Affordable Coworking Spaces in London: A Guide for Startups

The rise of coworking spaces has revolutionized the way people work, particularly for startups. These shared workspaces offer a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional office leases. By providing a collaborative environment, essential amenities, and networking opportunities, coworking spaces empower startups to thrive and grow. 

Understanding Your Needs

Before deciding what would be the best option for you, you need to understand what your needs and requirements are. Do you have some specific needs? Is a podcasting studio a must have or a nice to have or is there a need for it at all? Does your startup need meeting rooms and team spaces? 

Often you have to make some compromises as budget constraints give some limitations on what amenities you can have. Prioritising for the most important needs is crucial as in the early stages of your business journey there is probably no extra money to spend on some nice to have things. So prioritize and budget carefully. 

Finding the Perfect Coworking Space

Perfect can mean different things for different people, but one thing is usually important for everyone. And that is the location. Especially in a big city like London you need to carefully consider where you want to establish your base. There are many pros and cons to choosing a location, but usually conversation is about Central London or Outer Zones. And in the case of Outer Zones proximity to transportation hubs is a very important factor.

Luckily with Spacent you are no longer tied to one place and when your needs change you can easily move your base to some other location without having to worry about long leases or commuting costs. 

Amenities and Services

Most of the coworking spaces have all the necessary amenities for a startup to run their operations. These include high speed internet, ergonomic work stations, printing and scanning facilities, kitchen and break out areas. Some well equipped coworking spaces can have on-site cafés and restaurants or even a bar for some after work gatherings. 

In addition, they may also have a garden or a rooftop terrace for taking refreshing breaks from the work. Some people want to combine work and exercise and gym or other exercise facilities can also be found from well equipped coworking spaces. 

Community and Networking

Community can be a hugely valuable resource. An active and likeminded community can foster new opportunities and create possibilities for co-operation between people. It might be possible to find some helping hands for a particular project or hire some help from people who occupy the same space. 

Certain coworking spaces are focused on startups and they host regular events and workshops with topics that are relevant for startups. Some have lots of interesting speakers and business people visiting their events and offering opportunities to network with those already established in the business. 

There might also be mentorship programs available where you can really learn a lot and avoid making some mistakes in the business when taking advice from the more experienced. Also, different businesses benefit from different environments. 

Some coworking spaces are more focused on technology startups, but others might have their strengths in entirely different fields such as something to do with handicrafts and might have all kinds of machinery and working spaces to work with different materials.   

Below we have introduced two very different coworking spaces that might be interesting for startups from different fields. 

Level 39

This palace suits particularly well for startups who operate in FinTech, Cyber Security, Data & AI, Sustainability or Life Sciences. Centrally located in Canary Wharf in Iconic One Canada Square, Level 39 is easily reachable by Underground with Jubilee Line or by using Docklands Light Railway (DLR). 

There is an active community and lots of events happening in Level 39. They also have their own Slack channel and weekly newsletter to keep you updated about what’s on. It is also possible to utilize mentor hours and investor hours to find help and guidance and to pitch your ideas to get funding. Also, they have frequent member meet-ups and there is even support available for marketing efforts.   

So if the technology sector is where you operate this might be one place where you can come to work and network. Learn more about Level 39.

The Halley

The Halley is very different from the technology focused Level 39. The Halley is located beside a scenic canal in Haggerston, offering an expansive open-plan workspace designed to encourage collaboration and interaction. 

It’s particularly favored by professionals in creative fields, with five state-of-the-art recording studios available for music, podcasting, and content creation, alongside its coworking facilities. The space boasts a wide range of amenities, including complimentary coffee and tea, an on-site restaurant, and print/scan/copy services, among others. For those who jog or cycle to work, there’s even a shower available. Learn more about The Halley.