walk/tour
Battersea Park Railway Station, Battersea Park Road, Nine Elms
what3words: unity.tour.lamps
This tour explores the evolution of Battersea, with a particular focus on its role as a destination for Londoners. From the days of Charles Dickens and the Red House Tavern, through the post-war Festival of Britain's Pleasure Gardens, to the modern-day Battersea Power Station, this stretch of London along the River Thames has long offered opportunities for leisure, entertainment, and discovery.
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Park
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This tour begins at Battersea Park Station (railway) and will end near to Battersea Power Station Underground station.
Note, Battersea Park Station does not have step-free access. The closest step-free station is Battersea Power Station (London Underground)
Seating (park benches) is available at various stops. Note that the tour does include some stretches that can take up to 15 minutes to walk.
Our walking tour sets off from Battersea Park Station. We will then head to Battersea Park's Rosery Gate to begin our historical and cultural exploration of this corner of Battersea and its origins as a destination.
From there, we will delve into the history of the park – from the Victorian era to the 1951 Pleasure Gardens and its legacy, through to modern times. We will discover various hidden gems within the eastern half of Battersea Park before enjoying a small stretch along the Thames Path.
The final section of our tour takes us to the Coaling Jetty and the LDA-designed Power Station Park before exploring WilkinsonEyre's careful restoration of Giles Gilbert Scott's iconic Battersea Power Station.
The Golden Key Academy is a course training up insightful and engaging guides dedicated to explaining London and bringing its many stories to life. This tour is part of a wider collection of tours created by Golden Key Academy guides for the Open House Festival celebrating their conclusion of the eight month course.
Further information on the Golden Key Academy can be found here https://open-city.org.uk/golden-key-academy
If you would like to attend this tour, please ensure you have booked a ticket before turning up.