of the north chimney is occasionally open for private events. A few times a year, they let a lucky group ride up for sunset. You can see the entire London skyline—literally 360 degrees, from the Shard to Wembley. The lift is glass. The floor is glass. I hyperventilated a little. But the view? Worth every panic.

So here’s my honest take: Battersea Power Station is a glittering, sometimes ridiculous, always entertaining playground for grown-ups and kids. It’s a place where you can sip a £10 coffee while a robot unicorn blinks at you under a century-old chimney. Don’t overthink it. Just go. Grab a crepe. Ride the lift. Rollerblade if you must—I won’t judge. I’ll be the guy eating truffle popcorn, pretending I’m in a 1930s film.