O2 Arena & Canary Wharf, seen from Thames Barrier

The soulless presence of these massive bank buildings is mellowed by the evening lights.

The Thames Barrier has now been in operation for 30 years! Closures of the barrier to protect London from tidal surges have increased significantly over the decades: 4 in the 1980s, 35 in the 1990s, 75 in the 2000s, and so far in the 2010s - as of March 2014 - 65 (of which 48 in 2014).