London Office Movement Briefing · Week 45, 2026 · 2026-11-02
London Office Movement Briefing: week 45, 2026
In-market activity jumped sharply this month, with the City once more absorbing the bulk of new demand and finance leading the sector tally. Here is what the public record shows for the week.
The numbers
There are now 604 companies in market for London office space, up from 407 in October — a rise of 197 companies, or roughly 48 per cent, month on month. The count of more advanced movers has risen too, from 39 to 44.
Lease events recorded this week totalled 666, spanning new lettings, renewals and expiries across the capital.
What it means: the scale of the monthly increase is large enough to reflect more than routine churn. With lease events running at this volume alongside a near-50 per cent jump in the in-market total, activity is broadening rather than concentrating in a handful of large transactions. The next few weeks of registry data should show whether this pace is sustained or whether November proves to be a peak.
Where the movement is
The City and fringe (EC postcodes) remain the dominant submarket by a wide margin, accounting for 207 of the companies currently in market. The West End (W) follows some distance behind on 92, with Midtown (WC) on 75, Southbank and the wider SE postcodes on 58, and the Southwest (SW) on 42.
By sector, finance and insurance leads with 103 companies in market, ahead of tech and software on 77. Professional and creative services account for 68, legal and consulting for 65, and media and publishing for 36. The ordering is consistent with the City's weight in the submarket figures: finance occupiers are the natural driver of EC demand, while tech and professional services contribute more evenly across the West End and Midtown.
In the press this week
Several transactions reported this week illustrate the scale of current City activity. Sodali has signed for space at a City office, and G&T has taken new space at Finsbury Square.
On the investment side, Hayfin and Capreon have completed their circa £320 million acquisition of the former RBS London headquarters, while a separate report notes that central London office investment rose 9 per cent year on year to £6.2bn.
Elsewhere, relocation activity is freeing up stock: a CoStar report on the Daiwa relocation describes it unlocking an 82,000 square foot City landmark, and Insider Media reports the final office letting has completed at 33 Park Place. Together these point to a market where both occupier demand and investor appetite are moving in step.
Put this data to work
Every figure above comes from the live Signal dataset — the same one that powers the London Office Movement Index. If your business wins work when companies move, see the leads behind the numbers: office fit-out, relocation services, facilities management and more.