There’s a tall brick tower that dominates the area next to the Thames at Kew Bridge, and later this month is a rare chance to climb it.
The 200-foot tall standpipe tower was used to add pressure to the water supply that the steam-powered engines used to pump across this part of London, and as far away as Paddington.
Today it’s no longer in use, and largely sits there as a landmark, but not doing anything.
The London Museum of Water & Steam will be offering tours of the tower on 11th & 12th August.
Tickets are priced at £5 per person, in addition to the normal daily admission fee to the museum (£11.25 per adult).
The museum’s collection of rotative water pumping engines will also be in steam and the Waterworks Railway will also be offering unlimited train rides between 11am and 4pm.
Your correspondent did the climb just over a decade ago, and can confirm it was slightly hair-raising in an exciting way, but the views are spectacular from the top.
You can book tower climb (and day pass) tickets here.
