Officials are expecting more than 10,000 vistors over two days.
Battersea power station will be opening its doors to the public for the final time next weekend.
The rare opportunity to visit the historic building is part of the annual Open House London weekend, where normally out-of-bounds buildings allow public viewing.
The power house will be open on September 21 and 22 from 11am till 4pm, with last entrance at 3pm both days. This will be the final chance to visit before the building is renovated in a £8 billion riverside development. The only previous time the public were able to step inside the coal-fired power station was back in 2006 during an exhibition of Chinese art.
The renovation will include the extension of the Northern line to two new tube stations in Battersea and Nine Elms.
Officials are expecting more than 10,000 visitors over the two days.
Rob Tincknell, chief executive of the Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “I’ve always tried to maintain an open policy as much as we can because there is so much interest. This is the final chance for people to stick their heads in before the refurbishment works start in October.”
Visitors will follow a prepared route from the new pop-up park on the riverside into the vast central boiler house, where Batman: The Dark Knight was filmed, before leaving via the cavernous Fifties Turbine Hall B on the eastern side of the building. The famous chimneys, ancillary offices and control rooms will not be accessible on the tour.
The power house officials have assured all visitors will be kept away from sheer brick walls or dangerous locations so no safety equipment prior to the tour is necessary. The open days are free of charge on first come first served basis and require no prior booking. Long queues are expected so the public have been advised to arrive early.
For more information, visit http://www.batterseapowerstation.co.uk/ or contact 020 7501 0688.
Follow us @SW_Londoner
