Battersea Power Station has been at the heart of life in London since it was first constructed in 1929. The building was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the same architect responsible for the city’s iconic red phone boxes. At its peak, the facility supplied almost a fifth of London’s electricity, including for the Houses of Parliament, the BBC and Buckingham Palace. The energy plant closed in 1983 and in the years since, it has been transformed into a destination for art and leisure. Today, the 42-acre site is home to over 150 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues.
The annual Light Festival is a key part of this cultural offering. Made in collaboration with Light Art Collection, James Glancy Design and Kumquat Lab, the interactive art trail returns for 2025 with eight installations including a tornado and a giant ball of yarn. The works only reach their full potential when visitors step into the design. Italian duo Luigi Console and Valentina Novembre’s Never Ends takes the form of a horse on a spring. The lights surrounding the artwork activate when it is ridden, creating a fairytale setting that flies past as if in a gallop. Elsewhere, a musical sculpture is inspired by the pollination process in plants. Visitors become part of a collaboration, where individual notes blend seamlessly into one harmonious melody.
This year’s event also includes live performances. LED drummers take audiences on a colourful journey with high- impact music, dynamic choreography. Meanwhile, stilt walkers dazzle, as they roam the festival and greet guests with their radiant glow. This Light Festival brings joy to dark winter nights.
Light Festival 2025 | Battersea, London | Until 23 February
Image credit: Spin Me A Yarn at Battersea Power Station.
