Battersea Sabotage

A classic London icon fuelled on Coal, Cinema and Redevelopment

Location: 188 Kirtling Street, Battersea, SW8 5BP

Description: Battersea Power Station is a now unused coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the 1930s, with Battersea B Power Station to its east in the 1950s.

The station ceased generating electricity in 1983, but over the past 50 years it has become one of the best known landmarks in London and is Grade II listed. The station's celebrity owes to numerous cultural appearances, which include a shot in The Beatles' 1965 movie Help! and being used in the cover art of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals.

It also played a cinematic role in the 1936 Aldred Hitchcock classic 'Sabotage', as were scenes of Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film 'Full Metal Jacket' shot inside.

The site is currently owned by Irish company Real Estate Opportunities, who purchased it for 400 million in November 2006. (Mar 2010)

Tours: Weird photo ops

Tours: Music: off the beaten path

Themes: Architecture Architecture Theme