Geography
It is situated in East and Southeast London and forms part of the boroughs of Southwick, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Newham and Greenwich. The entirety of the the London Docklands covers an area of almost 9 square miles (22 square kilometres), with the majority of current buildings being for commercial or office purposes with smaller residential areas. The Docklands were re-purposed after their closure in the 1960s and quickly became the business hub of London, housing the second largest financial centre and one of the biggest collection of skyscrapers in Europe.
Getting there
Since its full redevelopment for commercial and residential purposes, the Docklands boasts excellent transport links throughout the entire 9 square mile area it covers.
The Docklands Light Railway was built after the initial development to link the previously secluded Isle of Dogs with other areas within the Docklands. Railway stops are commonplace through the London Docklands with at least one for each area, such as Canary Wharf, Heron Quays, South Quays, Crossharbour, Mudchute and Island Gardens. The London Underground links areas of the Docklands such as Canary Wharf with the rest of London, allowing for a commute from the centre or other areas of London. The Limehouse Link was also built during redevelopment to act as a road tunnel between the docks and the city of London itself, so much like the London Underground, it allows for longer commutes. A large quantity of bus routes run within the area of the Docklands, with some spanning from one end to the other, incorporating residential areas for shorter commute times.
Local Economy
London Docklands has one of the country's biggest and most diverse local economies, and could be considered the central business and commerce hub of London. Home to the O2 Arena, O2 Walkway and O2 Bubble, as well beautiful 250 year old pubs and the David Beckham Academy, London Docklands and its vast geography covers a wide range of commercial sectors. There are several optimum meeting places within the Docklands that can be rented out for business meetings, training programmes or retreats; the O2 Arena, the Gun, and Radisson Blu all rent out areas specifically for business purposes. There is also a large selection of restaurants in the area, as well as shopping locations, such as Billingsgate Market.
Office Space
The area of London Docklands is home to several areas where office spaces are widely available, including East India Docks, Thames Quay, Harbour Exchange Square and the famous Canary Wharf.
Offices in all of the Docklands' flourishing towns and boroughs are available to buy or let at affordable prices in a wide selection of modern and refurbished buildings. Prices for smaller office spaces in the heart of London's business hub, Canary Wharf, start from as little as £380 per person per month, with the bigger, more upmarket, spaces from upwards of £800 per person per month. Sizes very from compact areas for just a few employees, to huge spaces of 40,000 square ft or larger, for larger companies to make themselves well at home.
- The average office rental rate in the Docklands area is £457 per person per month
- Lowest rate: Limehouse Court - £185 p/p p/m (view)
- Highest rate: One Canada Square - £800 p/p p/m (view )
Regardless of the size or budget of your business or organisation, the geographical location and span of the London Docklands ensures that businesses within any sector can flourish in one of the vibrant Docklands areas.