Calling All Start-ups: Best Office Space For Rent In London

Finding office space to rent in London is no mean feat, especially for fledgling start-ups. No need to panic though; the capital has plenty of creative, contemporary and practical spaces to snap up - you just have to know where to look.

When looking for a home for your business, it is important for your employees to be your priority. A 2014 study of Nordic countries showed that the “physical working environment is an important, statistically significant predictor of productivity”. And this isn’t a novel idea, it’s estimated that high levels of dissatisfaction amongst office workers is costing a huge £300 billion a year in lost productivity – the last thing you want for your business! Here at Savoy Stewart, we have picked out the best office space for rent in London, to help you find the best spot in the capital, for varying budgets.

Looking for office space for rent in London? Here are our top picks:

• East London

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Famous for its hipster inhabitants and too-cool-for-school vibes, east London is the perfect place to base your fashion, tech or media business. There are plenty of bars and pubs around – perfect for casual meetings with fellow creative-types.

Best for: Creative, Tech, Fashion, Media 

Locations: Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Aldgate, Bethnal Green 

After work drinks: Boxpark, Pizza East, The Breakfast Club, Duck and Waffle, Sushisamba

• North London

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Picture a more grown up, well-kept version of Shoreditch – but still trendy. North London is a mix of busy streets and smart, tree-lines side roads, making it the perfect place to base your sophisticated business and impress at client meetings. 

Best for: Media, Design, PR, Creative 

Locations: Camden, Islington, Kings Cross, Somers Town, Angel, Hampstead, Kentish town 

After work drinks: The Harringay Arms, Ottolenghi, The Red Lion & Sun, The Stag, Gilgamesh, Shaka Zulu, The Cuban

• West London

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The swankiest of locations when looking for office space to rent in London, the West End has a high-class post code with high level rent to match; possibly not the best place to look for office space if you are a start-up. However, covering the buzzing business hubs of Hammersmith to the quirky, arty streets of Notting hill, there are some gems to be uncovered. 

Best for: Fashion, Creative, Product, Media, Music 

Locations: Paddington, Mayfair, Victoria, Hammersmith, Notting Hill, Chelsea 

After work drinks: Kensington Roof Gardens, the Frontline Club, Bluebird, Rum Kitchen, Tom’s Kitchen

• South London

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South London is a famously young, vibrant and fun place to be. Less hectic than central London, but still buzzing with life and jam-packed with bars, restaurants and pubs – the perfect place to lay down office roots and can be slightly cheaper than London’s other corners! It is definitely somewhere to consider when looking at office space to rent in London.

It’s a little undiscovered at the moment, but don’t expect it to stay that way for long as the cultural centre of Southbank is drawing more and more people south of the river.

Best for: Tech, Creative, Production, Events 

Locations: Southbank, Waterloo, London Bridge

After work drinks:  Borough Market, Udderbelly, Lightbox, Southbank Centre, Somerset House (short walk over the bridge!)

• Central London

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Central London is, without a doubt, the busiest spot in London, and really does have everything there possibly is to offer. With short travel times and distances between other spots in the city, meetings dotted around will be easy to get to and a tube station is never more than a five-minute walk away. Not only will your workers be kept sweet by their easy commute and short walks to the office, they’ll also benefit from a range of lunch options on their doorstep, such as Pret-a-Manger, Itsu or Starbucks to name a few.

Clients will always be impressed by your postcode as it is right in the hub of London, however, when looking for office space to rent in London, remember you get what you pay for. If your business is on a tight budget, Central probably isn’t the right option for you.

Best for: Media, Fashion 

Locations: Soho, The City, Fitzrovia

After work drinks: Soho House, Meat Liquor, Hawksmoor, China Town, Bar Soho, Dirty Martini Covent Garden