London was recently heralded as the fifth most expensive coworking city with average desk rents of £700 per month, according to a report by the Instant Group. But you don’t need to fork out a small fortune to work in some pretty cool spaces.
Office space marketplace Hubble has identified the cheapest coworking desk costs at Tube stops across the city.
While major players, including The Office Group and WeWork, still offer best value in central London locations like Green Park and Holborn, independent operators are also providing competitive rates and offering the city’s workers something a little bit different. For example, there’s this entrepreneurial high street store on swanky Westbourne Grove. A members’ club in Mayfair offers desks from £200 per month and the famous nightclub, Ministry of Sound, can give you a seat for £325 per month.
If you want creative and a cost-effective space to work in the UK’s capital, here are 10 spaces you need to try:
1. The Workary: Brompton – £95 per month
238 Old Brompton Road, Chelsea, London, SW5 0DE
Featuring a lovely contemporary gallery, this light, airy yet intimate space houses new artwork and literally surrounds creatives with inspiration. There’s high-speed wifi and plug points throughout the space. Plus, regular talks and events for startups.Local businesses and charities (who are eligible for a discount at community-minded Workary spaces), entrepreneurs and startups (who can rent whole offices and also rent the gallery as event space) regularly use this space.
2. St. Lukes Community Centre – £120 per month
St Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, London EC1V 8AJ
This lovely community centre with a vibrant café is based in Islington and is used by local charities, freelancers and small businesses. St. Lukes has a friendly vibe and comes with a large kitchen, which is suitable for cooking classes.It’s specially tailored for startups, not-for-profit organisations, charities, freelancers and tradespeople who need to run and grow their businesses and need access to a central London office with basic facilities.
3. Innovation Warehouse – £150 per month
1 E Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PT
On the first floor above the historical Smithfield Market, Innovation Warehouse is in the heart of the action in Farringdon. For regular members, what sets this space apart is its successful WISE programme, which mentors startups toward investment-readiness.This space attracts a range of people including: entrepreneurs, developers, mentors and investors. It hosts events and meetups most evenings, which are great way to meet like-minded individuals.
4. Ark Coworking – £150 per month
237 Pentonville Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9NG
Community and collaboration is at the heart of Ark Coworking with group lunches, a collaborative Spotify playlist and active group message board. This fosters an inclusive creative spirit. The Ark team lovingly restored a dilapidated Victorian apartment building to create a beautiful, personal space that attracts freelancers, start-ups and social entrepreneurs.
5. V22 – Shoreditch – £150 per month
50 Worship St, London EC2A
With access to a community of artists, designers, creatives and entrepreneurs, V22 is an art organisation that specialises in the collection of contemporary art – and some inspirational coworking space. V22 provides artist and artisan studios, workspaces and workshops. It also runs regular community engagement and education programmes to provide affordable workspace for startups, freelancers, ethical businesses and digital innovators.
6. G.O.D. Village – £150 per month
4th Floor, 107 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HW
The Gifted Office Development Village, also known as G.O.D. Village, brings entrepreneurs and startups together under one roof. There’s also lots of support from the in-house team, offering legal, accountancy and financial advice. It’s close to the Barbican’s eclectic arts programme and is popular with the city’s entrepreneurs and startups.
7. Airspace Soho – £150 per month
Airspace 29/31, Oxford street, London, W1D 2DR
Airspace Soho’s philosophy that affordability does not have to mean a compromise on design or service means you can enjoy light Scandi design and a super central location on Oxford Street at this space.Airspace also offers a tailored events and cultural programme, designed to provide the community with a platform that fosters learning and new ideas, from academic talks and networking events to wine and cheeses nights and yoga.
8. Collabor8.Space – £199 per month
3 Wool House, 74 Back Church Ln, Whitechapel, London E1 1LX
This cool, converted warehouse space features exposed brick walls, industrial-style staircases and high ceilings. A bustling commercial space has been built specifically for media and creative freelancers and companies with lots of perks. There’s free printing and photocopying, high-end bathrooms and shower, a communal and break out area, indoor bike storage, foosball table and bookable meeting rooms for up to 18 people.
9. LEO – Octagon Point – £200
5 Cheapside, EC2V 6AA
Octagon Point occupies a unique island site on Cheapside next to St Paul’s Cathedral. The space features floor to ceiling glazing overlooking the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral and stunning 360 degree views over the city. Great for inspiration!
10. Alphabeta – Huckletree – £250 per month
14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1BR
Hailed as one of the coolest coworking spaces in London with a basketball court, an indoor cycling ramp and beautiful roof terraces, there’s also weekly events and workshops, an amphitheater for 100 people, a classroom for up to 50, weekly meditation sessions and an incredible mixed community of entrepreneurs, creatives, startups and businesses.The space also has fast 500Mbps fibre internet. Networking, workshops, product feedback / user development sessions and growth breakfasts are regularly held here for the community of creative tech startups and scale ups.
