Increase in take up of London serviced offices bucks the trend

The south east seems to be recovering faster from the recession and some northern companies are opening new offices in London to take advantage of this. Research produced by BNP Paribas Real Estate indicates that there was a 6.3% rise in the take up of London offices space over the past quarter. If you’re thinking about moving offices or taking up a second base in London, then consider London Bridge or Farringdon for your new office base.

London Bridge

The completion of the Shard will go some way towards meeting the demand for serviced offices in London Bridge, an area which has always been popular because of its excellent transport links and proximity to the City.

Located between the City of London and Southwark, London Bridge is a major route into the city for vehicles. Shopping areas include The Vaults in London Bridge station, Bermondsey Street and the world-famous Borough Market.

London Bridge station is a major terminus from SE England, including the ports of Dover, Ramsgate and Folkestone. Thameslink and First Capital Connect trains link London Bridge directly with Kings Cross and Blackfriars stations and many areas north of London to Bedford and south to Brighton.
The Jubilee Line tube provides access to the West End, Docklands (including Canary Wharf) and Stratford. The Northern Line provides a direct link to Kings Cross, St Pancras (for Eurostar International Station) and Euston station. Buses depart from London Bridge terminus to many destinations in east and central London.
London Bridge District is home to over 270 organisations, ranging from international professional services to charities, fitness, marketing, legal and financial firms.

Numerous pubs, bars and first-class restaurants in the area are open every night of the week. The riverfront comes alive in the summer time with a free festival of plays, music, and films at the Scoop. There are two local theatres, the Unicorn Theatre and Southwark Playhouse. Major tourist attractions include Southwark cathedral, HMS Belfast, London Dungeon and the London Bridge Experience.

Farringdon

Demand for London offices will continue to grow over the next couple of years with emerging locations proving as popular as established locations. Serviced offices in Farringdon are a case in point as the area is now home to many style conscious media firms.

The district is dotted with retail outlets and banks, while a bargain can be found in Leather Lane market. Farringdon has excellent links with First Capital Connect trains from Brighton to Bedford calling at Gatwick Airport, or from Luton to Sutton or Wimbledon. The London Underground Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines provide connections to King’s Cross /St. Pancras International, Euston and Barbican.

Hatton Garden and Greville Street are renowned for their top-of-the-range jewellers. Traditionally, printers, solicitors and financial organisations had offices in the area. However, Farringdon is becoming popular with designers and trendy creative media types.

The area boasts numerous French, Italian, Japanese and Indian restaurants, as well as nightclubs such as Fabric and Ghost London, and a wealth of pubs and bars. The Barbican is a centre for cultural activities, hosting many plays, concerts, exhibitions and films. Also worth a visit is Smithfield meat market - one of the oldest markets in London - which has been running for 800 years.

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