This may be a familiar sight if you've visited London in recent years, or if you've read this blog since 2003 and you have a really good memory. It's the view from the top of the elevator that takes visitors to the top of one of the chimneys at Battersea Power Station. Dave and I did this back in 2023, when it was called Lift 109. Apparently it has been renamed The Chimney Lift but it's the same experience, and I went up with my brother, his wife and my niece yesterday.
The weather cooperated and we had great views across the city in all directions. If you want to see more of what it looks like, check out that linked post above.
They sell plush toys in the gift shop, including Charlie the Chimney. I bought one just because the idea of a stuffed chimney was so peculiar. My brother got one for my niece, too. The woman working the counter at the gift shop said, "You don't need a bag, do you?" When she put it like that I felt like I had to say no, so I was carrying this chimney around for the next hour or two. My niece discovered that they stayed secure head-down in a side pocket of our cargo pants, so that's what we did.
Americans will buy anything.
Before taking the lift we had lunch on the patio of a seafood restaurant near the river. Our server had this great tattoo of London architectural icons, which seemed appropriate for a day when we were getting a good skyline view of the city.
Afterwards we walked down the river to Vauxhall, passing the U.S. Embassy and the sky pool, and then across the Vauxhall Bridge to Pimlico, where we caught the tube.
Today is going to be more of a challenge. We're supposed to go to Stonehenge via a bus leaving from Victoria station, but of course it's raining (yay, but why today?) and there's also a tube strike. I'm going to have to be creative about getting us down to Victoria. I'm catching a 6 a.m. Thameslink train to get to my brother's hotel and we'll go from there, either by bus, taxi or walking. Given the rain I'd say walking might be out. Wish us luck!
I hope tomorrow (or today!) will work out. I've been to England three times and never been to Stonehenge.
ReplyDeleteMy late partner told me about his visit to Stonehenge whereby they wandered around the stones, marvelling at and feeling them, and that was it done. Now it is a huge production, and a walk from where the coaches park, although I think there is a minibus too.
ReplyDeleteThe tattoo on the arm is good, with the buildings recognisable, and room for more.
We loved the chimney lift last year, the views are brilliant, good luck with Stonehenge, when we were children we were allowed to walk through the stones and touch them, sadly you can only walk around them now.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the journey. There is going to be a shock at the end of the journey to Stonehenge, it costs a small fortune to get in!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell do you want to go to Stonehenge for when Yorkshire is waiting for Walter and his gang here in the wild outback of "Up North"? Even so I hope all goes well today and that you all get to strip naked and dance round the stones in a drug-induced trance.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Stonehenge, you'll be in my neck of the woods, Wildshire is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you'll get there and the weather won't be too bad.
ReplyDeleteThe tattoo is well done, but it got me thinking - would I want silhouttes of Ludwigsburg palace, Stuttgart Fernsehturm and other sights of my home area etched on my arm forever? No, much as I love them all.
Interesting tattoo. I wonder what it will look like in 60 years' time?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with Stonehenge - it may even stop raining for you.
I love that tattoo (and the plush chimney). I might have bought myself a chimney, but not the tattoo. Too bad about the rain. I hope the weather and transportation cooperate so you can all enjoy your day. I’ve never been to Stonehenge.
ReplyDeleteI love the tattoo, and of course your little stuffed chimney, and I would also LOVE to go up the chimney. But, as I found out when we went on the London Eye a year or so after we met, my husband is scared absolutely rigid by heights. You should have seen his face when we were stood in front of the Eiffel Tower ... no we didn't get up there!! :-(
ReplyDeleteAfter all your longing for rain, and now you're saying not like this! Good luck with Stonehenge, getting there and seeing how close you can get.
ReplyDeleteAs a person who has tattoos and loves tattoos, that is a great one.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Stonehenge, it will be less crowded in the rain.
ReplyDeleteOf course the stuffed chimney captures my heart- phallic with "trouble nuggets" at the base. Hilarious and so worth buying, of course you did! What a grand time for your family. I adore the tattoo, that may be at the top of my list of faves!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the click back- can anyone ever get enough of London? Don't think so!
Yes - I had the same thought about the chimney. Ha!
DeleteYour family is lucky to have such a great tour guide, Steve. It's like the best of all worlds.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get close enough to Stonehenge to feel it's no-doubt otherworldly and powerful attraction. (That was sort of sarcastic.) I really would like to see the place.
Hope the weather cooperates and you have a good trip to Stonehenge.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who thinks Charlie the Chimney looks like a penis? Probably:)
ReplyDeleteI hope the weather cooperates for Stonehenge.
I'll bet the chimneys are selling like crazy and making somebody a lot of easy money.
ReplyDeleteI hope your Stonehenge trip goes without a hitch. I remember when you went up that chimney the first time. I never did make down there. A good excuse to come to London again. (Like I need an excuse.)
ReplyDeleteI almost always decline a bag (either I have my own or it's only a few items and I'm carrying them straight to my car) and I really appreciate being asked if I want one. In this situation though I think I'd have said, yes, I do want one.
ReplyDeleteThe views from the chimney are great. Seeing London from ahigh and then making individual trips to places of interest is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThe stuffy/chimney must sell like hotcakes. Someone had a clever idea.
The tat is outstanding and, in general, I'm not a big fan of tats. (The image would make a nice print on a card or even enlarged for hanging on a wall.)
Rain plus a tube strike? I know you need rain, but why today? Like you say, there are other options. Uber to the rescue?
What a wonderfully British mixture of engineering, skyline views, rain worries and slightly absurd souvenir shopping. 😊
ReplyDeleteI had to smile at the image of everyone carrying tiny plush chimneys around London. “Charlie the Chimney” sounds exactly like the kind of quirky souvenir one never plans to buy but somehow absolutely needs.
The views from Battersea Power Station must have been spectacular in good weather, especially with London stretching out in every direction. And your lunch by the river sounds like the perfect start to the day.
I hope the weather and transport chaos cooperated just enough for your Stonehenge plans to work out. Somehow a little rain almost feels traditional for an English adventure — though perhaps less charming at six in the morning.
Wishing you many more memorable moments with your family during the visit!
Warm regards, Anette
I hope your trip to Stonehenge went well.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Oh wow, I hope the weather report was wrong. That chimney is kind of cute! What a view -- I remember your earlier visit!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to have family visiting. Charlie the Chimney is a funny little guy.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I remember that view, I like it quite a bit. If I ever win lotto I shall see it in person. I like the tattoo and the stuffed chimney toy. I hope you make it to Stone Henge (Stonehenge?) without too much trouble.
ReplyDelete