As a global city and centre for business, London is perfectly set up for business travellers. But with London’s size and prestige, business trips in the city can also come under pressure if you don’t do some careful planning. We’ve hosted thousands of business travellers over the years, so we’ve learned a thing or two about what can make your business trip as smooth as possible.

Travelling to and around London

If you’re flying into London, book a direct flight if possible, or a flight with as few connections as possible. More connections increase the chance of something going wrong, which could cause you to miss important meetings. Also plan to arrive at least 24 hours before your first meeting to allow some leeway for travel problems, and to recover from the journey.
Before booking meetings into your schedule, familiarise yourself with London’s geography and transport network. Holding meetings outside the city centre could drastically increase your travel time between meetings. The Transport for London website or Citymapper smartphone app is your new best friend. Taking taxis isn’t always faster and remember to take traffic into account if you do travel by car.
Book a hotel in central London near good transport links to avoid unnecessary commuting times each day.
If you have a few spare hours in between meetings in London, London has a number of co-working spaces and clubs where you can rent a desk for a few hours. These locations benefit from excellent Wi-Fi and all the other facilities business travellers need.

Business etiquette in London

Londoners value punctuality, so make sure you’re on-time for your meetings, and call ahead if you’re going to be unavoidably late.
Business dress is often formal in London, with suits, shirts and ties for men. High end restaurants and bars in London also have dress codes, so it’s prudent to be sure you have appropriate clothing with you at all times.
A handshake is the most common way to greet a business associate. Some European gestures of kissing the cheek are present in some industries, but never assume this will be the case. If in doubt, follow the lead of the person you’re meeting.
Err on the side of caution the first time you meet business associates and call them by their title, e.g. Mr or Mrs followed by their surname.
It’s not common for London business people to give and receive gifts when meeting. Some companies have a policy that employees are not allowed to receive gifts. So don’t bring gifts unless you’re certain it will be acceptable to the people you’re meeting.

The Athenaeum is ideally geared up for business travellers. Our Deluxe or Superior rooms are perfect for short stays, while our Residences with fully fitted kitchens are ideal for hosting small meetings or entertaining. All rooms have full sized desks for working and fast Wi-Fi. We’ll even iron your shirts and shine your shoes too. We’re on-hand to help make travel arrangements and organise chauffeurs and taxis if need-be. Our central Mayfair location makes it easy to get around.

Our impressive meeting rooms are ideal for inviting business associates to meet you. Whether it’s a small board meeting or launch event, we’ve got a space to suit you. All our meeting rooms are flooded with natural light – a rarity on central London – with views over Green Park. Our express check-in and check-out service also gives busy business travellers an extra helping hand.

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Travel & work in London: tips for business travellers

Athenaeum Life / Lifestyle / Staying With Us /

Travelling to and around London

Business etiquette in London

More in Lifestyle

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Travel & work in London: tips for business travellers

Athenaeum Life / Lifestyle / Staying With Us /

Travelling to and around London

Business etiquette in London

More in Lifestyle

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