The Office Location Report

The top commuter challenges

While many businesses recognise the importance of bringing employees back into the office, they must also acknowledge the challenges employees face in doing so.
Commuting plays a vital role in how employees evaluate the trade-offs between working from home and commuting to the office. The search behaviours of UK commuters highlight what they deem to be the primary challenges of commuting, ranging from navigating disruptions to reducing costs. Here are the top-ranked commuter queries in the UK:

With a staggering 22,200 monthly searches for “Train strikes UK”, it is clear that reliable transport remains a top priority for workers. While train strikes have disrupted routines in recent years, they’ve also highlighted the value of dependable, well-connected office locations.

The cost of commuting can be another challenge for many workers, with 14,800 monthly searches for “TFL Costs” reflecting employees’ focus on budgeting for travel, particularly in cities like London, where living expenses are high.

Nathalie highlights, “Rising travel costs are a potential concern. Our research has shown that questions like ‘How much is an Oyster card?’ and ‘How can I save on transport costs?’ are frequently searched. Employers must support staff through options like subsidised travel, flexible hours to avoid peak times, or incentives to ease this worry. Communication is also key, and being adaptable around planned strikes will help employees feel these challenges and potential commuting issues are being acknowledged.”

Practical queries such as “Top up Oyster card” rank third, with 12,100 searches per month. This highlights how commuters prioritise convenience and accessibility when managing their daily travel, indicating a preference for seamless transit systems that integrate into their routines.
Understanding these challenges reinforces the importance of placemaking for office workers: accessible and affordable commuting options, combined with amenity-rich areas, can significantly influence workers' enthusiasm to return to the office.

Commuter trends in London

With 6,648,000 workforce jobs in London, a vast number of people have the potential to work on-site. In this vibrant and dynamic city, workers can take advantage of numerous amenities to enhance their daily routines.

Nathalie says, “When choosing an office location, businesses should consider more than just the space itself. External factors like proximity to clients, transport reliability, and surrounding amenities play an important role in a positive employee experience. Our workplace strategy team emphasise the importance of these elements in creating an office environment that encourages employees to come in, collaborate, and thrive.”

Our research highlights that central London boroughs dominate the top four positions when it comes to office location considerations, which is unsurprising given the high concentration of traditional office spaces in these areas.

Westminster leads the rankings, offering the highest number of amenities that support a strong work-life balance. Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, and Islington follow closely behind, each providing a mix of accessibility, dining, and social opportunities that contribute to a vibrant workplace experience. Meanwhile, outer London boroughs such as Kingston upon Thames, Bexley, and Havering rank higher in terms of in-office working rates but offer fewer amenities, suggesting that different factors drive workplace attendance in these areas.

Nathalie adds, “When encouraging employees to return to the office, businesses should consider the entire end-to-end journey of their commute. With nearly 1 in 10 trains delayed across London on average, the office itself needs to be an inviting and valuable space to justify the effort of commuting. Our workplace strategy focuses on designing offices that go beyond just getting work done. They should be spaces where people feel comfortable, connected, and motivated, making the commute feel worthwhile."

The results show that Kingston upon Thames (53.4%), Bexley (65.5%), and Havering (66.6%) all rank among the highest for office attendance and also have some of the most reliable transport links, with 95.6% or more of trains running as scheduled. This reinforces the idea that an easy, reliable commute plays a major role in employees’ willingness to return to the office.

Commuter trends in the UK

Looking beyond London, our research highlights key trends in office attendance across major UK cities. While transport reliability remains a challenge in many areas, cities with strong workplace cultures and vibrant amenities continue to see high levels of in-office work.

Edinburgh ranks highest, with 61.1% of employees working from the office, supported by a strong mix of food and after-work options. Blackpool, despite having one of the lowest transport reliability scores (63.0% of trains on time), sees the highest office attendance at 79.8%, suggesting that other factors, such as fewer remote-working opportunities, may be at play. Meanwhile, cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow demonstrate a balance of office attendance and amenities, reinforcing the idea that a thriving office culture is built on more than just convenience.

So, if businesses want employees to embrace office life, the space has to be worth the commute. With ongoing challenges like train strikes and rising travel costs, businesses need to create workplaces that feel like more than just a desk and a chair, they should be places where people actually want to be.

That means choosing the right location with good transport links and plenty of nearby amenities, but also designing an office that’s welcoming, inspiring, and built for the way your people work. When done right, the office becomes a space where collaboration, connection, and creativity thrive and employees feel empowered to do their best work, making the journey in feel worthwhile.

We help businesses get this balance right. Through our workplace strategy offering, we create offices that don’t just function but truly support the people who use them. Because at the end of the day, a well-designed office in the right location isn’t just good for employees, it’s good for business too.