The Thames was a prime symbol of Britain’s commercial and imperial power. However, it only became sufficiently Picturesque to be shown in landscape painting when it stretched into the countryside. So in this panoramic view, London itself is only a faint presence. The city can just be seen in the distance, beyond the Royal Naval Hospital and the Queen’s House.

The grandeur of this landscape and historic buildings have patriotic connotations. However, the verses Turner wrote to accompany this picture focused on materialism and pollution. This suggests an ambivalent attitude towards his native city.