01·London submarket · Zone 1
City Core
Banks, law firms, insurance, fintech. The largest cluster of Grade A office stock in Europe and the deepest flex market in London.
02·Pricing — City Core
03·About
About City Core
The Square Mile holds roughly 95 million sqft of office space — about a third of central London. Building stock spans Victorian banking halls, 1980s towers and the new generation of trophy buildings (22 Bishopsgate, 8 Bishopsgate, 100 Liverpool Street). Floorplates here are the largest in central London, regularly above 20,000 sqft, which is why most City tenants over 200 people are leaseholders rather than serviced clients. The flex market is also exceptionally deep — Landmark, TOG, Fora and WeWork all have multiple locations within a 5-minute walk of Bank.
04·Who moves here
Banks, insurance, law, consulting, professional services, fintech, large corporate occupiers.
05·Trade-offs
Why move to City Core
- Deepest building stock in London
- Elizabeth line transformed commute times
- Strong flex market gives optionality
- Excellent restaurant and bar scene post-2020 rebuild
Watch-outs
- Quieter on Fridays — many City firms now 3 days in office
- Old stock can feel tired vs King's Cross
- Limited residential = dead at weekends
- Service charges can run £15–£20/sqft in trophy buildings
06·Real offices nearby
Live offices closest to City Core
Click any building to see suites, photos, pricing and availability.
07·FAQ
City Core questions
What's a fair price for a 5,000 sqft Grade A lease in the City?+
Headline rent £75–£95/sqft, plus service charge £12–£18 and business rates ~£35. Budget £610k–£740k/yr all-in.
Is the City quieter than Shoreditch?+
Yes, especially evenings and Fridays. If after-work energy matters, City fringe (Liverpool Street side) or Shoreditch is better.
08·Nearby submarkets
Compare City Core with neighbours
Shoreditch & Old Street
Tech, VC, design. Exposed brick lofts mixed with new-build towers; the densest creative ecosystem in Europe.
Canary Wharf
Big floorplates, big banks, big discounts on West End pricing. The most underrated London submarket for ambitious mid-sized teams.