Unlocking Creativity: The Top Flexible Office Spaces for Creative Businesses in London

The creative industries are thriving, and in hubs like London and New York, there’s a growing demand for the type of workspace that allows creativity to flourish. While working from home certainly has its creature comforts, many creatives want that spark and those big ideas that come from collaborating, coworking and being in the same space as other creators and makers. 

But where can you find creative hubs in London that provide the tools, amenities and environment to do your best work? Read our guide to the city’s hotspots and find out what you should look for in a creative workspace.

The Rise of the Creative Economy in London

The creative industries form one of London’s largest and fastest-growing sectors, accounting for one in six jobs in the capital and generating around £52 billion for the London economy. Of all the creative jobs in the UK, 31% are based in London, despite the capital being home to just 13% of the UK population. Put simply, there’s no better place to be a creative. 

The ‘creative economy’ includes sectors such as advertising, fashion, film, art, music, publishing, R&D, architecture, software, TV and radio, and performing arts, to name a few. Collectively, the creative economy employs 882,000 Londoners and counting, with the industry predicted to support one million more jobs across the UK by 2030. 

The creative workforce is truly international, with creatives from around the world working elbow to elbow with home-grown talent. And there’s one thing this diverse collective has in common - the requirement for a flexible and creative workspace.

Finding the Perfect Workspace for Creative Enterprises

There are several things to consider when searching for creative office space in London. As a minimum, it must be tech-enabled and flexible in terms of how it can be configured and used. Collaborative working is also vital for many creative businesses, so you need a space to support it. 

In a recent edition of (Y)OUR SPACE, a survey found that six in 10 businesses expect to have desk-to-people ratios of 50% or below over the next three years. That gives you more room for social areas, breakout zones, meeting rooms and the type of spaces where innovation and creativity can thrive.   

In terms of your square footage requirements, businesses in the creative sector typically allow around 1,000 square feet for seven workers, which is a little more than in other industries. Most creative companies want flexible office spaces that are ready to move into. They’re also looking for shorter deals, 12 months rather than three to five years, so they can easily switch workspaces when their requirements change.   

The Evolving Trends in Creative Office Spaces

One of the biggest workplace changes over the last few years has been the rise of hybrid and remote working. Younger workers, which many creative industries rely on, value flexible working above all else. Employers now need to give them a good reason to come into the office, which is why amenity-rich workspaces are coming to the fore.

Co-working spaces and serviced offices in shared workspaces can provide all the amenities modern workers crave. There are collaborative, communal and relaxation areas, roof terraces, in-house cafes and restaurants, and some even have their own gyms. Walkability is also important for the younger demographic, with employees wanting offices within easy reach of cultural and entertainment hotspots and green spaces. 

There has also been a move away from corporate offices in favour of campus-style environments with activity-based layouts, which are designed to specifically support the tasks your employees do. If you tick at least a few of these boxes, your creative workspace can become a powerful attraction and retention tool.  

Top London Areas for Creative Teams

Some areas have become established hubs for creative teams, drawing in businesses in similar and complementary sectors. There are also up-and-coming areas where small creative businesses can find a cool base without blowing their budget. 

East London

The East of London is the modern creative’s paradise, with several top spots for new and more established businesses to call home. Shoreditch is synonymous with creative startups and the entrepreneurial spirit. If Shoreditch is too pricey, the rest of Hackney is a good alternative. Anything starting with ‘Hackney’ (Hackney Wick, Hackney Downs or Hackney Central) is well worth a look.

Dalston, another area in Hackney, has a well-established creative presence. It has an abundance of filmmakers, photographers and music production companies occupying a diverse range of shared workspaces. 

Bethnal Green is a creative hotspot that hasn’t lost its spirited East End flavour. While tourists flock to the area on the weekends, creatives make the E2 postcode their own during the week. It has an abundance of green spaces and affordable flexible offices, ranging from renovated industrial buildings to converted period properties and modern business centres. 

Here are some of our creative workspaces in East London:

• Second Home, London Fields - Creative hideaway in the heart of Hackney
• Plexal, Stratford - Startup hub with 1:1 mentorship and community events
• Storey 6, Haggerston - Spacious serviced office just five minutes from Shoreditch High Street 

North London

Laid back and quirky, Camden is an up-and-coming destination for creatives, particularly for startups. It’s home to an abundance of fashion companies and tech startups that are drawn to the area by competitive workspace prices, excellent transport links, amenities and entertainment options. 

It might be one of North London’s lesser-known spots, but there’s a flourishing creative community in Park Royal in the far north of Acton. It’s home to one of the largest industrial estates in the UK with over 250 studios of designers, artists, makers, photographers, filmmakers and musicians. 

Our creative workspaces in North London include: 

• Labs Triangle, Camden - Trendy, contemporary space in vibrant Camden Town
• Uncommon, Highbury and Islington - Cosy creative workspace in a former bookbinding factory

South London

Borough and Bermondsey are the two most established creative hubs south of the river, but Southwark is quickly catching up. With the College of Arts and Goldsmiths College nearby, there’s no shortage of fresh talent. With parks, restaurants and cafes aplenty, it’s no slouch in the amenities department either.

Brixton is home to a higher-than-average proportion of independent businesses, with ICT and media companies as well as creative arts startups flocking to the area. Affordability is one of the main draws of creative workspace in Brixton. There are also excellent transport links and a vibrant range of attractions on your doorstep.

Our creative workspaces in South London include: 

Fora – Blue Fin Building

Workingfrom, The Hoxton Southwark

The Future of Flexible Office Spaces for Creatives 

With the rising cost of living and studios increasingly hard to come by, creative serviced office spaces are becoming an increasingly popular choice. They give creatives access to workspace with the high-quality telecommunications and digital infrastructure they need. Many also offer workshops, networking events and other opportunities that help small businesses grow.  

Understanding the Flexible Office Space Potential 

Meeting new people and networking can help inspire new ideas, which is part of the reason why flexible office spaces are such a good fit for creatives. Research shows that a collaborative group will produce 28% more new ideas as part of a creative process than people working individually. 

Flexible offices also encourage open communication, networking and knowledge sharing between different businesses, often in similar or complementary fields. That brings a completely different aspect to those water cooler chats.

Navigating the Future: Sustainability in Creative Workspaces

Sustainability is a priority for many modern workers, and workplaces that share those values can create the sort of culture employees want to be a part of. But talking about how important sustainability is to your business isn’t enough. Employees want to see action, and creative workspaces can become a part of your sustainability journey.

Nowadays, flexible office spaces that aren’t making practical changes to become more green are seen as outdated. Things to look out for include green infrastructure, such as solar panels and locally sourced and renewable construction materials, eco-friendly furnishings, bike storage to encourage cycling to work and waste reduction initiatives. 

Strategies for Creative Office Space Success

To appeal to creatives, shared workspaces should provide the sense of community they’re often missing. Office spaces can develop that through social events, such as happy hours and communal lunches, and networking opportunities that allow creatives to connect with like-minded individuals. 

Providing affordable access to amenities is another route to success. Serviced offices spaces can offer amenities that only larger employers would usually provide. That includes meeting rooms, roof terraces and on-site fitness facilities. Some creative workspaces even have meditation and yoga rooms and podcast studios, which can help to give them the edge.   

How Knight Frank Can Help You Find Your Perfect Creative Workspace

A workspace in the right location and with the required amenities can create a competitive advantage for creative businesses. And at Knight Frank, we can give you the edge. 

Just get in touch with our experts to discuss your requirements and we’ll match your business with the perfect creative workspace. We can arrange viewings on your behalf, attend them with you and negotiate the best price. And what’s more, our service won’t cost you a penny.