Victorian pumping station

In southeastern London, after more than 20 years of restoration work, a beautiful example of industrial architecture opened to visitors as a museum in April 2016. Originally built in 1865, the Crossness Pumping Station (The Old Works, Thames Water S.T.W., Bazalgette Way, Abbey Wood, London, SE2 9AQ, U.K.; phone +44 208 311 3711, www.crossness.org.uk) pumped sewage out of the city and into the Thames estuary until 1956.

The interior consists of repainted floral ironwork and decorative stonework. The steam-driven rotative-beam pump engines, possibly the largest remaining in the world, have 47-ton beams and 52-ton flywheels. One working engine operates at least once a month for visitors. 

As of press time, the station, staffed by volunteers, is open sporadically. To see when, visit the website and click on “Visit.” Entry, £6-£8 (near $8-$11). A tour (£12) must be booked ahead.