Gosia Furmanik

Notting Hill isn’t just a Hugh Grant romantic comedy – it’s also one of London’s most vibrant areas. It’s located in transport zone 2 and is part of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Its streets are brightly coloured and multi-cultural, making it the perfect place to host UK’s largest carnival, Notting Hill Carnival.

You’ll find Nine Elms in south east London, between Battersea and Vauxhall. It is across the river from Pimlico and Chelsea. At a time, Nine Elms was a prominent leisure destination thanks to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, before becoming an industrial hub. The area is now entering a new phase as a social and business hotspot.

The ‘Oxford-Cambridge Arc’, as it has been dubbed, connects the two cities to Bicester, Milton Keynes and Bedford, as well as 26 local authorities. The region is not only attractive for workers in the education, engineering and science sectors, but also a popular base for those commuting to London.

Mayfair is an upmarket area of London, located in transport zone one. It’s long been one of the most exclusive places to live and work in London, thanks to its central location and the large, historic buildings that line its streets.

Maida Vale is an upmarket area of London in transport zone two that’s part of the City of Westminster. It’s just north of Paddington, above Westway Road and is home to plenty of green space, as well as a scenic stretch of Regent’s Canal. Many of the buildings in Maida Vale are from the late Victorian and Edwardian period, giving the area plenty of charming character.

Marylebone is sandwiched between Mayfair and Regent’s Park. It’s a beautiful part of London, with grand Victorian and Georgian properties, leafy squares and easy access to the picturesque Regent’s Park. Businesses based in the area enjoy the best of both worlds – a well-connected central location and a calm atmosphere. 

Knightsbridge is an affluent area of London in zone one. It borders Hyde Park to the north, Belgravia to the east and Kensington to the west. High-end designer shops, five star hotels and some of London’s finest eateries line its leafy avenues, including the world famous Harrods.

As well as being home to spectacular landscapes, stunning ancient architecture and a vibrant nightlife scene, Scotland is a fantastic place for SMEs. If you’re trying to decide where to set up or relocate your SME in Scotland, this guide should help you find an office space that is perfect for your business.

Sunderland is a city in the North West, set on the banks of the River Wear between the cities of Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It’s one of the north’s most exciting cities and is home to a university, which sits close to the busy docks. If you’re looking to base your business in Sunderland, here’s everything you need to know about working and living in the thriving port city.

There’s more to King’s Cross than the major rail station. It’s home to art galleries, theatres, the British Library, lots of businesses and the charming Regent’s Canal. Just north of Clerkenwell and east of Camden Town, it’s an artsy, creative place. Yet it still attracts businesses from a range of sectors thanks to its enviable transport links.

Our environment can have a huge impact on how we feel, interact and work. By making a few strategic changes, employers can maximise their workers’ creativity throughout the day. But this isn’t the only benefit; having a more ‘creative’ space can do wonders for employees’ mood, mental wellbeing and job satisfaction.

The city of Leicester in the East Midlands is an exciting place to base your business, as it’s one of the most central places in the country. Its excellent transport links also make it easy to travel further afield for business and pleasure. Here’s our guide to living and working in the city of Leicester – where you can find out about everything from rail stations to restaurants.

Kentish Town is a vibrant area of London, located in transport zone two in the borough of Camden. Kentish Town started life as a small settlement along the banks of the River Fleet, but it’s grown into a thriving residential and commercial area in central London.

Kensington is an affluent area of London, west of Hyde Park and the political hub of Westminster. Together with the equally upmarket streets of Chelsea, it makes up the central Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It’s located in transport zone one and is just a 25-minute tube journey from the City of London.

Islington today is regarded as a relaxed, enjoyable place, as it has been for centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it offered an escape from the city and became home to ale houses, theatres and several tea gardens. It still has an exuberant scene, with many theatres, comedy houses, cinemas and quirky bars thriving in the area.

Isleworth is a small, charming town in the London Borough of Hounslow in West London. The riverside settlement known as ‘Old Isleworth’ is where you can find plenty of pubs and restaurants with the picturesque backdrop of the Thames. Many locals enjoy walking around Syon Park and Hounslow Heath – the local nature reserve, where the hustle and bustle of the city melts away.

Northern Ireland’s capital sits on the banks of the River Lagan and the port city has emerged as a thriving commercial location despite its chequered past. Now, the city is where you’ll find many of the UK’s most important aerospace businesses, as well as lots of companies involved in the missiles industry.

Lively Hoxton is East London at its prime. The area neighbours Shoreditch and is home to some of the capital’s trendiest bars, restaurants and cafes, making it popular among residents and businesses alike. It is a distinctly creative zone, with many start-up tech and design businesses cropping up.

Coventry is a city in the Midlands, around 30 kilometres east of Birmingham. It’s a vibrant place to live and work for many and has a long history as a notable area, dating all the way back to the Roman years. Sitting at the geographical centre of the country, Coventry is within roughly 2 hours’ drive of lots of places, including London, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol and Cambridge, making it the ideal central spot for businesses with a wide-spread clientele.

In the UK and beyond, there has been a shift in how and where we work. Coworking and other flexible workspace solutions are on the rise, with many freelancers and businesses using such spaces for a competitive advantage. Therefore, there are now many centres that offer co-working, serviced and hybrid offices in London, New York, Tokyo and across the world.  

Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England. People have settled on this Midlands land for over 2,000 years, no doubt to make the most of the River Soar flowing from the Trent. Here’s our rundown of some of the best retail properties to let in Leicester.

Holloway is a popular place for many in the world of media, arts and literature, thanks to its close proximity to central London and the prominent businesses in this field that are based nearby. It’s also known as a hotspot for London’s street artists, whose works give the area an edgier, urban feel than neighbouring districts.

Hounslow is a large town and borough in Greater London. It’s to the west of the city, bordered by Ealing, Richmond-upon-Thames, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hillingdon. Chiswick is part of Hounslow, which is a particularly popular and affluent area.

Lincoln is a historic cathedral city that lies between Sheffield and the Lincolnshire coast in the East Midlands. Its 9th-century cathedral houses one of just four copies of the Magna Carta and the city’s castle has stood since the 11th century, so it’s rich in history.

Holloway, in general, is popular with people who work in arts, media and literature, as it’s close to central London (where many notable businesses in these industries are based). Both areas of Holloway also boast a more urban, creative feel than surrounding neighbourhoods, typified by the area’s popularity with local street artists.