London workers are commuting into the office and pounding the pavement in droves as Christmas closes in.
More than half of workers have made their way into the office for a minimum of three out of five days this week, with almost one-fifth heading into the capital for all five days, according to data from London HQ and Landsec.
The report, which compiled Censuswide data of 2,000 London office workers, revealed that the shift in working patterns has been fuelled in part by a change in employers’ hybrid working policies.
Over half of those polled said they were braving the commute more often due to their employers increasing the number of days required in the office.
Other reasons for the increase in footfall include the allure of company Christmas parties (50%), while 44% reported that the festive lights were a key driver. Christmas shopping was cited as another reason, with 38% of people reporting gift-buying as a factor in their more return to the office.
But not all footfall was related to the holiday season, with 28% of workers opting for the office to save on heating and electricity bills amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Ruth Duston, chief executive and founder of Primera Corporation, said: “This Christmas has seen many of London’s hybrid workers return to the office, playing a crucial role in supporting the city’s economy. Although it’s been a challenging year, it’s great to see London’s festive appeal bring everybody together in a way only London can.”
She added that “businesses across a range of sectors have hugely benefited from the increase in footfall this month”.
Marc Myers, retail operations director for central London at Landsec, said: “The West End is a seven-day-a-week location, with tourists, shoppers and office workers contributing to footfall. With a great mix of retail, leisure and F&B, our places across Victoria, for example, are attracting people looking for convenience and new, one-of-a-kind brand experiences.
He added: “Weekend trade at Nova, part of our wider Victoria estate, has risen 17% from pre-Covid levels, with Saturday’s trading at the same rate as midweek peaks. F&B and leisure venues in the area are also performing ahead of pre-Covid levels with our Victoria workplaces fully let and bringing more buzz to the area.”
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