6 of the Best Serviced Offices in the City of London (And Why)

Serviced offices are growing in popularity for businesses of all shapes and sizes, whether they’re startups, scale-ups or bigger businesses. Serviced office providers work hard to match all of your office needs – from beautifully designed spaces to complimentary perks that eliminate the hassle of running an office yourself. All you need to do is bring your laptop – the rest is ready for you, freeing up plenty of time to focus on building your business.

In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the best serviced offices to rent in the City, but if you’d prefer to explore other office space hotspots in London, take a look at these:

• 5 of the Best Serviced Offices in Marylebone
• 5 of the Best Serviced Offices in Victoria
• 6 of the Best Serviced Offices in South Bank

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Renting serviced office space in the City of London

One of the most popular destinations for serviced office space is the City of London. Known for being the financial epicentre for the UK and Europe, the City’s powerhouse strength makes it home to some of the world’s biggest banks, including the headquarters of NatWest, Standard Chartered, Lloyds and Deutsche Bank. 

Meanwhile, on the edge of the city is trendy Shoreditch, which has become known as an incubator hotspot for startup culture, especially for fast-growth Fintechs and technology businesses. But the City’s buzz isn’t exclusively financial – it’s London’s legal backbone, housing magic circle names such as Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Slaughter and May, with Allen & Overy based nearby in Spitalfields.

According to Francesca Cooper-Isow, Senior Surveyor in Knight Frank's Flexible Office Solutions team, "History, reputation and commuting ease are just a handful of reasons why businesses flock to find a home in the City of London. The area is also packed with some incredible restaurants like Sushisamba, The Mercer, The Ivy and Hispania, as well as rooftop bars with panoramic views of London."

What is serviced office space and what are the benefits?

Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s worth having a look at exactly what we mean by ‘serviced office space’. You can think of it as the workplace equivalent of a serviced apartment. If you stay in a serviced apartment it will be fully furnished, have a fully equipped kitchen, WiFi, a TV, linen, towels and everything else you need so you can move in immediately.  

The same is true of a serviced office. Simply sign a deal with an office space provider and you’ll have access to a private office that includes everything you need. It will be fully furnished and equipped and all maintenance and cleaning will be included in the price.

Serviced offices typically include all your utilities, WiFi, tea and coffee, access to a kitchen, breakout spaces and meeting rooms, a professional reception service to greet your clients and security. Some also have parking and bicycle storage, showers and on-site technical support. You’ll usually have to provide your own computer equipment and devices, but the office will be pre-cabled and ready to go.  

The size of serviced offices differs. You could have a small room with a few desks or an entire floor with 20 or 100 desks. You’ll typically pay a monthly fee per desk on a relatively short-term commitment, which gives you the flexibility many small and medium-sized businesses often need.

Serviced offices can provide plenty of benefits for businesses. Here are a few:

Excellent amenities

Serviced offices can give you access to better amenities than if you leased a traditional workspace. They can include on-site cafes and restaurants, communal breakout rooms, roof terraces, bicycle storage, soundproofed work areas and more.

Greater flexibility 

One of the main advantages of serviced offices in London and elsewhere is the short-term nature of the deals. You can simply move on without having to see out lengthy notice periods or increase (or decrease) the size of your space within the same building when you need to. That helps you control the costs and makes serviced offices a good fit for fast-growing businesses.

No set-up time   

Your office will be ready from the minute you move in. You might have to spend 10 minutes plugging in your desktop computer, but if you’re on a laptop, you can just open it up and get started. 

Reduced overheads

The fee structure, with everything included in a single payment, makes it easy to budget and reduces your overheads. There are no broadband or utility bills, cleaning fees or furniture costs to worry about, which helps to keep everything nice and simple.   

Access to desirable locations

While the upfront capital costs of leasing and fitting out a traditional office in London might be beyond your business’s budget, serviced offices allow you to set up in some of the most appealing areas in the capital. That can help you attract employees, build your brand, enhance your culture and bag bigger clients. 

The benefits of renting serviced office space in London

As we’ve touched on above, one of the main benefits of renting serviced office space is the ability to set your business up in some incredible locations. Having a London office can make a big difference to your business’s prospects for lots of reasons. 

Here are a few of the benefits of renting serviced office space in London:  

Excellent transport links

London benefits from some of the world’s best public transport links. You can take a bus, hop on the underground or overground, get one of the driverless DLR trains or even float to work on the river boat service, and of course, you can also cycle or walk. The sheer variety of transport options, and its relative affordability, make it easy to hop between meetings and for employees to commute from across the city or further afield.  

Access to a skilled workforce

London has a vast talent pool that employers can dip into. Competition for the best workers is fierce, but the diversity of London’s workforce - in terms of skills, experience and culture - means you should have no problem finding the talent you need. 

More connections and opportunities

They say “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, and in London, there are over one million businesses, which gives you unrivalled networking opportunities. Many serviced offices in London run regular networking events and meetups so businesses can share connections and exchange services. It’s also easy to access support, whether it’s help identifying finance options or business growth guidance from mentors, incubators and accelerators. 

The culture

When you rent a workspace in London, it’s not just the office amenities that you benefit from. You also get unfettered access to all the wonderful things outside your door. There’s every type of food, drink, show, event and experience waiting to be discovered. You can wine and dine clients and celebrate successes with your team. London is also one of the greenest cities in the world, with plenty of offices near some fantastic green spaces.   

6 of the best offices in the City of London

Whatever your industry, a postcode in the City is a stamp of heritage, hustle and credibility. For those on the hunt for the best serviced offices in London, or the best serviced offices in the City, we’ve got them all listed here, but we’ve pulled out six in the City to kickstart your search.

The Office Group’s 50 Liverpool St, London, EC2M 7PY

Liverpool Street station’s Victorian features were nearly abolished in favour of a more modern development, but in 1979, Sir John Betjeman and Sir Spike Milligan led a famous conservation campaign to protect its history. Now, this serviced office at 50 Liverpool Street has arched windows that look into the station’s rich history, forming almost part of the fabric itself.

Good to know: The Grade II listed building is clad with clean, Scandinavian interiors. The copper, steel mesh, stained timber and panelling create a classic look and feel for any business. The serviced office space is pet-friendly, offers locker storage, socials, video conferencing, phone booths, dedicated bandwidth and even access to other centres.

Getting to the office: Liverpool Street station is 0.1 miles away and Moorgate station is 0.3 miles away.

Storey’s 1 Finsbury Avenue, Broadgate, London, EC2M 2PF

This iconic, Grade II listed building in Broadgate is home to stunning serviced office space. Art lovers should know that along with sleek, modern interiors, it features a central stand out feature by artist and designer Morag Myerscough, with her well-known use of bright colours.

Good to know: The building also houses a boutique Everyman cinema, a gym, a Butterscotch Bakery and a variety of restaurants. Along with all these perks, you’ll have the total serviced office experience with socials, daily cleaning, on-site IT support and 24/7 access. It’s just a short walk into Shoreditch and moments away from Liverpool Street Station. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, the office is pet-friendly.

Getting to the office: Liverpool Street station is 0.2 miles away and Moorgate station is 0.2 miles away.

The Argyll Club’s 1 King William St, london, EC4N 7AR

This serviced office space is glowing with regal zeal. Its reception area resembles that of a grand hotel lobby, welcoming each guest with modern chandeliers, marble prints and gold accents. The space on offer includes office suites, meeting rooms, a customer lounge and a private roof terrace, which offers incredible views across London.

Good to know: The luxury space also has partnerships with five-star venues, post service, video conferencing, tea and coffee, daily cleaning, 24/7 access, 24-hour security presence and showers.

Getting to the office: Bank station is 0.1 miles away and Cannon Street station is 0.1 miles away.

Ocubis’s Cannon Green, 27 Bush Lane, London EC4R 0AA

This office space blends quirky interiors with the latest technology. While the natural-style, Scandinavian furniture gives off a calm, winter-lodge feel, the office is just moments away from the hustle and bustle of Cannon Street and Monument station, offering an easy commute from the City.

Good to know: Along with a dramatic glass atrium, wow-factors include two large terraces and a rooftop terrace with great views across London. To name a few, the serviced office space grants you 24/7 access, bike storage, breakout spaces, catering and cafés on-site, daily cleaning, fresh fruit, a gym, event space, on-site IT support, partnership with five-star venues, showers and phone booths.

Getting to the office: Cannon Street station is 0.1 miles away and Monument station is 0.2 miles away.

Uncommon’s 34-37 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PP

Packed with the leafy-green joys of biophilic design, organic earthy colours and natural light, this serviced office space balances luxury, wellness and technology right next to Liverpool Street station. Notably, this impressive flexible workspace was acquired from Lord Alan Sugar’s development company.

Good to know: 34-37 Liverpool Street is set up for all sorts of businesses in the City of London. The highly insta-worthy hot desking space on the seventh floor has an angular marble bar, hanging chairs and stunning views of the capital. In terms of serviced office amenities, the space has almost every imaginable perk, from access to other coworking centres, social events for members and an entire floor dedicated to relaxation.

Getting to the office: Liverpool Street station is 0.1 miles away and Moorgate station is 0.3 miles away.

Landmark’s Heron Tower, 11 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY

This serviced office space has the ultimate wow-factor. Known for its rooftop restaurants and nightclubs, it features a triple height atrium with inspirational views and workspaces flooded with natural light. Plus, a snaking staircase links all the floors together.

Good to know: The space has fully equipped meeting rooms, a spacious boardroom for up to 18 people and private, fully furnished offices. Cool, futuristic design is matched with real luxury, with serviced office perks including fresh fruit, bike storage, showers, socials for members, video conferencing and gorgeous outdoor space. The building is also just a two-minute walk away from Liverpool Street station, right in the heart of the City.

Getting to the office: Liverpool Street station is 0.1 miles away and Aldgate station is 0.3 miles away.

No matter what your office requirements are, we’ll be able to help you find the perfect fit across all of London. Whether you’re a big business looking for project space or a small startup looking for your first move, we’ve got you covered.

We can help you find the right office space 

No matter what your office requirements are, we’ll be able to help you find the perfect fit across all of London. Whether you’re a big business looking for project space or a small startup looking for your first move, we’ve got you covered.