Situated in the heart of London, the West End is a buzzing hub for both the commercial and entertainment industries. Full of character with its low-rise buildings, many of which are listed under English Heritage, office space is highly sought after in this exclusive location.
Why pick this area of London?
Located in the busy epicentre of the West End, Mayfair and St James's are regarded as two of the world's most prestigious residential and commercial areas. Mayfair in particular is graced with stunning architecture and a fine selection of period buildings, with its beauty and central location leading to some of the highest rents in the world.
Which business sectors does this area attract?
The area has established itself as a prime location for hedge funds, financial firms and a collection of embassies, law firms and oil and gas companies. You'll be guaranteed to be within close proximity of some of the world's largest businesses, and clients will delight in the exclusive setting.
Transport Links
Getting around is easy, with the Underground providing access to Central, Victoria, Piccadilly and Jubilee lines. Bond Street and Saville Row will be on your doorstep, and Regent Street, Oxford Street, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace only minutes away on foot. The area is cycle-friendly too, and part of all major bus routes.
Amenities
Post-work facilities are in abundance, with many high-end art galleries calling Mayfair and St James's home. A collection of the finest private clubs in London are located in the area, including Annabel's and The Royal Automobile Club. You won't be short of luxurious places to drink or dine either, with a collection of boutique hotels such as The Ritz and Claridge's offering Michelin-star dining.
A hotspot for fashion and media businesses, Victoria is bustling with creative minds.
What does Victoria have to offer?
Once a historic location for government buildings, Victoria has undergone a transformation. Major developments have diversified the area, with Land Securities' Nova Scheme conducting some of the largest changes. The rejuvenation has attracted some of the world's biggest businesses including Google, The Telegraph, Burberry and Giorgio Armani.
Striking Grade A buildings line the streets, offering only the highest-quality office spaces.
transport Links
The small district is within walking distance of Westminster and Southbank and it has excellent transport links. The Underground provides access to District, Circle and Victoria lines, enabling people to quickly get around London. London Victoria is the capital's second busiest train station, creating connections within and outside of London. Victoria's coach station is also London's main coach terminal, with coaches travelling around the UK.
Amenities
Leisure time can be spent visiting Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and the Apollo Victoria Theatre. A collection of high-quality cafes and bistros can be enjoyed during lunch hours, while a unique mix of cuisines is offered by the area's huge selection of restaurants and bars.
What makes Soho and Covent Garden an attractive option?
Charismatic and vibrant, Soho and Covent Garden offer the perfect environment for innovative, growing businesses of all sizes. An area buzzing with creativity and culture, both locations are highly popular with tech and media firms.
In Soho, you'll find Sony, Twitter, Warner Music and Saatchi to name a few, while Facebook, Yahoo and Skype reside in Covent Garden. It's not just larger firms that set up here either, many new start-ups are attracted to the area thanks to its growing business community.
Amenities
Soho and Covent Garden have a fantastic social scene and are home to some of the trendiest eating and drinking venues in London. There's an eclectic mix of bars and nightclubs in both areas and they also benefit from excellent shopping facilities, Chinatown and the London Palladium.
Transport Links
Transport links are superb, due to the positioning of the area. Residents have easy access to the West End sub-markets, Mayfair, St James's and the financial district of London. The Underground makes travel easy, connecting to all the main lines including Victoria, Central and Piccadilly.
What does Noho have to offer?
In the north, you'll find Marylebone and Fitzrovia. Also known as Noho, the area is known for its bohemian, creative legacy and many famous novelists and musicians have enjoyed the delightful residential areas located here. It's undeniably one of the edgiest areas of London.
Recently, it's received attention from media and tech companies. With Facebook planning to move to Rathbone Square in 2017 and MTV, CNN Europe and the BBC already located here, Noho will continue to thrive.
Transport Links
There are nine different tube stations surrounding the area, and the central location makes walking from A to B simple. Retail thrives in Marylebone, with Charlotte Street, Oxford Street and Bond Street close by too - ideal for shopping during a lunch break.
Amenities
The social scene is suited to all budgets and tastes. Quirky bars, quaint independent cafés and an extensive variety of restaurants can be found here.
Offering mid-range rental prices, the areas attract a wide range of occupiers. No singular industry dominates the area.
Which business sectors does this area attract?
Kings Cross is an up-and-coming area for industry, with major redevelopment scheduled to be complete by 2020. In 2009, office space was limited and the location was known as a fairly rundown industrial area. Now the area is being transformed into a globally recognized business and leisure hub with 3.4 million sq ft of office space, while 2,000 new homes and a new primary school are being built too.
If you're looking for unparalleled connectivity, Kings Cross will deliver. Google has recently decided to relocate its European headquarters here, triggering an influx in movement with many creative industries following suit. Universal and Havas are just two major businesses that can be found here. Other industries are booming too, however, with Boots, New Look and Arriva choosing to do business in Kings Cross.
Transport Links
Transport couldn't be better. Kings Cross St Pancras is the most connected hub in Europe and worldwide travel is possible from here. Six underground lines, two mainline train stations, the Eurostar and five airports can be easily reached.
Amenities
Kings Cross also benefits from a vast selection of restaurants and vendors. The lively location is bustling with new developments - Coal Drops Yard (a new retail quarter comprising a selection of independent stores) will be completed here in 2019.
Walk to Camden, visit the Kerb KX food market during the summer and connect with over 4,000 students attending Central St Martins University.
Which business sectors does this area attract?
Start-ups and small businesses can enjoy relatively low rent levels in Paddington compared to other West End locations, with office spaces freed from strict planning restrictions. The area offers more flexibility than most and larger floor plans can be obtained for a smaller price tag.
Microsoft and Nokia call Paddington home, with the tech and media sub-market being the most active here. But all business is welcome, there's no dominant sector.
Amenities
For after-work dining, Praed Street is alive with fine eateries and a range of independent bars. The social scene may not be as busy as elsewhere in the West End, but the bars and restaurants offered here are exceptional and will not disappoint.
Transport Links
Many of London's Overground trains to the West of England and Wales can be found here. Transport around London is excellent too, with tube stations providing access to Bakerloo, Circle, District, Hammersmith and City lines. It is the main access point to Heathrow from central London, with the Heathrow Express offering a 20-minute service.
Close to the north edge of Hyde Park, Paddington is a cycle-friendly area and close to picturesque green-spaces.
What does Midtown have to offer?
Surrounded by culture, creative businesses flock to Midtown, as well as it still is the epicentre of the legal world with its proximity to Lincoln’s Inn, major firms such as Hogan Lovells are located there. Steeped in beautiful architecture, many traditional buildings have been refurbished and converted into office spaces. There's a young, vibrant crowd in Midtown but the overall occupier base is varied. You can find professional and public services here too, alongside education and health businesses.
Transport Links
A Zone 1 location, Midtown lies in the heart of Central London. Travel across the city is easy with the Underground, as the Central, Bakerloo, Piccadilly, District and the soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth line are all easily accessible from here. The area is on all major bus routes too and Midtown is cycle-friendly if you fancy a scenic bike ride to and from work.
Amenities
There's plenty of after-work entertainment to enjoy. In close proximity to Kings College London, SOAS University and University of the Arts London, there's an entire range of restaurants and bars in the area, catering to all budgets. Covent Garden is located close by in the south, with a selection of higher-end restaurants and substantial retail opportunities on offer.
Midtown also benefits from some of London's largest West End theatres, museums and galleries too.
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