Drax Power Station provides the most renewable power of any single location in the UK, some 14 terawatt-hours or enough electricity to power the equivalent of four million homes. To do this, Drax runs on a massive scale. We’ve got 4 operational boilers, as high as a 15-storey office block, a main chimney taller than the London Eye, and over 1,800 miles of steel tubing, enough to stretch from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back again. It’s a site etched on the local landscape since 1974 and on a tour at Drax you can see it all first-hand. Even better, our tours are free, and available throughout the year.
The tour of Drax Power Station offers a captivating and educational experience to a wide range of groups such as local businesses, organised members clubs as well as students in key stage 2 – 4. Regardless of background, all interested individuals can immerse themselves in the fascinating world of energy generation. From start to finish, participants will gain valuable insights into the intricate energy generation process employed at Drax, witnessing first-hand how electricity is produced on a massive scale.
Moreover, visitors will learn about Drax’s social impact within local communities, the pivotal role biomass plays in ensuring energy security and renewable power as well as a look into the future of our BECCS project, the future of carbon dioxide removal which will mitigate climate change and foster a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape. All our tours include an interactive presentation, a bus tour around the site as well as a guided walk inside the very heart of the station.
What you can see
Introduction to the power station
How we generate electricity. Before heading off around the station, find out from our expert guides how the whole place works.
Biomass domes
Explore these huge structures – each taller than Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s roller coaster ‘The Big One’ – which store up to 80,000 tonnes of biomass.
Cooling towers
Click above and drag.
Witness the sheer scale of our 12 cooling towers, each one 374 feet high, where water the station uses is cooled and released as clean vapour.
Turbine hall
Viewing on a computer? Click above and drag. On a phone or tablet – just move your device.
Enter the 1,400 feet long hall at the very heart of the plant, where six huge turbines turn the generators to produce electricity.
Tour info
- Tours available for key stage 2 to key stage 4 students
- Tours available for organised group bookings
- Tours take approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours
- Accompanied by fully trained tour guides
- Personal Protection Equipment provided
- Tours subject to availability
- Minimum age 7 years old
- Visitors must conform to site security and safety procedures whilst on site
- All visitors must be comfortable to ascend up to 90 steps – sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing are required
- Bags must be left in a car or can be stored in the visitor centre in locked storage
- For more information about data collection, please view Drax Power Station tours Privacy Notice
Opening hours
Opening hours
Mon – Fri 10am – the last tour departing at 1pm.
During the summer months, we offer a limited Tuesday – Thursday evening tour service, the last tour departing at 6pm.
School holidays
We often special events at the Skylark Centre during the Easter, Summer, October and Christmas school holidays. These tours and activities are bookable in advance. Event information will be listed in Events and appear on our Facebook Page and Twitter.
Book your visit now
Please note, we are currently experiencing some issues with the online form below, so please email [email protected] directly after which a member of the Drax team will endeavour to respond to any enquiries within 5 working days.
Map and address
Drax Power Station, Drax, Selby YO8 8PH
