Living in Battersea Park

About Battersea Park

Battersea Park is one of London’s most desirable areas, known for its 200-acre Victorian park, riverside views and vibrant community. Recent regeneration projects including Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms have transformed the skyline, attracting families and young professionals. Despite modern developments, Battersea Park remains rich in history and character.

Fact file

• Battersea Park played a role in women’s emancipation in the 1890s and is home to the iconic Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, founded in 1860.
• Battersea Bridge is London’s narrowest bridge, and Battersea Power Station once supplied a fifth of London’s electricity.
• Nime Elms is named after elm trees planted in the 1600s, now a hub for luxury living and riverside apartments.

Architecture and property

The area is filled with Victorian terraced houses, along with a large area of mid-20th century social housing either owner-occupied or owned by the Peabody Estate. 

The park itself is bordered with turn of the century mansion blocks and impressive villas as the creation of Battersea Park by the Crown in the mid-19th century marked a turning point for the area when housing was built in the south and west. The peak of building here came in the 1880s and 1890s, with the construction of Queen Anne style houses, mansion blocks and cottages.

Property in Nine Elms tends to be new luxury homes and penthouses. The area has an abundance of river-front apartments but also a wide selection of affordable housing. Buildings such as Battersea Power Station, Embassy Gardens, One Nine Elms, and Nine Elms Point are offering a new standard of living in the Capital.

Going out

San Gennaro is an authentic family-run business, offering south Italian-style cuisine. For something Spanish, try out the Tapas Room, where you can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere and delicious well-sourced and seasonal produce. The Wright Brothers have opened an iconic fish restaurant in the Power Station, offering their signature shellfish platters and fabulous surf and turf dishes. Head over to Darby’s in Nine Elms for a New York City-inspired oyster bar, open grill and delicious bakery rolled into one.

Offering a waterfront spot with all-day brunch and drinks, plus outdoor picnic tables, Pear Tree Cafe is a very popular spot situated in the park. Over towards Nine Elms, the Battersea Barge is a floating venue offering everything from disco nights to cabaret shows and is also available to hire. If you're looking for a pub, try The Lighthouse, The Latchmere or The Duke of Cambridge.

Battersea Power Station offers a chimney lift experience, Lift 109 where you can take a thrilling ascent 109 metres to the top of the north-west chimney where you will take in stunning 360-degree views of London’s skyline. 

The Pump House Gallery is situated in the park and is a stunning Grade II listed building converted into a community art house. Alternatively, nestled on the scenic south bank of the park is Battersea Park Children's Zoo, the perfect place for little explorers, as is Go Ape, also situated in the park.

Local amenities

Battersea Power Station is now a retail hotspot, featuring Zara’s flagship concept store, Apple, Marks & Spencer, and luxury brands like Chanel. Everyday essentials are covered with Sainsbury’s Local, Tesco Express, and Budgens all within walking distance of Battersea Park. 

Fitness enthusiasts have plenty of options, including F45 Training, The Gym, and Boom Cycl, making Battersea ideal for shopping, leisure and wellness.

Green spaces

Battersea Park has more green space to offer than just the central park. Shillington Park, Falcon Park and the riverside area outside the Power Station are all worth a visit. Nine Elms is becoming a green and walkable district with plenty of outdoor areas.

A new section of Thames River Path will open up and provide new routes along the waterfront, which will complement the new Nine Elms Park. Eventually, there will be a beautiful green walking route between Battersea Power Station and Vauxhall Cross.