The City of London is an area of Central London and was the original part of London before it began to expand in the Middle Ages. It is now a small part of the Greater London area but still regarded as the financial heart of the capital.
The City is often referred to as the Square Mile, a term that refers to the original size of London. It is made up of 25 ancient wards and is managed by the Corporation of London, headed by The Lord Mayor of London who resides at Mansion House near the Bank of England.
The City is home to many different types of businesses with insurance companies mainly in the east and financial services companies to the west. An array of professional service and creative organisations can be found across the whole of the City.
The City has a very extensive transport network. Mainline rail stations bring commuters in from Kent and the Home Counties and beyond and the Tube network links the City with the West End and other parts of London. Crossrail, which opens in 2018 at Liverpool Street will provide fast connections to Canary Wharf and across to Tottenham Court Road.
Over 440,000 people work in the City compared to a very the low number of residents. This means that most companies rely on their employees to commute to the office using the array of transport options available.
With record office occupancy rates in 2016, a significant number of new developments are underway including several new skyscrapers like One Undershaft, 22 Bishopsgate and The Scalpel.
There is a wide selection of serviced office locations, managed and conventional office space on offer in the City of London area. To get a real idea of what’s available to you start your search here.
Typical office pricing in the area: £400 - £950 per workstation
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE AREA
The City of London is close to the following areas of London that are also worth consideration as a home for your business. All offer a wide choice of serviced offices and flexible workspace solutions.
Here are the indicative price ranges for workstations in each area (correct during 2016).
Holborn – Just outside the boundaries of the Square Mile, Holborn is usually referred to as Midtown, an area between the West End and the City.
Typical office pricing in the area: £450 - £800 per workstation
Clerkenwell/Farringdon – Having benefited from extensive regeneration over the last 20 years, Clerkenwell is a popular location for creative and media businesses.
Typical office pricing in the area: £400 - £700 per workstation
Old Street – Recent improvements to the area have seen Old Street become well known for technology businesses and is often referred to as “Silicon Roundabout”.
Typical office pricing in the area: £350 - £650 per workstation
Whitechapel – Extensive redevelopment around the Aldgate and Aldgate East area of Whitechapel has already seen an influx of businesses. Pedestrian only areas and green spaces will create a new area of the City.
Typical office pricing in the area: £300 - £700 per workstation
Covent Garden – A colourful and bustling location in the heart of the West End, it’s also popular with tourists and was once home to London’s principle fruit and vegetable market until the 1980’s.
Typical office pricing in the area: £300 - £900 per workstation
LOCAL TRANSPORT
The City benefits from a number of transport links connecting office space and serviced offices in the area via a number of Tube lines as well as close access to major roads and bus routes. This location means you are never more than 10 minutes from the West End and around 15 minutes from Canary Wharf.
Tube stations: Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Barbican, Chancery Lane, Blackfriars, St Paul’s, Bank, Mansion House, Cannon Street, Monument and Aldgate
Tube lines: Waterloo and City, Northern, Central, District, Circle, Metropolitan, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Hammersmith and City lines. Download a handy Tube map here
Mainline stations: City Thameslink, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, Moorgate, Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street
Major road links: The A10, A11 and A13 all lead to major motorways
Nearest airports: London City with Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick accessible via rail links
Buses: There are over 50 bus routes to other parts of London including Hackney Wick, Walthamstow, Euston, Kings Cross, Holborn and Tottenham Court Road. Find out which buses serve this area here
Cycle: The area is served by sixteen London Cycle Network bays. Find a cycle hire location here
Other: Thames river boat services via Tower Pier and Blackfriars Millennium Pier
The City is full of things to do after work and as you would expect there are many great places to eat and shop. You will find leading restaurants like Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa and Gordon Ramsey’s The Bread Street Kitchen near One New Change. As well as Brasserie Blanc near Old Broad Street and an extensive choice of cafes and bars which are popular at lunchtime and after work.
If you are looking for the arts then try the Barbican Centre which hosts theatre productions, films and concerts. The nearby Museum of London takes you through the history of the Square Mile and even boasts the Lord Mayor’s golden coach.
There are lots of green spaces dotted about where you can sit and enjoy the varied architecture that makes up the City. One of the more popular gardens is located opposite St Paul’s Cathedral on New Change and is adjacent to the recently refurbished Festival Gardens.
FAMOUS LOCATIONS AND LANDMARKS
The City of London has many famous landmarks and places of interest that are worth mentioning, here are just a few.
The Millennium Bridge was erected to mark the millennium celebration in London but was famously found to wobble. It was later re-opened and is now a popular footbridge from the City to the Southbank and Tate Modern.
St Paul’s Cathedral is a significant landmark on the London skyline. Its famous dome can be seen from Hampstead Heath. There is a very good restaurant and cafe in the crypt.
The Monument is a viewing platform located on the site of the Great Fire of London and commands excellent views across the City.
The Tower of London – Although this 900 year old landmark is just outside the City border, it’s still worth a visit.
The Bank of England is an impressive building close to Bank Tube station and next to the Royal Exchange which has a range of designer stores. The Bank of England museum is off Bartholomew Lane.
FURTHER HELP AND SUPPORT
If you would like more information about City of London as an area for your business please speak to a member of our team who can discuss workspace options and other areas close-by.
Call – 020 3031 8563
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