Farringdon Office Space

Office space in Farringdon occupies a district that epitomises London’s linking of the ancient and modern worlds. It is documented to have a medieval origin, yet lies within two of the capital’s relatively recently conceived locales — the City Fringe and Midtown.

The area called Farringdon today was historically referred to as Clerkenwell, as it sat within it. However, when the station on Farringdon Street opened in 1863 and took its name, the area surrounding the station developed its own identity and became known as Farringdon.

The Midtown district has no formally defined boundaries. Still, it is approximately bounded by Clerkenwell Road to the north, Goswell Road and Aldersgate Street to the east, Charterhouse Street, Charterhouse Square and Carthusian Street to the south, and Farringdon Road to the west.

The station and its immediate vicinity are situated in the southernmost part of the London Borough of Islington, adjacent to the eastern boundary of the London Borough of Camden and to the northern boundary of the City of London, hence being referred to as part of the City Fringe.

Farringdon means fern-covered hill, and various places in England bear the name. It is thought that William and Nicholas de Faringdon’s names likely originated from one of these places, although it is not known which.

William and Nicholas were prominent citizens and Aldermen in the early 13th century. Nicholas purchased the area of the Farringdon Ward of the City of London in 1279 and became its Alderman in 1281.

In 1394, the ward was split into the still-existent Farringdon Within and Farringdon Without, referring to the footprint that lay within and without the London Wall — the protective wall built by the Romans around Londinium.

Today, the buzzing EC1 district offers a diverse range of amenities, including the delights of 800-year-old Smithfield Market, the Michelin-starred nose-to-tail St John Restaurant housed in a former smokehouse on St John Street, and Fabric nightclub, which opened on Charterhouse Street in 1999.

Farringdon and the surrounding areas within Midtown have seen increasing demand in recent years, with the figures for the take-up of office space through lettings growing exponentially.

Demand coupled with tenants’ flight to quality has led to the development of brand new sustainable office buildings offering amenity-rich premium office space and the redevelopment of iconic office buildings such as 25 Charterhouse Square.

Office rents, in turn, have reached record highs comparable, in some cases, to those in the neighbouring Square Mile.

Premium workspace providers have also increased their offering of high-end flexible workspace solutions in Farringdon, with some offering space in multiple buildings.

In line with Farringdon’s character, the tenant mix is diverse, with occupiers representing the banking, communications, gaming, legal, marketing, and professional services industries.

They can rent blank canvas office space on a traditional lease or choose from a growing range of flexible options, including managed office spaces and private serviced offices, on relatively short-term contracts.

As the contracts are flexible, businesses can also effortlessly move into larger suites during their tenancies as their needs dictate. Many offices in Farringdon offer space for 200 or more desks.

Equally, the contracts allow a business to be agile and contract into a smaller space if required.

As opposed to traditional rent, flexible workspaces are charged on an all-inclusive basis. This means that the monthly rental fee covers rent, utilities, enterprise-grade IT systems, cleaning, security, and other enhanced provisions such as reception, administrative, and concierge services.

Because these are fully fitted, ready-to-use offices, occupiers have the added advantage that little or no upfront capital expenditure is required unless a fully bespoke office is desired, which can easily be arranged.

The managed offices in Farringdon are ready-fitted, and the client can customise the fit-out and furnishings. Custom fit-outs can include private reception areas, meeting rooms, executive offices, hotdesking zones, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The private serviced offices are fully furnished and equipped with state-of-the-art business technologies. Clients enjoy access to premium communal amenities, including meeting rooms, focus booths, break-out spaces, wellness facilities, outdoor spaces, and cafes.

The sustainable office buildings are managed ESG-consciously and provide end-of-journey facilities, including bicycle storage, showers, and changing facilities.

However, Farringdon Station provides excellent public transport links, offering underground, Thameslink, and Elizabeth Line services.