Your guide to commercial property | Area guides

If you are looking to base your business in London but want a cheaper alternative that central properties, Catford could be a lucrative option. The prices are still below that of its fashionable neighbours, yet big plans on the way mean Catford’s appeal is only going to increase.

Canning Town is a vibrant area of east London, just north of the River Lea and the Docklands. It’s within 20-30 minutes’ tube journey of financial hubs Canary Wharf and the City of London and other key areas of central London, so it’s a popular place for many businesses to base themselves.

Camden Town has long since been associated with alternative culture, which is something the local venues celebrate with quirky settings and offerings. Camden is also in a prime location for businesses in media and technology industries thanks to its excellent connections.

Camberwell in south London is a vibrant, largely residential area, roughly three and a half miles from the city’s centre. Tucked between entertainment hubs Peckham and Brixham, where you’ll find markets, nightlife spots and cool cafés waiting to be explored, Camberwell is a hidden gem.

Brimsdown is a thriving industrial area to the east of Enfield. It is right by Lea Valley – the waterways once used as a water supply and a transport passageway for London. In fact, the King George’s Reservoir in the area is still a major water supply today.

If you want to be based in an urban area with plenty of quirky bars, restaurants and coffee shops on your doorstep, Brixton could be the place for you. It is a trendy part of London and has been named as one of the capital’s 35 major centres, so it could put you in a great location for networking.

Brentford is just a stone’s throw from bustling central London. It is situated by the River Brent where it joins the Thames. Peaceful docks merge with large office blocks, creating an urban oasis right by the elite addresses of Richmond, Kew and Chiswick.

Though Blackheath is a largely residential area, its charming rural feel makes it the perfect base for businesses looking to avoid central London’s commercial hubs. Choose a base here and you’ll be within a quick train ride of the City and Canary Wharf, with the added luxury of plenty of green space to enjoy.

Bexley hasn’t always been a property hotspot for London workers. It started to grow when the train line came to the area, and it boomed during and after the second world war when it was the location of several munition factories.

Considering setting up your business in Berrylands? This guide provides all the information you need to help make your decision, including everything from its convenient transport systems to the best coffee spots.

Belvedere is a small district in the borough of Bexley just below the Thames, in south-east London. It has an industrial past, but its name – which means ‘beautiful view’ – comes from Belvedere House, one of three impressive ‘villas’ built in Lessness Heath in the 1770s.

Thinking about setting up shop in Beckton? This guide gives all the information you need about the area, from it’s the best places to eat to its interesting links to one of the most acclaimed films ever made.

Although quiet for a London suburb, the area has a lively community. The high street is busy and a great place to open a business, and there are exceptional fitness facilities, supermarkets, eateries and schools to keep any local team members happy. Ready to find out more about all that Beckenham has to offer?

Barnes has a thriving arts and media scene, with a variety of independent interior design and fashion businesses. Many notable figures have made the village their home and, between 1966 and 2009, the Olympic Sound Studios welcomed a number of impressive names. The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Oasis and Kaiser Chiefs all recorded music in Barnes.

Angel is an area of London named after a famous travellers’ pub which stood on the corner of Islington High Street and Pentonville Road. It’s just north of central London’s busiest areas, including financial district The City, Farringdon and Clerkenwell, and is in transport zone one.

Alperton is a diverse part of London in the north-western Wembley area of London. There are plenty of natural beauty spots across the area. Even though Alperton is a little way from central London, sitting in transport zone four, it’s less than 45 minutes’ journey from areas like Covent Garden.

Although Acton is primarily residential, it does have a lot to attract businesses. The transport links are fantastic, with more to its name than any other place in the UK, plus the arrival of Crossrail imminent. It’s also undergoing significant regeneration, making it an up and coming part of London.

West Hampstead is a commercial area of north London that centres around West End Lane’s thriving network of restaurants, shops and cafes. It’s in transport zone two and is part of the London borough of Camden. Many of the homes and buildings lining its streets hail from the Victorian era and still have plenty of 19th-century charm.

There’s a lot more to Twickenham than its famous rugby stadium. It’s a charming area of London in transport zone five, with two rivers (River Crane and the River Thames) to wander along. While the stadium draws many people to the area, other landmarks like Eel Pie Island and Turner House are worth a visit while you’re in Twickenham too.

Paddington is an area of London close to the famous West End in transport zone one. It’s home to the UK’s eighth busiest railway station, where many east-to-west cross-country services stop. Even though millions of people pass through the station every year, Paddington has quieter parts too like the Paddington Basin, where you can wander across unique bridges like the Rolling Bridge and Fan Bridge or visit the Floating Pocket Park.

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.

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.