London's private office pricing operates on a sliding scale that reflects location, amenities and commitment length. Entry-level furnished options start around £450 per person monthly at venues like Second Home's East London locations, while premium City addresses like Servcorp's Leadenhall Building command £900-£1,400. The bulk of quality inventory sits between £600-£900 per desk, with operators like Fora offering Dallington Street from £599 and LABS House providing Holborn access from £750. Most operators now bundle meeting room credits, so that £750 desk at Uncommon Liverpool Street includes access to their wellness studio and event programming.
East London consistently delivers more space for your budget, with Workspace's Mare Street Studios offering unfurnished suites from £145 per person that you can fit out yourself. The Borough/Waterloo corridor provides surprising value given its connectivity, with The Ministry's industrial-chic space starting at £600 per desk including members' club access. For tech teams, Techspace Whitechapel at £440-£500 per desk offers significant savings versus their Shoreditch location while maintaining the same community benefits. Even premium operators differentiate by zone - Fora's White Collar Factory near Old Street runs £660 per person versus £850 at their Chancery House flagship.
Most operators can execute a move-in within 5-7 business days for existing fitted suites. Work.Life Soho and Runway East Borough Market advertise 'move-in ready' offices with furniture, IT and even plants already in place. For larger requirements or custom fit-outs, expect 2-4 weeks. The fastest route remains taking an existing suite as-is - operators like Us&Co Monument keep several pre-configured options from 4 to 50 desks ready for immediate occupancy. Virtual office agreements for immediate mail handling and meeting room access can bridge the gap while your physical space is prepared.
London operators typically calculate 35-50 sq ft per person for private offices, though this varies by layout and working style. A 10-person team generally needs 350-500 sq ft, which at Cargo Works Waterloo translates to around £3,500-£5,000 monthly. Remember that communal areas effectively expand your footprint - at Mindspace Shoreditch, a 20-desk private office gives you access to multiple lounges, phone booths and their boutique café. Consider growth trajectory too; operators like Techspace specialise in scaling teams and can accommodate expansion into adjacent suites without lease renegotiation.
Meeting room policies vary dramatically between operators and even locations. Fora includes priority booking across their 500+ room network with private office membership, while Runway East Borough Market provides generous credits covering typical usage. Traditional operators like Regus charge hourly (from £49 at their Gherkin location), though private office tenants get preferential rates. The sweet spot comes from operators like Uncommon and LABS who bundle a set number of hours monthly - enough for regular team meetings without nickel-and-diming. Always clarify whether quotes include VAT and watch for peak-time premiums.
Modern London private offices bundle significantly more than furniture and WiFi. The Ministry includes gym access, content studio usage and members' club privileges in their £600 per desk rate. Standard inclusions now cover reception services, mail handling, kitchen facilities with coffee/tea, and cleaning. Premium operators layer on the extras - Fora provides wellness rooms and curated events, Working From_ at The Hoxton Southwark offers hotel-style service with 'duvet day' perks, while Second Home's biophilic spaces include access to their auditorium and creative programming. Always confirm whether utilities, business rates and insurance are bundled or billed separately.
Branding flexibility depends heavily on your commitment length and chosen operator. Workspace explicitly offers unfurnished options at Mare Street Studios where you control the entire fit-out from £145 per person monthly. Most serviced operators permit wall graphics, branded reception signage and furniture additions for leases over 12 months. Techspace and Runway East actively encourage personalisation for growing teams, while premium spaces like Servcorp maintain stricter aesthetic standards. For maximum flexibility, consider operators offering 'white box' suites or speak to Zipcube about operators with customisation-friendly policies for your sector.
City and Canary Wharf locations remain gold standard for international credibility, with addresses like Regus's Gherkin offices or Landmark's Old Broad Street providing instant recognition. However, creative sectors increasingly favour Shoreditch addresses like Fora's White Collar Factory or Second Home Spitalfields for their design credentials. Waterloo's connectivity (WeWork 10 York Road sits atop the station) makes it ideal for European visitors via Eurostar. Consider your client base carefully - American tech clients expect Old Street/Shoreditch, Asian finance contacts prefer traditional City postcodes, while European creative agencies respond well to Clerkenwell's design heritage.
Beyond the headline rate, budget for several potential additions. Business rates can add 40-50% to unserviced space, though most serviced operators include these. VAT adds 20% to most quotes unless explicitly stated as inclusive. Meeting room overages quickly accumulate if you exceed bundled hours - track usage carefully in month one. Some operators charge for after-hours air conditioning (£50-100 per hour), guest WiFi access, or storage beyond basic allocation. Insurance requirements vary; while building cover is included, contents and liability insurance might require separate policies. Phone systems, if needed, typically run £30-50 per user monthly through the operator.
Match operator culture to your company DNA rather than chasing amenities. Second Home attracts creative businesses with its biophilic design and community programming, while Servcorp serves traditional professional services requiring five-star presentation. Consider the network effect - Fora's 500+ meeting rooms across London provide flexibility for growing teams, whereas single-site operators like The Ministry offer deeper community integration. Evaluate the full ecosystem: does Mindspace's tech-focus bring valuable connections? Would your team actually use WeWork's global access? Zipcube's platform lets you compare specific suites across operators, revealing which spaces genuinely suit your working style versus marketing positioning.