Northampton Lift Tower

A wonderful place to get thrilling experience of rope climbing.

What an absolute joy to stumble across this listed structure. The views from the top are breathtaking.

It’s more attractive now with housing around it than it was standing amongst the National Lift Factory. Shame you can’t pay to go up and view from the top.

Very unusual thing this tower , first time I saw it I hated it. But as my son played football for Northampton town for a few years I grew to love it. Very odd.

Unique location to test sewage and drainage pipes and systems

The National Lift TowerThe National Lift Tower (previously called the Express Lift Tower) is a 127m (418ft) Research and Development facility located in Northampton, England. Originally built to test lifts,The structure was commissioned in 1978 with construction commencing in 1980, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 12 November 1982.The only lift-testing tower in Britain, and one of only two in Europe, it was granted Grade II listed building status on 30 October 1997, making it the youngest listed building in the UK at the time.

This is a historical landmark, where the lifts are tested and perfected before rolling them out for sale and installation. It was officially opened on 12 November 1982 by Queen Elizabeth the second.

Little known fact - this originally belonged to Sauron (of Lord of the Rings fame) but he moved up the road to Collingtree Park after his film career took off. He now spends his days playing golf and chancing his luck at Aspers casino in the town centre. Seriously though, Northampton wouldn’t be what it is without this place, and it’s nice to have a local landmark that’s so visible.

It was originally called the Express Lift Tower and was officially opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II, but now is known as The National Lift Tower and is the only one of its it's kind in the UK.Locals call it the Northampton Lighthouse.It's purpose was to test lifts and inside there are six shafts of varying heights and speeds.It measures 127 metres in height.The surrounding factory was demolished and in 1997 became a grade II listed building.Since then a housing development has been built around it.There was talk that a visitors centre would be built and you go in it, but sadly this has never happened.It is only used for absailing.If you did decide to visit please be aware of the local permit and parking restrictions around it!!

I like this tower. I do a lot of riding and exploring and on the odd occasion I get lost I use the tower as a landmark to find my way home. Sadly I've never seen it open