Take a behind-the-scenes tour: £9 billion Battersea Power Station development to open its doors for Open House London weekend

More than 250,000 people are expected to peek inside 800 buildings during this year's Open House London, which starts on Saturday 16 September.
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Lizzie Rivera|Simon Lee7 September 2017

Battersea Power Station has revealed it will open its doors for Open House London weekend's 25th year, which starts on Saturday 16 September.

Tours of the £9 billion redevelopment site will take place on Sunday 17 September - and places are available by ballot only.

More than 40,000 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to see inside the iconic building when it last took part in Open House weekend, four years ago.

Up to 3,000 workers are on site every day as the iconic Grade II-listed building and the surrounding area is transformed with new homes, shops and restaurants.

The guided tour will give visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the underground energy centre that is being built to provide heat and electricity to residents at the development and to the wider Nine Elms area.

"It gives everyone the chance to see the mammoth task we are undertaking to transform this once dormant area into a vibrant place that is attracting people from all over the world,” says CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company, Rob Tincknell.

The Power Station will be one of more than 800 buildings - including 150 that have never been featured before - opening their doors to visitors this year. For the first time ever, every borough will be taking part in the Open House weekend.

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s iconic monumental power station building was bought by Malaysian investors in 2012
Taken by Nandan Prabhu Photography

More than 250,000 people are expected to take a peek at, among others, the new New Scotland Yard building, One Blackfriars - nicknamed The Vase - and even an urban farm in Waterloo.

Other oddly shaped - and oddly named - skyscrapers can also be inspected, including the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin, while the iconic BT Tower, built in 1965 and long dwarfed by surrounding high-rises but still a futuristic landmark, is back in the event.

Also planned are a free programme of neighbourhood walks, engineering and landscape tours, cycle rides and experts’ talks.

Click here to enter the ballot for a chance to join the Battersea Power Station tour