Let’s face it – traditional offices are dead. The endless grey carpet, lifeless lighting, and plastic plants have had their time. These days, if your office feels like a scene from 1997, you’re already losing the talent war.

Across London, we’re seeing a new breed of workspace. Offices that feel more like members’ clubs, boutique hotels, or frankly, playgrounds for grown-ups. And this shift isn’t just about showing off; it’s strategic.

Walk into Fora on Broadwick Street, and you’re met with a space that feels more Soho House than serviced office. Velvet armchairs, curated art, a buzzing café that turns into an after-hours cocktail space. It’s where work meets hospitality, and the vibe makes you want to stay.

Or head over to Huckletree in Shoreditch. They’ve got meditation yurts, neon artwork, immersive tech labs, and open-plan lounges that look like someone’s dream living room. It’s not just “cool for cool’s sake”; it’s built for connection, creativity, and mental clarity.

Then there’s Work.Life in Bermondsey. It’s got beer taps, weekly yoga, dog-friendly everything, and even a nap pod or two. A bit mad? Maybe. But it’s packed. And the teams inside? They’re engaged. They’re in the office. And that’s the point.

Let’s not forget Second Home in Spitalfields. Imagine working in a greenhouse designed by a conceptual artist. Wild colours, curved architecture, indoor trees. It’s weird in the best possible way, and tenants love it. The space sparks energy. And that’s worth real money to businesses trying to get people back to their desks.

It’s easy to roll your eyes at slides and ball pits. But behind the gimmicks is something real: people want offices that feel human. That energise them. That inspire new ideas and make Monday mornings a bit less grim.

The post-Covid shift in office expectations is huge. If people are going to commute in, they want more than a desk and decent Wi-Fi. They want an experience. Landlords who get that, and design for it, are the ones still letting space at headline rents.

Culture, collaboration, creativity – it’s all tied to environment. The smarter businesses are realising that investing in a better space isn’t an indulgence, it’s a commercial edge.

Especially when you’re trying to attract talent that could just as easily work from anywhere.

If you’re holding office stock in London and it still looks like it did ten years ago, it’s time to rethink. This isn’t about throwing beanbags around and hoping for the best. It’s about asking: what kind of environment helps people thrive?

The line between workspace and lifestyle is blurring. The best offices now are multifunctional, multisensory, and yes, a little bit playful.

Because if work has changed, shouldn’t the space we do it in change too?