TL;DR
The UK’s coworking market is in the middle of a growth streak…and there are no signs of slowing down. In 2025, there were just under 4,200 coworking spaces across the UK. London still dominates, home to nearly 30% of these spaces, but regional cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol are rapidly expanding their footprints.
For operators, these figures reveal where demand is strongest and how member behavior is shifting. Much like the US coworking industry, regional hubs and even rural towns are emerging as high-potential markets.
In this article, we’ll break down the key benchmarks for the UK coworking industry – from supply growth and pricing to occupancy trends – so you can see exactly where the market stands today and where it’s headed next.
At-a-glance UK coworking stats:
As of Q2 2025, the UK alone hosts 3,949 coworking locations, with the broader UK and Ireland totaling 4,199 flexible workspaces. This is a testament to the sector’s rapid expansion and maturity. In previous years, the UK had around 3,090 spaces (end of 2024), and across the British Isles, hit 3,300+ combined, highlighting the significant growth in just one year.
Greater London remains the unrivaled leader in the UK’s coworking landscape. As of Q2 2025, the capital hosts 1,202 flexible workspaces, accounting for over 30% of the country’s total coworking inventory, a clear marker of its continued dominance .
Beyond the capital, several cities stand out for their coworking presence:
These cities reflect growing regional hubs, drawing demand from startups, freelancers, and satellite teams of larger enterprises seeking more affordable alternatives to London without compromising access to talent or infrastructure.
Rural and small-town hubs are emerging to serve professionals who have relocated from London and other major metros. This shift aligns with the UK government’s “levelling up” agenda, which promotes economic activity across the country.
Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Bristol are now priority markets for major operators and investors, driven by:
According to market forecasts, the UK coworking sector is expected to grow in value by 7–8% annually through the mid-2020s, with regional expansion a major driver.
For operators, this means thinking beyond the capital to tap into the next wave of demand.
Occupancy levels in the UK coworking market remain impressively high, especially among well-established spaces. By mid-2024, many mature locations were operating at 80–90% capacity, underscoring strong demand across both London and regional hubs.
London’s average occupancy slipped from 88% in early 2023 to ~82% in late 2024. This dip is a byproduct of significant new supply entering the market. In other words, the capital’s coworking demand remains strong, but it is being temporarily diluted as fresh inventory becomes available.
Regional coworking hubs are also seeing healthy occupancy rates, though often slightly lower than London’s top-tier spaces due to greater supply elasticity. In cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol, demand is fueled by:
One of the clearest signs that the UK coworking market is maturing is the rise in average contract lengths. As of 2025, flexible workspace agreements in London now average 22 months, the longest since CBRE began tracking the metric in 2020. This marks a significant shift in an industry once defined by short-term, month-to-month commitments.
Several factors are driving this change:
Longer agreements provide operators with more predictable revenue and help smooth occupancy fluctuations. They also create opportunities for upselling additional services such as meeting room packages, event hosting, and virtual mail add-ons over the life of the contract.
For members, signing longer deals often means better stability, especially in markets where competition for prime locations is high. This is particularly true in London’s central business districts and in smaller regional hubs with limited premium inventory.
The UK coworking sector is shifting from a transient model toward longer-term commitments, benefiting both operators (stability and forecasting) and members (security and pricing advantages).
The UK coworking sector is growing in its footprint and its financial weight. In 2023, the market was valued at £571 million, and forecasts project it will reach £1.59 billion by 2030. That’s a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7%.
Flexible offices (including coworking spaces) currently account for around 2.5% of total office stock in Europe, with the UK closely mirroring that figure. This share is steadily rising as more occupiers choose flexible solutions over traditional leases.
If the projected growth trajectory holds, coworking could capture a significantly larger slice of the UK office market by the end of the decade—driven not only by higher occupancy and contract lengths, but also by rising prices in key markets like London. This pricing trend is what we’ll explore next.
Coworking prices in the UK continue to show sharp regional variation, with London holding firm at the premium end of the spectrum. As of Q2 2025, the national median monthly price stands at £180 for a hot‑desk membership, notably higher than the £156 seen in 2024, and £248 for a dedicated desk, reflecting rising demand and market maturity.
London remains the priciest coworking market in the UK—and one of the most expensive globally. As of 2025:
For context: in 2024, the likeliest cost for a private office was ~£805 per desk/month, hot desks were £250–£400+, and dedicated desks ranged between £350–£600. In 2025, the elevated figures reflect ongoing demand pressure, limited supply in central areas, and growing appetite for premium hybrid-ready work environments.
Outside London, coworking prices drop noticeably—but there’s still notable variation across the UK. As of 2025:
Brighton & Hove are among the priciest locations outside the capital. Dedicated desks average £300 per month, while open workspaces hover slightly below London levels. For context, in 2024 the figures were broadly:
These updated 2025 medians, £175 for hot desks and £248 for dedicated desks, reflect a noticeable upward shift in baseline pricing outside the capital, driven by rising demand even in regional markets.
In rural and suburban areas, prices can be dramatically lower. Hot desks under £100/month are common, often offered by small operators or cooperatives catering to local freelancers, remote workers, and microbusinesses.
While these spaces may operate on smaller budgets, they often trade on community appeal and hyper-local networking.
The UK coworking market in 2025 is defined by rapid expansion, maturing demand, and increasingly nuanced regional dynamics. Whether you’re running a space, investing in the sector, or choosing where to work, the data points to several clear opportunities.
The UK coworking industry is maturing into a stable, diverse market. For operators, the playbook now extends beyond simply filling desks—it’s about targeting the right locations, securing longer commitments, and offering differentiated value.
Are you a UK-based coworking space operator looking for a way to automate your coworking space and improve profitability? Get in touch with Optix.
As of Q2 2025, the UK hosts 3,949 coworking spaces, with the broader UK and Ireland totaling 4,199 flexible workspaces. London leads with over 1,200 spaces, but regional hubs like Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol are experiencing rapid growth.
Beyond London, Manchester (118 spaces), Birmingham (68 spaces), and Bristol (61 spaces) are the leading coworking cities in 2025. These regional hubs are attracting startups, SMEs, and corporate satellite offices thanks to lower costs and strong talent pools.
Coworking spaces in the UK maintain strong occupancy, averaging 80–90% in 2025. London’s occupancy dipped slightly to ~82%, not due to weaker demand but because of new supply entering the market. Regional hubs like Manchester and Bristol are also performing strongly.
The average coworking contract length in London has grown to 22 months in 2025, signaling a maturing market. Longer commitments provide stability for members and predictable revenue for operators, moving coworking beyond its short-term, flexible-only reputation.
The UK coworking market was valued at £571 million in 2023 and is projected to reach £1.59 billion by 2030. This growth is fueled by hybrid work adoption, regional expansion, and longer contract commitments from occupiers.
