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We’d seen it advertised several months ago and got ourselves on the waiting list for Lift 109: an experience which takes you in a lift  to the top of the north-west chimney at Battersea Power Station.  It’s 109 metres up and there’s a 360 degree views of London’s skyline. We were booked today.

Due the state of the trains, we took the Underground, via Waterloo, to Battersea Power Station and made our way to the experience.  Once through the small ticket and security check there’s a bit of waiting around in an exhibition space until you’re ride is called. It’s quite interesting but not a lot to hold you, especially when the door opens to the lift experience. Again, through the door to take in the first immersive experience - which mainly seems to be a light show - and then onwards.  First, there’s a regular lift to take you to an interchange that must be somewhere around where the chimney meets the rest of the building. This is followed by a climb up some steps where you can look into the chimney itself.

And, then into the main event. The glass elevator to the top.  As somebody on our tour said, “it’s like going into space”. At least, if the movies are to believed. There’s a bit of a light show and some dramatic music which I think is designed to make you feel like you are travelling further and faster than you really are. And everybody “wow’ed” when the glass dome of the lift emerges from the chimney stack.  We remained poking out of the top for 7 or 8 minutes which is plenty of time for everybody to get a little walk around the lift to see all sides of the view.  It’s a big box and there’s plenty of space. My favourite, by far, was the view of the flats below the chimney that are part of the Power Station redevelopment.  I could have stayed up there for a lot longer but soon the lift depends to make way for the next group.  A really wonderful experience, if a bit short.

In the evening, to the Manor Arms in Streatham for Rob’s 50th party. He’d booked out the back room for a Christmas-ish meal. There were party hats and crackers as well as birthday toasts. We swapped tables between courses which was fun - although not everybody played along.  It’s nice to see a group out to celebrate with him. Then, it was back to M&R's flat for more drinks and, as the night wore on, singing to Christmas songs  We took the bus at 1:40am.