Anyone who has ever lived or worked in London knows that this is one of the greatest and most diverse cultural centres of the world. Each neighbourhood presents something totally unique and hopping between zones on the tube almost feels like you're travelling between different cities completely.
From London's bustling business district to the vibrant, lively buzz of Shoreditch high street, you'll find every type of work environment in London. So whether you're just starting up or you're looking to move your office to a new area in London, here are the most desirable postcodes dependent on your business sector:
West End
(Covent Garden, Soho, Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Street, High Holborn)
Postcode: W1, WC1
Best for: Creatives, Media, Film, Music
Companies: Soho Media Group, MPC (Moving Picture Company), Top Left Design, DBD Media, Platform Post Production, Felt Music
The postcode that's best known for its eclectic mix of shops, entertainment and creativity. Soho is a great place for inspiration, whether you're an independent agency or a relatively large corporation. The energy of the district is likely enough to keep creative minds and innovative businesses motivated.
Silicon Roundabout
(Old Street)
Postcode: EC1
Best for: Tech, Fin Tech, Digital Media
Companies: Amazon, Cisco, Last.fm, EE, Songkick, TweetDeck, Transferwise, BT, Intel, Google Innovation Hub
EC1, otherwise known as the Silicon Roundabout is home to over 3,000 tech firms per square kilometre. This is 50 times more than the London average, and twice more even than the second-hottest tech postcode EC2, which is just on the other side of the Old Street Roundabout.
The Square Mile
(Fleet Street, Chancery Lane, Gracechurch Street)
Postcode: EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4
Best for: Finance, Consultancy, Insurance
Companies: Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays
The Square Mile is the historic centre and the primary central business district of London - home to both the Stock Exchangeand the Bank of England. Here you'll find modern corporate skyscrapers towering above medieval alleyways and 17th century St. Paul's Cathedral.
South Bank
Postcode: SE1
Best for: Tourism, Arts, Hospitality
Companies: British Film Institute, Southbank Centre, ITV
South Bank boasts some of London's most popular treasures, such as the London Eye, Tate Modern, National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe. The area stretches between Westminster and London Bridges on the south side of the river, where you'll find a range of entertainment, arts and dining venues. If you want your business placed right in the heart of London's cultural scene, this is the place to be.
Shoreditch
Postcode: E1
Best for: Creatives, Start-ups, Independent Local Businesses, Tech
Companies: Monzo, TheTab, PetsPyjamas, Grape Digital
Shoreditch is the epitome of warehouse-style agency chic. Inspiration and competition lies around every corner, and offices in city fringe locations like Shoreditch are becoming more desirable than ever.
Hammersmith
Postcode: W6
Best for: Multinational Corporations
Companies: L'Oréal, Disney, Lancôme, Universal Music, Virgin Media, Victoria Beckham
Hammersmith's location is desirable for businesses that want to be equal distance from Heathrow Airport and the City of London. The major transport links have attracted several multinational corporations to the area making it one of the most sought-after areas for large companies around the UK.
King's Cross
Postcode: N1
Best for: Tech, Creative Industry
Companies: Universal Music, Google, Facebook
King's Cross' recent regeneration has created 3.4 million sq ft of workspace, offering huge potential for the future. Plus, Paris is only a couple of hours away via St Pancras station. Google, Havas, Universal Music have all flocked here to call it their professional home.
Header Image Source: Ed Robertson - Unsplash
