HSBC, Lloyds, London Stock Exchange, Bank of America, Reuters, Bloomberg

8 Canada Square, Canary Wharf

As the second-tallest building in London, it's a shame that the HSBC tower is a sleep-inducing beige. Tall and square, it wouldn't be fair to draw comparisons with former presidential candidate John Kerry—if only both took steps to modernize their images. Likewise, the HSBC logo looks in need of a refresh.

1 Lime Street

The dark and industrial Lloyds building has been described as a mechanical cathedral. If Mordor was a modern nation-state, the Lloyds