A London Treasure

Today I took the "little camera" to London for the day. It's the first time since January 2020 and a lot has changed including upgraded trains  (and ticket prices!) and stations with arrival into Waterloo on new platforms utilising the defunct Eurostar terminal which moved to St Pancras in 2007, providing a dedicated and faster route out of London.

I had two main objectives for my day. The first was a visit to the Saatchi Gallery currently holding the RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show.  The botanical art was mind blowing in its detail and accuracy. Sadly I don't believe I have the skill or patience to do some of the work on display, but I came away inspired. Similarly the photographic works on display were inspirational, and some of those, especially the cyanotypes, are things to try.

I then walked to my second objective of the day, Battersea Power Station, which after many stops and starts and changes of design and usage direction since its closure in 1983 finally opened as a shopping and leisure destination in 2022. Not being fond of personal shopping, the retail element, comprising mainly posh clothing shops and restaurants, looked like every other major shopping centre and left me rather cold. However their settings in the majestic turbine halls of the old power stations was worth seeing. In particular Turbine Hall A built in the 1930s (the subject of my main image) still retains it Art Deco decoration; Turbine Hall B, built in the 1950s, is more utilitarian.  I also took a trip on "Lift 109" which takes you 109m up one of the towers (extra 1) for 360degree views of London (extra 2) which were breath-taking. The area around the power station is still under development, but sure to become one of the treasures of the London tourist destinations.

I completed my day by walking along the Thames Path back to Waterloo and my train home.