All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, right? Here are 10 companies whose London offices prove that just because it’s an office, it doesn’t have to be boring – you may want to show this to your boss
1 Google, Covent Garden
Famous for having amazing office spaces, it’s no surprise that Google’s London office makes this list. With a ‘granny flat’ area decked out with old armchairs and rugs, a plushy couch space made up to look like a Victorian-style pub and a roof terrace with hedges and tables for fresh air, it really has a bit of everything. There is even an area where employees can sew their own seeds, but apparently the wait list to nab a patch is pretty lengthy!
1-13 St Giles High St, London WC2H 8LG
2 Innocent, Kensal Green
Known as the Fruit Towers, Innocent’s office spans five floors of fake grass, park benches, bunting and ping pong tables. There’s a cool library for employees to relax in, the walls are decorated with baby photos, punchy slogans and colourful graphics, and the entire place has a fun, creative and vibrant atmosphere.
Canal Building, 342 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU; innocentdrinks.co.uk
3 Coca Cola, Marylebone
Unsurprisingly, Coca Cola’s London Headquarters is a pretty swanky spot. With a great view from the rooftop terrace, specially commissioned artworks hanging in the foyer and recycled Coke bottles going into some of the furniture like lights and chairs, this open-plan office has a great feel to it. It also has a strong focus on sustainability, with solar panels providing power.
1A Wimpole Street, London W1G 0EA; coca-cola.co.uk
4 Red Bull, Soho
While the marketing for Red Bull claims to give you wings, it seems that its employees won’t need them – there is a slide that goes right through the middle of the office, the quickest and easiest way to descend. The office reflects the red and blue colours and curved lines of the famous red bull cans, with metallic walls, ceilings and features throughout.
Sutton Row 12, London W1D 4AD; redbull.com
5 Mind Candy, Shoreditch
The office that houses the makers of Moshi Monsters really reflects the company’s playful products – the space features a slide, ping pong tables and, naturally, Moshi Monsters everywhere, as well as walls that employees are encouraged to colour in with pens. The place is so magical you would be forgiven for forgetting that the Mind Candy offices are a place where people go to work!
15 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4DN; mindcandy.com
6 Mother, Shoreditch
Once a biscuit warehouse, this Shoreditch office is home to the creative agency (responsible for ads for Ikea, Stella Artois and Boots), Mother, where the employees sit around a 250ft concrete table and everyone is encouraged to move around as much as possible. On top of this they have specially designed ‘thinking spaces’ with armchairs, rugs and the works, a fenced off area for football practice, and framed photos of the employees’ mums adorning the walls.
Biscuit Building, 10 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DD UK; motherlondon.com
7 Splunk, Paddington
This cool office has been designed to reflect the Paddington area in which it resides. As such, the board room is lined with steel, bricks and grafitti to reflect the local train station, and there is a Pullman carriage in the middle of the office, which makes for a comfy and sound-proof meeting room. Banksy-esque artworks and phone booths tucked behind old doors complete the look.
3 Sheldon Square, London W2 6HY; splunk.com
8 Living Social, Covent Garden
Fake grass, bean bags, and even a beach lounge for a waiting room – the colourful and vibrant offices for Living Social are as varied and unexpected as the list of products on its website. The best bits are the ‘breakout spaces’, where employees can wind down and recharge their batteries. One is picnic themed, and the other features games consoles, ping pong and beer.
25 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7DA; livingsocial.com
9 Ticketmaster, Angel
A slide, pinball, a jukebox, colourful picnic benches and a lot of bright, open spaces make Ticketmaster’s offices a creative place to work. They were designed to promote brilliance, forward thinking and energy, with a variety of different spaces for the employees to go to get inspired, get fit, or get away from the hustle and bustle of life and chill out.
Pentonville Rd, N1; ticketmaster.co.uk
10 FCB Inferno, Covent Garden
With cool grey and white complementing the wooden features of this office space, FCB Inferno Advertising Agency’s office is a stylish and grand work space – it looks like exactly the kind of place where great minds go to work. Calm muted tones and timeless furniture is promoted thoughout, but when employees need to switch off at the end of the day, the office bar provides a space for drinks and a game or two of pool.
31 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AE; fcbinferno.com
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