London's top office locations - where should you locate?

With hybrid work fast becoming the norm, it has never been more important to choose the right location for your business.

When you’re looking for a new space to set up, scale up or open up a new office, there are lots of variables to consider. Whether it’s to attract the best talent, locate near existing customers or impress new clients, picking the right spot is crucial. But how do you pick the best location for your business? And what are some of the best office locations in London? 

Putting down roots in any major city can seem daunting, but with our knowledge of London, we’ve hand picked a few areas for you to consider. 

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Top office locations in London

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Shoreditch

In East London, it doesn’t get much better than Shoreditch.

Whether you’re a budding tech business that’s looking for a place to attract world class talent or an established technology business looking for a place to lay down new roots in London, Shoreditch can offer it all. 

Michelin Star restaurants, unique coffee shops, bars and bistros as far as the eye can see and all of the meeting spots you could ever want all in one place. Shoreditch offers so much to businesses opening up offices in this exciting hub of creativity and talent. ‍

Farringdon

Farringdon is an area with considerable history and heritage to it, that is also set for a bright future thanks to planned expansions to transport links.

With amazing proximity to the City of London and at least two universities nearby, Farringdon is an area that is increasingly attractive to tech firms and creatives alike. Connections to the Thameslink North-South line and a planned expansion that will see an East-West Crossrail line installed also mean it has superb accessibility.

Add to that a vibrant local economy and a number of attractive bars and eateries to enjoy in your evenings and Farringdon has a lot to recommend, with more to come. A new business improvement plan was voted in by residents in 2020, and the coming investment will no doubt ensure the area remains one of the best places to settle in the capital. 

Soho

When it comes to business locations in London, Soho almost needs no introduction, with the historical significance and thriving modern economy both reasons to locate your business in one of the capital’s creative hubs.

With four major train stations surrounding the area and a bevy of desirable neighbours already in situ, Soho pretty much has everything you could need as a tech firm, media outlet or production company. You’ll also benefit from links to Heathrow and Stratford that will make for great relations with visiting partners, as well as having the famous social side of Soho at hand when you need to entertain.

London Bridge

London Bridge has revitalised its popularity in the last 12 months, becoming one of the most popular post codes for businesses relocating. Alongside Southbank and Borough this area of South East London has become more popular than Shoreditch of late, with more than 30% of flexible office space searches in the last 12 months including London Bridge.

It goes without saying, that a large part of the appeal is down to the South Eastern rail links from London Bridge station, but with Borough Market and a plethora of other surrounding amenities, you'd have to say that it's easy to see why business owners are favouring London Bridge.

With beautiful warehouse building stock, views of the river and the Shard and the cultural vibrance of Bermondsey St a short walk away, this is likely to remain one the top spots in London for some time.

Liverpool St

The City district surrounding Liverpool St station has seen huge amounts of development in the last 5 years, adding space and amenity to the busiest station in London, Liverpool St. With great links to the centre of London, via the Central line, and national rail links to the East, Liverpool St is one of the most popular areas for businesses relocating.

Walking distance from Shoreditch, Bank, Moorgate and Spitalfields Market Liverpool St is slap bang in the melting pot of East London. Offering arguably one of the best spots for any business. And likely one of the reasons Amazon, Monzo and Starling Bank have decided to lay down roots here.

Aldgate East

On the Eastern fringe of the City, south of Shoreditch, Aldgate East is perfectly situated between both City and Tech districts. Minutes walk from Spitalfields, this particular location boasts a wealth of local charm with cafes, bars and restaurants on the doorstep. With the likes of UBER, General Assembly, and Unruly Media making their HQ's in Aldgate, the area is fast establishing itself as the next tech hub in East London.

Regardless of the space you want to occupy, there are some realities involved in relocating that cannot be ignored. These will vary from sector to sector of course, with certain industries centred around natural resources or areas of high talent production. While you may be able to find the perfect workspace in one area, that will pale into insignificance if prospective employees don’t want to relocate or your company is too far removed from key suppliers and contractors. 

It is best to first identify some key needs your business has, and then work from a list of locations you know can adequately service them to ensure you aren’t handicapping yourself from the off. For some, paying a premium for a prime spot in an opportunity-rich area, or location with unrivalled access to talent will be a worthwhile investment, while others may decide they can work from a less central location, or even create their own hub over time.

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