LIFT 109 Battersea: The glass elevator into the sky

A Sky-High Soirée: The Herbivore and The Carnivore Scale the Chimneys of Battersea

If you’re looking for a way to sprinkle a little stardust on a birthday celebration, look no further than the iconic silhouette of Battersea Power Station. Early one April morning —The Herbivore (yours truly) and The Carnivore —set off from our country cottage on a journey to the big smoke and floated up to the heavens in Lift 109.

It wasn't just a birthday; it was a vertical voyage into the clouds, wrapped in Art Deco elegance and a touch of industrial magic.

The Pre-Flight Glow

The journey begins in the Great Hall, a place so grand it makes you want to twirl. While The Carnivore marveled at the sheer "machinery of it all," I was busy swooning over the rose-gold accents and the way the light danced off the restored brickwork.

Before the ascent, we wandered through a gallery of digital wonders. I stood mesmerized by the swirling light installations that reacted to our touch, feeling like a woodland sprite in a neon forest. The Carnivore was much more interested in the interactive dials, looking very much like a boy with a brand-new toy.

A Whimsical Tip: Wear something that catches the light! The pre-lift experience is a dream for photos, and if it is for a special birthday, you may as well add a bit of extra sparkle.

The Ascent: A Bubble of Dreams

Then came the main event. We stepped into the circular glass elevator, tucked neatly inside the North West chimney. As the doors glided shut, the atmosphere shifted. The interior began to glow with a soft, rhythmic light.

We started to rise, and for a moment, it felt like we were bubbles in a flute of pink champagne, floating higher and higher through the hollowed-out history of the station. The Carnivore took my hand (mostly to steady himself, though I’ll claim it was romance), and we watched the brickwork blur into a kaleidoscope of shadows and light until—pop!—we emerged into the open sky.

109 Metres Above the Glimmer

Stepping out at the summit is like stepping onto a cloud made of glass. The 360-degree views of London are nothing short of a love letter to the city. Although completely nonsensical, we had this feeling that we might pop out of the chimney tower and just keep on going, like a figment of Roald Dahl's imagination.

To the North: The Thames curved like a silken ribbon dropped by a giant.

To the West: The lush, velvet green of Battersea Park looked like a tiny moss garden.

The Horizon: A hazy, romantic watercolor of steeples, cranes, and the shimmering Shard.

The Herbivore (me!) was practically floating, imagining all the secret garden parties happening below. The Carnivore was equally smitten, though in his own way. He spent ten minutes identifying every bridge with the focus of a captain at sea, finally declaring that the view was spectacular and he loved the engineering. Ever practical!

The Birthday Verdict: A Tale of Two Tastes

Descending back to earth is always a bit of a heartbreak, but the birthday magic didn't end at the chimney base. We drifted back into the station’s belly to satisfy our cravings. Mainly of the bubbly variety and fell promptly in to Searcys for an eye wateringly expensive glass of champagne, followed by Control Room B by the Battersea brewery.

The Herbivore’s Delight and the Carnivore’s Dream

I, the Herbivore ordered a vibrant, sun-kissed bowl of Mediterranean salad and fries.The Carnivore ordered a towering burger that looked like it required a permit to eat.

We drank a crisp glass of elderflower fizz and a smoky bourbon cocktail that smelled of campfires.

As the evening sun turned the chimneys to gold, we walked along the river, the birthday stars beginning to twinkle above us. It was a day of heights, history, and the delightful harmony of seeing one of the most magical cities on earth from a new perspective.

Lift 109 is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to celebrate another year is to see the world from a brand-new angle and you're never too old to enjoy a bit of whimsy and magic in a great glass elevator into the sky.

Have you been to Battersea Power Station? Would you take the glass elevator?