Britain’s fast-growing media, tech and telecoms industries are set to spark big increases in demand for office space in London over the next two years, says a study by BNP Paribas.
So if you’re looking for a business base in the British capital, you’ll need to choose your area carefully.
You may not have considered London Bridge, a vibrant central district. It’s one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, with myriad connections to the events that have formed London’s history.
The area, originally called the Pool of London, stretches from London Bridge itself to just past Tower Bridge, and offers you and your clients and colleagues an array of sights and experiences.
The area is also very well-connected. London Bridge Station is a major transport hub with mainline trains running across the south east. There are also overland links with Kings Cross and Blackfriars Stations and to the north.
The Docklands Light Railway also runs from the area, as do four London Underground lines.
The bus station is another major terminus, with services from all directions.
And there’s a local bike park and cycle lanes. Prefer to walk? The Thames Path and the Jubilee Walkway run through the area.
London Bridge is a business hub, and home to one of London’s 25 ‘Business Improvement Districts’. The area hosts a diverse range of enterprises, from international professional service firms to independent traders.
The neighbourhood was once known as London’s Larder thanks to all the food stored in warehouses here. Today you’ll find a range of eateries and dining opportunities for every pocket and taste, whether you’re entertaining clients or socialising with colleagues.
Try the gastropubs, cafes and smart bards of Bermondsey Street, the converted warehouses of Butlers Wharf now housing restaurants, the varied cuisines of Tooley Street or the waterside retreat of St Katharine’s Docks.
And with city landmarks like the Tower, London Dungeon, HMS Belfast and the Design Museum nearby, not to mention major attractions like the Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre within walking distance, there’s so much to enjoy in this part of London. Learn more about office space to let in London Bridge today.
Alternatively, Kings Cross, an area on the northern edge of central London, has undergone extensive regeneration since the mid-1990s. That process continues with projects like Kings Cross Central in the district’s north, one of the largest construction projects in Greater London in the first quarter of this century.
For the past five years, Kings Cross has been the terminus for the Eurostar rail link at St Pancras International, providing links to mainland Europe. London Kings Cross train station, opened 160 years ago, has suburban services, fast links to Peterborough and Cambridge, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. There are also extensive underground and bus links.
With Google signing up this year to have its UK base locally, office space in Kings Cross is in strong demand and there is a lot of business activity in the area.
And with nearby attractions ranging from the British Library to Camden Town Hall and the London Canal Museum, it’s not hard to see why. In fact, over the last decade, the hotels, residential accommodation, restaurants and other venues which have sprung up in the area have made it a cultural hub.
