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A.Never in a million years did I think I’d spend my Sunday wandering around a sewage facility, yet here I was. And honestly, I’m so glad I went. It is genuinely beautiful. So beautiful that I forgot where I was for a moment and casually mentioned there was a bit of a wiff in the air… and the lovely Mariam, showing me around, gently reminded me why.
Crossness Pumping Station began life in the 1860s as part of Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s plan to rescue London from the Great Stink. Hidden on the edge of the Thames, it was once a hardworking Victorian sewage pumping station, but today it feels more like stepping into a cathedral of iron and steam. The cast iron detailing, the vast beam engines and the sheer scale of the architecture make it one of the most beautiful industrial spaces in London.
Crossness is open on select days, usually Tuesdays and Sundays, with a mix of guided tours, steaming days and special events.
They are also hosting a cosy Frost Fair on Sunday with seasonal stalls set inside the historic engine house.
Adults £22.50, children £8, under fives free. Family tickets available. Carers go free.
Book via the website @crossnesset
London hidden gems / Victorian London / quirky museums in London / Victorian architecture
@a.curious.way
