If you’re looking at securing office space for your business, you’ll be taking notes on budgets and working out how much you can afford to spend on your office. The bad news is that there’s no definitive answer to how much office rental costs in the UK, as it varies widely from city to city. However, the good news is that we’re here to help you find the cheapest locations in the UK in which to rent office space – and the most cost-effective ways to find offices within more expensive cities.
Where are the most expensive places in the UK to rent an office?
The UK has the most expensive offices in all of Europe. As of 2019, office space in the UK cost, on average, €1,513 per square foot. France was the next most expensive country, with office space coming in at €890 per square foot, followed by Ireland at €673.
This average for British rent is inflated by London prices as, perhaps unsurprisingly, London is the most expensive city in the UK when it comes to renting office space.
We’ve collated a list of the most expensive locations to rent an office using survey data from the first quarter of 2021.
London – West End, Central and East End
Office rentals in London’s West End averaged £102.50 per square foot, followed closely by office space in Central London, which came in at £65 per square foot. The third most expensive place to rent was, again, in London, this time in the East End – however, prices here are considerably cheaper, coming in at an average of £40 per square foot.
Manchester
The next most expensive place to rent in Manchester, with prices averaging £38.5, followed by Bristol at £38 per square foot. Birmingham office rentals averaged £37, and Edinburgh came in next in the survey, with office spaces costing an average of £36 per square foot.
Where are the cheapest places in the UK to rent an office?
Newcastle – The cheapest place in the UK to rent an office with prices averaging at just £26.
Leeds – Renting an office can start from as little as £34 per square foot.
Glasgow – Office space starting at £34.50.
So if you’re looking for a cheap office rental and are based near Newcastle, Leeds or Glasgow, you’re in luck! You can get more bang for your buck in these locations, saving money on the total cost of your office, or upgrading to a bigger office in a more central location than you might have been able to afford in another location.
Look for a serviced office
It’s important to note that with most office spaces, you’ll only be paying for the actual office and everything else will come at an additional expense. This means that you’ll have to factor in the cost of furniture, heating, electricity, WiFi and so on.
With a serviced office, however, you pay one monthly fee with everything included. There are no hidden fees for cleaning costs or high-speed internet, all of which are included in the monthly rental cost.
We offer serviced offices here at Easy Offices, meaning that our costs and clear and straightforward. .
Cheap offices to rent in London
The first major factor to consider when looking for more affordable office space in London is the location. Do you need to be right in the city centre or West End, or can you consider an office in a different area instead?
As noted already, although the East End is more expensive than other areas of the country, it’s one of the cheapest areas of London for office rentals, so it could be a great option for your business.
Merchant Court, Wapping
Our serviced office in Merchant Court, Wapping, is a steal from just £150 per month. The office is based in a vibrant part of the city with plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab some lunch or catch up with colleagues after work, and it’s just 6 minutes from the King Edward Memorial Park if you need a quick break in nature.
Whitechapel Road
Another great option is our office on Whitechapel Road, with prices starting from £132 per month. This trendy office is minutes away from the famous Brick Lane, as well as just 15 minutes from the commercial centre of the City of London. With an office in this thriving area, you’ll be close to the city without paying the prices of being right in the heart of it all.
Cheap offices to rent in Manchester
According to Statista’s data, Manchester is the second-most-expensive city for office rentals in the UK, after London. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t great deals to be found in the city!
Portland Street, Manchester
Our offices in Portland Street start from £98 per month, and are right in the heart of the city, perfect if you often have clients coming to visit as it’s less than a 10-minute walk from Piccadilly Station.
Failsworth
Alternatively, consider going slightly outside of the city to find a cheaper deal. You could get an office space in Failsworth, for instance, for just £42 per month. Failsworth is less than 4 miles from Manchester city centre, less than a 25-minute drive and 30-45 minutes on public transport. The town has strong transport links to Manchester, and plenty of amenities of its own including shops and restaurants, so you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds whilst saving on the cost of your office rental.
Cheap offices to rent in Birmingham
Next on the list of the most expensive cities for office rentals in Birmingham. However, we’re here to show you that it’s possible to find affordable rentals in Birmingham – and remember that when you choose a serviced office, all of your costs are included in the monthly fee.
Birmingham is an amazing city for businesses, and it was named the best place in the UK outside of London for start-ups seven years in a row. In 2020, there were 18,349 new businesses registered in the city, the highest outside the capital, so you’ll be in good company if you choose Birmingham as your business base.
High Street, Birmingham
Our offices on High Street are right in the heart of the city’s shopping district and start from just £99 per month. These bright, modern offices have been recently redesigned and are conveniently located less than a five-minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station, plus, we also have on-site parking if you prefer to take the car. You’ll be surrounded by shops, cafes and bars, making this the perfect location for entertaining clients or popping out for a team catch up.
Best of the other locations
We’ve had a look at the best deals in the most expensive cities – now it’s time to see the options in the cheapest cities.
Cheap offices to rent in Newcastle
Named the cheapest place in the UK for office rentals, there are plenty of options for every type of business in Newcastle. As well as being an affordable place to rent, the city is also considered one of the best places to work in the UK. The cultural and financial capital of England’s north-east, Newcastle has a reputation for being a laid-back party city – but it’s not all fun and games. It’s a serious city for business, with a range of start-ups to watch from the tech, healthcare and financial sectors.
Buddle Road, Newcastle
Our offices in Newcastle start from just £80 per month, like this serviced office on Buddle Road. This modern, purpose-built business centre offers easy access to the A1 and the city centre, so whether you’re coming from Newcastle or further afield, it’s perfectly placed and has all the facilities your business needs to grow.
Cheap offices to rent in Glasgow
Glasgow was recently named as the best city for small businesses. As the largest city in Scotland by population, it’s a thriving hub of culturewhere you’ll be able to make the most of all the events, eateries and nightlife the city has to offer.
Pentagon Centre, Glasgow
You’ll find a range of good-value offices in Glasgow, starting from just £99 per month in the Pentagon Centre. This historic building was once a whisky bond and is a thoroughly modern office space for businesses from all verticals. Based in the heart of Glasgow’s financial district, you’ll have all of the city’s amenities on your doorstep along with easy access to Glasgow Airport and train stations, as well as buses to take you around the city.
Cheap offices to rent in Leeds
Leeds frequently tops the list of best places to start a business, thanks to its affordability and wide talent pool. It also has the third-highest number of high-growth companies in the UK outside of London, behind Edinburgh and Manchester. If you’re thinking of starting a new business or looking to expand your existing one, then Leeds could be the place to do it.
Park Square West, Leeds
Our office on Park Square West is located right on Park Square, a beautiful tranquil garden in the heart of the city that’s perfect for lunchtime strolls. The offices are based within Leeds’ financial district, and just a ten-minute walk from the train station, they couldn’t be in a better location. Prices start from just £49 per month.
Find your perfect office space without breaking the bank
From London to Leeds, we’ve hopefully now answered your question of “where to find cheap offices to rent near me”. Whether you’re looking in one of the UK’s most expensive cities, or one of its cheapest, there are always great deals to be found with Easy Offices. Get in touch with us today to find out more.