London, with its blend of historic charm and modern innovation, is one of the world’s most sought-after business hubs. From networking events in the City to quick bites between meetings in Soho, London has everything a business traveler needs for a productive and fulfilling stay. Here’s your ultimate guide to making the most of your business trip to London, covering where to stay, work, and unwind.
Naturally, the city attracts thousands of corporate travellers every year. If you’re also a business traveller planning a trip to the city, here is a handy guide to the best areas to stay, accommodation options and things to do. 

Best Areas to Stay for Business Travellers

You should plan your accommodation in London serviced apartment carefully before you visit. Make sure that you stay in a central and well-connected location near your workplace or place of business in London. Here is a London travel guide to help you choose the top areas for corporate/business travellers in the city. 

1, Canary Wharf: The Financial Hub 

Canary Wharf is one of the best-designed business hubs of London and has been extensively renovated over the last three decades. Those on business will find multiple office buildings and working spaces.

Canary Wharf lies near The City of London (another business hub), the Isle of Dogs and Woolwich. Commuting is easy with multiple transportation options. You will find multiple open spaces here along with parks, health facilities, sports clubs, concert venues and cinemas. Top brands like Marks & Spencer, Gap and Next have stores here, while nearby attractions include the National Maritime Museum, O2 Arena and the Thames Barrier. 

Transportation: 

Canary Wharf has its tube station and you can reach Green Park through the Jubilee Underground line in 15 minutes. 
The Bank Tube station is only 10 minutes away (Docklands Light Railway) and you can access the London City Airport Station and Stratford in 15 minutes. 
The City is also connected to Canary Wharf via riverboat services (the journey takes less than 30 minutes). 

Accommodation Recommendations: 

• Lanterns Way At Canary Wharf By MySquare
• Canary Gateway At Limehouse By MySquare
• Hackney Wick Serviced Apartments By MySquare

2. The City of London: Heart of Commerce

Ideal for corporate travel, the City of London is the UK’s leading global financial and economic hub. It houses several well-known banks and other institutions while hosting a predominantly young and skilled workforce. You’ll also find several restaurants, bars and shops dotting the area. 

There is the iconic Barbican Centre, which offers dance, movies, visual arts, theatre and more. It also has quaint cafes and eateries along with bars overlooking the lake. Discover famous Michelin-starred restaurants nearby along with street markets like Whitecross Street which has multiple food stalls lining it. The main shopping street here is Cheapside while you can also visit the Royal Exchange in Bank and Leadenhall Market. Enjoy exploring the second-biggest conservatory in London here, which is home to 1,500+ tropical trees and plants. 

Transportation: 

The City of London has six mainline stations, namely Liverpool Street, Cannon Street, Blackfriars, London Bridge, Moorgate and Fenchurch Street. Nine tube stations are also present, including Liverpool Street (Circle, Central, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, Overground) and Bank (Northern, Central, Waterloo & City lines along with DLR). 

Accommodation Recommendations: 

• Blackfriars Apartments By MySquare
• Tower Hill Serviced Apartment By MySquare
• Aldgate Apartment By MySquare

3. Shoreditch: The Creative and Tech Hub 

Any business traveller will fall in love with Shoreditch, which exudes a special creative vibe, home to co-working spaces, startups and the best creative talent pool in Europe. 
There’s more in the area, including luxurious hotels, shops and the beautiful Colombia Road Flower Market which is known for its music, arts and crafts galleries and lovely flowers. 
Other attractions include the Spitalfields Market in the East End, offering books, clothing, coffee, food, lamps and more. 

Don’t leave Shoreditch without visiting the bustling Brick Lane, which is home to some of London’s top curry houses and food halls serving everything from Korean and Chinese to Mexican and Brazilian food. 
Other attractions include sampling cocktails at the innovatively-themed Flight Club and clicking the fabulous street art all around, including King John Court and New Inn Yard. 

Transportation: 

Travelling to and from Shoreditch is easy, with its own Tube station (High Street) and proximity to the Liverpool Street station. There are several buses and trains available for commuters (Elizabeth Line) as well. 

Accommodation Options: 

• Avant Garde At Shoreditch By MySquare
• Shoreditch Square At Shoreditch By MySquare
• Liverpool Street Apartments By MySquare

Navigating London: Transport Tips for Business Travelers

Here is a London travel guide that you may find useful if you’re coming here on business. 
1. Tube
The underground has 11 colour-coded lines and nine zones and you can download a tube map online to navigate better. The Night Tube is available on the Jubilee, Northern, Central, Piccadilly and Victoria lines on Saturdays and Fridays
2. Rail and other networks 
Use the Elizabeth Line to travel across central London, since it links the west and east through major zones like Stratford, Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street and the West End. It also links to the underground, DLR, overground and National Rail. The London Overground also features 112 stations and six routes. 
3. Buses, Trams and Cycling 
You can opt for regular and double-decker buses along with trams (Tramlink) in London. Santander Cycles and others also offer bike-sharing and rental facilities for users. 
4. Ride-Hailing Apps
Ride-hailing apps that you can use include Uber, Bolt, Gett and more (including newer players like Jump and others). 

Airports and Eurostar (for Arrivals)

You can arrive at any of London’s six airports or via the super-fast Eurostar trains. Heathrow Airport is only 15 minutes away from Paddington Station while Gatwick Airport is just 30 minutes from Victoria Station. The other airports in the city include Stansted, Luton, City and Southend. 
Business travellers arriving from mainland Europe may take the Eurostar which offers an affordable option for flying, particularly for corporate groups. In fact, a journey from central London to Paris takes just a little over two hours. 

General Tips

• Get a Visitor Oyster card that you can easily top up online or at various stations/offline outlets. This can be used on most public transportation networks (Tube, National Rail, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, trams and buses) and offers pay-as-you-go credit. 
• Use apps like TfL Go and Citymapper to find transportation routes and get updates in real-time
• Rush hours in London are usually between 7.30-9 AM and 5-7 PM. Try to avoid these times for your commutes. 
• River buses/ferries are also available from strategic points for corporate travellers. 

After-Work Leisure: Where to Unwind in London

Your London travel guide will be incomplete without a closer look at some of the top restaurants and bars for some recreation and schmoozing at the same time!  

Top Restaurants for Business Dinners 

1. Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester- Don’t miss the authentic British and French classics here, along with seafood. Timings are between 12-1.30 PM for lunch (Wednesday-Friday) and 6-10 PM (Wednesday-Saturday) for dinner.

2. OXO Tower Restaurant, South Bank- Nestled on the eighth floor of the OXO Tower, this joint is easily walkable from the London Eye, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square. Don’t miss the seasonal British dishes here while enjoying fabulous skyline views. Timings are between 12-3 PM for lunch (Wednesday-Sunday), while there’s also afternoon tea and dinner from 5-9.30 PM on most days. 

3. The Cinnamon Club, Westminster- You will love dining in the famous site of the previous Westminster Library with Indian fine dining options aplenty. Try the delectable vesavara-spiced lamb mille-feuille with smoked paprika raita and the cured salmon moily here. Other must-try include the mustard seed caviar and curry leaf snow and the char-grilled halibut fillet with Mangalore-style curry sauce. Timings are 12-3 PM for lunch (Monday-Sunday) and 6-11 PM for dinner (Monday-Saturday). Sunday dinner timings are from 5 to 10 PM. 

Best Bars for Networking 

1. The Swan, Hyde Park- Offering stunning views of Hyde Park, this pub is ideal for business meetings and networking with colleagues and clients. Book the Garden Room and enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, a 120-inch projector screen and more. 

2. Nags Head, Covent Garden- This pub comes with a lovely view of Covent Garden along with a private bar and stylish décor theme. You can bring your associates here for slightly more relaxed experiences. 

3. The Hornimans, London Bridge- An ideal business bar, it is near the London Bridge Tube station and was once a historic tea warehouse (owned by famous dealer Frederick Horniman). You’ll love the wharfside bar with its meeting room (up to 80 people), screen and projector. 

Staying Productive: Top Tips for Business Travelers

• Staying productive on your business visit is essential to maximise your time in London. Here are a few tips that will help:
• Choose the right accommodation: Whenever you book serviced apartments in London or other accommodation, ensure that they have proper business facilities. These may include work desks and high-speed Wi-Fi to help you complete tasks or attend to urgent matters smoothly. Added amenities like conferencing and business centres are also helpful. 
• Take periodic breaks to enjoy London: Don’t forget that you’re visiting one of the world’s most historic and culturally vibrant cities. Take periodic breaks from your hectic work schedule to explore the city’s galleries, museums, monuments and nightlife circuit. This will refresh your mind and keep stress away. 
• Tackle Jet Lag Smartly: Try and arrive in the early evening or afternoon, helping you adjust to new sleep schedules better. If you just HAVE to take an afternoon or evening nap, keep it to just 45-60 minutes at the most. When you finally sleep at night, use noise-cancelling earplugs and sleeping masks, while keeping bright light away. 

Weather in London and What to Pack 

No London travel guide can afford to ignore the weather! It is quite unpredictable, with comfortable, cloudy and shorter summers and chilly and long winters. Temperatures usually range from 30-84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, with the best time to visit around late June to early September. It can be rainy and overcast throughout the year, so you will need an umbrella when you visit London. 

Here’s looking at what else you need to pack for your business trip: 

• Waterproof trench coat/jacket 
• Formal/casual wear and trousers/bottoms
• Outlet adapter (the UK has a G-style outlet plug) and electrical converter (if necessary)
• Passport, visa and travel insurance 
• Credit card without foreign transaction charges 
• Reusable water bottles 
• Sunscreen and moisturiser 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Comfortable formal and walking shoes (should be waterproof)
• eSIM card and chargers along with a power bank 
• First aid kit 
• Sweaters, long-sleeve shirts, thermal undergarments, coats, jackets, shawls/scarves, gloves, hats, warm socks (winter)

Final Thoughts

London’s vibrant culture, efficient infrastructure, and exceptional business amenities make it a top destination for business travelers. With a little planning, you can make the most of your time here, balancing work with some of the world’s best leisure experiences. Whether staying in a high-end serviced apartment, working in a sophisticated coworking space, or unwinding in a park or pub, London has something to offer every business traveler.