City of London

The City of London is the undisputed finance centre of the United Kingdom and indeed the world, along with New York City. The City, often referred to as the Square Mile, is also a leader in international business services, along with being a centre for art and culture. There are twelve museums, seven libraries, two theatres and more than ninety five churches situated in The City.

There are less than 10,000 residents, although during the day the working population of the City can reach up to 320,000. Residential accommodation is hard to come by as commercial properties, retail outlets and offices in The City fill the majority of the area. The average rental cost of office space in The City is £40-50 ft2 per annum while the average price of a one bedroom property is £407,900, compared to £146,100 nationally.

As of April 2011, basic salaries for City employees were up 7% over the previous twelve months, compared to 2% for the rest of the country, and the average take home pay for City workers was 30 - 50% higher than for the rest of the UK.

The City of London Corporation, the local government authority for The City, offers a substantial business support program for SME's (small and medium sized enterprises) and aims to facilitate growth and development. The City of London Corporation also has its own police force and is home to the UK's Central Criminal Court, often called the Old Bailey. The City of London has its own Lord Mayor, who presides over The City's governing bodies.

Fine dining establishments and top restaurants are well represented in The City, especially in the Bishopsgate, Holborn and Ludgate Hill areas. The City is also home to three premier food markets, Billingsgate, Smithfield and Spitalfields markets. Those looking for a bit of retail therapy will find numerous popular fashion outlets and exclusive boutiques situated in The City, especially around the Royal Exchange, Lime Street, Cheapside and London Bridge districts.

The majority of City workers commute to and from work using public transportation and The City is well connected to the rest of London. Business looking for office space in The City will often check for the nearest London Underground or tube stations situated in the area:

• Serviced Offices near Aldgate Tube Station
• Office Space near Bank Tube Station
• Offices near Barbican Tube Station
• Serviced Offices near Blackfriars Tube Station
• Office Space near Cannon Street Tube Station
• Offices near Chancery Lane Tube Station
• Serviced Offices near Ludgate Circus Tube Station
• Office Space near Monument Tube Station
• Offices near Moorgate Tube Station
• Serviced Offices near St Pauls Tube Station
• Liverpool Street Station is both a London Underground Station and a National Rail Terminus, providing routes to a number of UK destinations. The Stansted Airport Express Service also runs from Liverpool Street Station.