How To Make Sure Your London Business Trip Goes Without a Hitch

Planning Flights

Once you know when you need to get to London, your next step is to plan flights. If you’re just traveling through a quick domestic flight, often the cheapest flight options are the best ones. But if you’re going to be on a plane for a few hours, you might want to consider looking for more comfortable seats.

If you want to save money, you’re better off with a faster flight, as time spent on the plane is time that could be spent working or even prepping for a client meeting. You want to be refreshed by the time you need to get to work.

This is especially true for a flying visit to London where you might only stay for the day or overnight.

Packing Luggage

Speaking of which, it’s best to travel as light as possible when you’re traveling for business. If you have time between the flight and your work, and you have accommodation, it might be worth traveling in comfortable clothes and then getting changed and refreshed before you have to meet with clients or investors.

You can save money by packing hand luggage rather than suitcases, however, which is why many people opt to travel in their work clothes.

An overnight bag is usually small enough for hand luggage, but can contain everything you need for a short stay. This might include a change of clothes, underwear and nightclothes, toiletries, and most importantly, your work laptop or any notes that you need with you. 

But what if you’re meeting someone before you can settle into your accommodation or shortly after you check out? Carrying around your luggage might not look professional, which is why it’s so useful to have secure storage locations for your luggage.

You can find these locations throughout London, such as luggage storage Tottenham Court Road or in other places that should be convenient for travelers. This means that you don’t need to worry about your luggage when you don’t need it, and you can keep it handy for when you need to leave.

Appropriate Accommodation

When you’re working, the most important thing is that you’re well rested and prepared for whatever you need to do. This might be buying or renting a property to expand your business, meeting up with different people for networking purposes, or working while on the move.

Your accommodations should be comfortable and secure. Unfortunately, London accommodation is often very expensive, so it’s worth looking for different options. An AirBnB location might even be appropriate, especially if you’re traveling as a group who all need somewhere to stay for a few days.

Sometimes, it’s a better idea to stay slightly outside of London city centre so that you can find a cheaper place to stay without sacrificing comfort. Thankfully, London has a good public transport system or you can use a taxi or Uber to get around the city. However, this means that you will have to consider commuting time when you’re making any meetings.

Always plan to get to your destination early rather than bang on time. This means that you’re not stressed while getting there and, if you have to wait a few minutes, you can spend the time running through what you need to say or do.

Excellent Venues

If you’re working as a digital nomad, you don’t really have to worry about making a good impression and meeting people. You’re simply working from your laptop and you’re always on the go. However, it’s still a good idea to become familiar with different places to eat and work in London.

Whether you’re a digital nomad or you want to hire a meeting room to speak to clients, investors, or potential employees, one option is to use a coworking space. Essentially, these are office spaces that allow you to hire rooms or find a workspace during the day. You can take advantage of the wifi and work in a professional setting.

What about other potential venues? 

Cafes and restaurants are very popular places to meet someone in a slightly more casual setting. Depending on the situation, you might be expected to pay for both portions, or both can look after themselves.

Ideally, you want to find locations that won’t break the bank, but are still quiet and respectable enough for business conversations. Even if things are more casual and feature a glass or wine or so each, you don’t want to completely let loose.

The best option is to plan these locations in advance. Don’t leave it to chance or impulse, but do your research. If the person you’re meeting is local to the area, they might have good suggestions for where to meet, otherwise, you should consider the volume, cost, and the convenience of the meeting location and venue.

The Streets of London

Even if you’re primarily staying in London for business reasons, it’s still worth thinking about how you’ll navigate the city itself. 

Depending on where you are in London, you might need to be aware of safety. Some areas have higher crime rates than others, and mobile phones and other devices might be targets of theft. The best way to stay safe is to stay aware. Be aware of your surroundings, and keep any belongings close to you. This is also why it’s a good idea to find somewhere safe to store your luggage, as more bags might make you look like a tourist.

When you’re traveling in a taxi, make sure you use a registered vehicle. Uber cars have to be ordered online, and only black cabs can be stopped in the street. They are very obviously designed as taxis and have a sign on the roof.

While you could hire a car to drive around London, driving in London is tricky if you’re not used to it and parking can be even worse. So, a cab is often a much better option for a short stay.

If you have time, make sure to explore some of the sights of London as well. The food scene is fantastic, and there are a lot of cultural and historical sites to visit.

Setting Up a Business in London

One of the reasons that you might want to visit London on business is to set up a business in London or expand your current company.

London is a great place to have a business premises, as it’s by far the most popular city in the UK for tourists and residents. Depending on the location you find, you might end up making a significant profit as you can further your business to the global market by making more and more connections.

If you run a high street business, then London enjoys a massive amount of footfall. London locations are also handier for a lot of people, because the population is so dense. People are far more likely to travel to your London-based location if they find your company on social media or through adverts.

However, setting up a business in London can be a double edged sword because you won’t be the only company trying to find a location. Properties to rent or buy in London can be prohibitively expensive, making this a potentially risky business venture.

Connections are key to reducing the risk and improving your chances of success. You need to find local employees to work there, as well as a manager who can keep things on track. All of this should be in place before you take the plunge.

Many businesses that want to expand to London take out business loans, which might be another reason to travel to London. A loan will allow you to have the funds necessary to get the business set up and ready to go, rather than being a drain on your resources.

Don’t expect your new branch to immediately start making a profit, but give it time to build up and pay for itself. Expos and opening days and promotions are a good way to get the ball rolling and hopefully build up a local customer base. Make sure to make your intentions known via your website and social media, so customers know where to find your business.