Office Spaces in Leicester Square

Leicester Square's transformation from pure entertainment district to creative business hub accelerated when Fora opened Orion House in the reimagined Basil Spence building. This wasn't just another serviced office; it was a statement that West End workspaces could rival Shoreditch for design while maintaining corporate credibility.

The area now hosts 12+ dedicated office venues within a 5-minute walk of the square, from PopHub's £100/month creative haven to Kitt's premium managed floors at Hobhouse Court. Unlike traditional business districts, Leicester Square offices occupy converted cinemas, former newspaper headquarters, and Grade II-listed townhouses, creating unique work environments.

Transport connectivity drives demand, with Leicester Square station's Northern and Piccadilly lines joined by Covent Garden (4 min), Charing Cross (6 min), and Tottenham Court Road's Elizabeth line (6 min). This accessibility means teams can recruit from anywhere in London while clients can visit without navigation nightmares.

St Martin's Lane forms Leicester Square's premium office corridor, with Spaces occupying five floors at number 60 and Fora's Orion House anchoring the northern end. These venues command £600-1,100/desk premiums but deliver unmatched facilities including terraces, multiple meeting rooms, and professional reception teams.

Orange Street between Leicester and Trafalgar Squares houses the managed office cluster, including WorkPad's turnkey suites and Penway² at St Vincent House. Here, £500-800/desk gets you fitted space with inclusive services, appealing to teams wanting move-in-ready solutions without long-term commitments.

The pedestrianised streets (Bear, Irving, Whitcomb) offer character offices in period buildings. Cameo House provides self-contained floors from £400/desk, while PopHub's community workspace starts from just £100/month. These quieter locations suit creative teams and boutique consultancies prioritising atmosphere over prestige addresses.

Serviced offices like Fora's Orion House provide full hospitality with reception teams, daily cleaning, and pay-as-you-go meeting rooms. Their 1-110 desk flexibility suits scaling businesses, though £700-1,100/desk pricing requires serious budget allocation. The trade-off brings professional polish perfect for client-facing teams.

Managed spaces including WorkPad and Kitt offices offer middle ground: private fitted suites with 6-24 month terms including utilities and maintenance. At £700-900/desk, they cost less than full service while providing more control than coworking. Teams get dedicated space without facility management headaches.

Coworking varies from Spaces' corporate-friendly hot desking (£150-250/month) to PopHub's creative community (£100/month). These options suit freelancers, remote workers, and project teams needing flexibility. Members access shared facilities including meeting rooms and event spaces, building connections impossible in private offices.

Leicester Square station sits beneath the square itself, making venues like Cameo House (1 min) and Spaces (1 min) virtually on top of the Northern and Piccadilly lines. This provides direct access to King's Cross (8 min), City (12 min), and Heathrow (45 min), eliminating complex commutes for international teams.

Charing Cross mainline station lies 3-8 minutes from most venues, with Penway Place practically next door at 2A Charing Cross Road. This unlocks southeastern suburbs plus Waterloo connections, expanding recruitment pools into Kent and Surrey. The station's Embankment entrance adds District and Circle line options.

Tottenham Court Road's Elizabeth line (6 minutes from Fora) revolutionised access from East London and Berkshire. Covent Garden (3-4 minutes) provides backup during Leicester Square's tourist crushes, while multiple bus routes along Charing Cross Road offer surface alternatives. Even cycling proves viable with most venues including secure bike storage and showers.

Published rates tell partial stories. Spaces' £550-800/desk excludes meeting room hours (typically £40-60/hour), guest passes, and printing. Fora's £700-1,100/desk includes more amenities but still charges for events and excess meeting room usage. Always calculate total occupancy costs including these extras.

Managed options like WorkPad simplify budgeting with true all-inclusive pricing: £738/desk for their 16-person suite includes utilities, cleaning, meeting room, and even IT support. No surprise invoices or complex reconciliations. This transparency particularly appeals to finance teams and international companies unfamiliar with UK property charges.

PopHub disrupts traditional pricing entirely. Their £100/month hot desk includes meeting rooms, events, and kitchen facilities that would cost £500+ elsewhere. The catch? Limited hours (generally 9am-6pm) and shared everything. Perfect for bootstrapping startups, challenging for established businesses needing privacy and extended access.

Client-facing businesses maximise Leicester Square's recognition factor. Law firms use Fora's Orion House to impress international clients, while creative agencies at Spaces leverage the West End address for pitches. The area's restaurants and hotels simplify client entertainment, with 200+ dining options within 10 minutes.

Project teams exploit flexible terms for finite engagements. Cameo House's self-contained floors work perfectly for 6-month production offices or temporary London bases during acquisitions. Operators understand project dynamics, offering appropriate terms without long-term penalties.

Hybrid workforces combine hot desking with meeting room packages. Teams might take 10 dedicated desks at Penway Place while maintaining PopHub memberships for occasional overflow, spending £4,000/month versus £12,000 for full-time space. This particularly suits consultancies and creative agencies with variable on-site requirements.

Business rates in WC2 run £25-35/sq ft annually, often absorbed in serviced office pricing but additional in traditional leases. Managed offices like WorkPad include rates in their quotes, eliminating a £200-400/desk/month surprise. Always verify what's included, particularly in direct lease negotiations.

Service charges for Leicester Square buildings average £8-12/sq ft, covering maintenance, security, and common areas. Venues like Hobhouse Court include these in managed packages, while traditional leases add them separately. These charges can increase annually, so cap negotiations matter for longer terms.

Offsetting costs, Leicester Square's location eliminates expensive team transport. Companies save £5,000+ annually per employee on travel loans when staff walk from mainline stations. The area's lunch options also reduce expense claims, with Chinatown and street food providing alternatives to £15 meal deals.

Fora's Orion House delivers premium everything: Ben Adams Architecture design, St Giles terrace views, professional reception team, and Tottenham Court Road proximity for Elizabeth line access. Teams from 1-110 desks pay £700-1,100/desk for the privilege, attracting media companies and international consultancies who value design and service.

Spaces at 60 St Martin's Lane offers scale with 450-desk capacity across five floors. Their £550-800/desk pricing undercuts Fora while maintaining quality, with strong community programming attracting creative and tech teams. The ground-floor café and event space add networking opportunities absent in smaller venues.

Penway Place stands out through amenities: 3,000 sq ft member lounge, table tennis, mini-gym, and shower facilities create campus atmosphere in central London. At £450-700/desk, it attracts growing companies wanting culture alongside convenience. Their second site at St Vincent House provides expansion options as teams scale.

Leicester Square's office market continues evolving as entertainment venues recognise workspace potential. The former Cameo cinema became Cameo House business centre, while PopHub occupies what was retail space. Expect more conversions as hybrid working reduces corporate demand for traditional floors.

Sustainability increasingly influences decisions. Fora's Orion House and Hobhouse Court achieve strong BREEAM ratings with LED lighting, efficient HVAC, and cycling facilities. PopHub's community model reduces individual carbon footprints through shared resources. Green credentials matter for ESG-conscious tenants and employee recruitment.

Technology infrastructure varies wildly between venues. Newer operators like Kitt provide 1GB synchronous connections and backup circuits, while converted spaces sometimes struggle with 100MB shared lines. Verify bandwidth, redundancy, and upgrade possibilities before committing, particularly for tech teams or video production companies requiring serious connectivity.

Start your search on Zipcube by filtering Leicester Square venues by size, budget, and amenities. Our platform shows real availability from all 12+ operators, comparing PopHub's £100 hot desks through to Fora's premium suites. Virtual tours and detailed specifications eliminate wasted viewings, while our consultation team provides local insights.

Book viewings for 2-3 shortlisted venues on the same day, allowing 45 minutes each plus travel time. Visit during your typical working hours to assess noise, light, and neighbourhood dynamics. Test the commute during rush hour and grab lunch locally to understand the daily experience.

Negotiate through Zipcube to access portfolio-wide discounts and flexible terms unavailable direct. We handle paperwork digitally, coordinate move dates, and even manage furniture or IT installation. Most teams secure space within 72 hours of viewing, moving in within 2 weeks for serviced options or 4-6 weeks for managed suites requiring customisation.