Why the City of London is a Great Place to Work and Play

The City of London has once again been crowned the financial hub of Europe, beating the likes of Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam. This relatively small area, measuring just 1.12 sq miles, is home to several of the world’s biggest banks and the London Stock Exchange. Despite being challenged by the emergence of Canary Wharf as another key financial epicentre in the 1980s, it’s still the dominant financial district in London.

Its status as a leading business district means that office space in the City of London is in demand — but, thankfully, there’s plenty of it. Established banking, finance and insurance companies are the dominant force in the area. However, it’s also become a prime incubator for startup culture, with serviced offices in the City of London providing a platform for new arrivals to realise their full potential.

This has made the ‘Square Mile’ a busy place to work and play, with around 500,000 people — roughly 10% of the capital’s workforce — commuting to the area every day. And, with fantastic transport links, unbeatable networking opportunities and excellent amenities, travelling to a City of London office space is a commute many modern workers are happy to do.

Commuting To The City of London

City of London stations

Liverpool Street Underground Station, Zone 1, Liverpool Street, EC2M 7PP
Elizabeth Line
Central Line
Circle Line
Metropolitan Line
Hammersmith & City Line

Bank Underground Station, Zone 1, Princes Street, EC3V 3LA
Central Line
Northern Line
DLR
Waterloo and City Line

Chancery Lane Underground Station, Zone 1, High Holborn, WC1V 6DR
Central Line

Monument Underground Station, Zone 1, King William Street, EC4R 9AA
Circle Line
District Line

Liverpool Street Station, Zone 1, Liverpool Street, EC2M 7PY
London Overground

Blackfriars Station, Zone 1, Blackfriars Road, EC4R 2BB
Southeastern
Thameslink

Cannon Street Station, Zone 1, Cannon Street, EC4N 6AP
Southeastern

Fenchurch Street Station, Zone 1, Fenchurch Place, EC3M 4AJ
C2c

City of London buses

8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25, 38, 43, 59, 73, 74, 139, 148, 159, 188, 205, 274, 390 & 453

Things To Do In The City of London

The City of London is the epitome of the 15-minute city, with cafes, shops, bars, restaurants, gyms and green spaces all within walking distance of the serviced offices in the area.

Sky Garden

Free entry and incredible views over London make the towering glass garden at the top of the Walkie-Talkie building, known as the Sky Garden, a fantastic spot to impress clients and show your employees a good time. You will need to book in advance.

Leadenhall Market

As well as being very pretty and historic, Leadenhall Market is also one of the City’s top shopping spots, with brands such as Barbour, Bedales and Reiss. It’s also a great place for workers to grab lunch on the go or enjoy the surrounding pubs and bars.

Barbican Centre

The Barbican Centre on the City of London’s upper perimeter is the largest multi-purpose performing arts space in Europe. It offers a full cultural programme, an open-air cinema and even a secret rooftop garden for those in the know.

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Featured office space in City of London

200 Aldersgate

London,  EC1A 4HD

Modern, versatile office spaces with large swimming pool near St. Paul’s station

From

£630pp/m

Private Office

Make an enquiry

9 Devonshire Square

London,  EC2M 4YF

A traditional, charming office space in the lively Liverpool Street

From

£790pp/m

Private Office

£390pp/m

Hot Desk

£450pp/m

Shared Office

Make an enquiry

29 Throgmorton Street

London,  EC2N 2AT

A warm, elegant space in London’s beating financial heart

From

£600pp/m

Private Office

£375pp/m

Hot Desk

£375pp/m

Shared Office

Make an enquiry

Best for team building

If you have a team you want to reward or new starters you’d like to help settle in, serviced offices in the City of London are surrounded by an array of exciting and unlikely attractions.

Puttshack

Puttshack in Bank claims to be the best mini golf in London and it certainly has the best setting, surrounded by the grand architecture of the historic No. 1 Poultry building. It offers three tech-infused nine-hole courses along with an extensive food and drinks menu so your team can have a scream.

Swingers

If Puttshack isn’t your thing, Swingers in the City combines crazy golf with cocktails and street food in a 1920s themed English countryside-inspired golf club and clubhouse. Group packages are available and you can hire private areas for your team.

Dabbers

Dabbers Social Bingo replaces cups of tea and Butlins bingo callers with cocktails, comedians and performers for team building with a difference.

Best for out-of-office meetings

If good eating in the Square Mile is defined by one thing, it has to be the business lunch. Office space in the City of London provides you with the perfect base to explore the world-class restaurants nearby.

Madison

This 6th-floor bar, restaurant and rooftop terrace offers breathtaking views of the London skyline and nearby St Pauls. The Manhattan-style restaurant is open from midday until late and features creative cocktails, superb grills and slow-cooked classics, while the Madison rooftop bar is a destination in its own right.

The Ivy City Garden

The Ivy City Garden serves up modern international fare in historic Bishopsgate Gardens. The cuisine-leaping menu includes everything from tuna carpaccio to an acclaimed shepherd’s pie. You and your clients can also enjoy the elegant bar, private dining room and serene garden.

Best for wellbeing

These days, all work and no play is not something modern workers subscribe to. As well as local amenities, the right office space will also have nearby parks, gyms and green spaces to help establish a healthy daily routine.

City of London gardens

Hidden among the densely-packed office spaces in the City of London are some delightful gardens and ‘secret’ places where you and your team can unwind.

St Dunstan-in-the-East Church Garden on Idol Lane is an atmospheric garden in the shadow of a bombed-out church designed by Christopher Wren. Festival Garden is an elegant, square garden created on a bomb site by the architect, Sir Albert Richardson. And nearby Finsbury Circus Gardens, the largest open space in the Square Mile, is currently being redesigned to create a brand new space for city workers.

City of London gyms

1Rebel is a no-contract gym where you can work up a sweat before or after a hard day’s work. Not for the faint-hearted, it specialises in high-intensity workout classes. Digme, in both Moorgate and Bank, offers cycle, HIIT, strength, yoga and barre sessions in a friendly, unintimidating space.