The Thames Barrier was designed by architect Roger Walters and is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world.

The concept of the rotating gates was devised by engineer Reginald Charles Draper. In 1969, from his parents’ house in Wood Green, London, he constructed a working model. The novel rotating cylinders were based on the design of the taps on his gas cooker.

The barrier protects 125 square kilometres of central London from flooding caused by tidal surges or excess water flowing over Teddington Weir. During the barrier’s entire history up to October 2019, there have been 186 flood defence closures.

It has 10 steel gates that can be raised across the River Thames. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-storey building.