Regional Insights - London & South East

A person with glasses, wearing a blue blazer and white shirt, sits and smiles against a plain grey background.

A message from our Regional Director

"Prime commercial spaces are in high demand in London and the South East. Renting industrial property around London can feel daunting, but our London-based expert team, with years of specialist experience, is here to guide you through the dynamic rental landscape and secure the perfect property to help your business thrive."

- Dan Roberts, Mileway Regional Director, London & South East

Mileway in London and the South East

London is one of the most important business districts not just in the UK, but in the wider world. As well as being a financial powerhouse, it also boasts some of the highest levels of e-commerce penetration in all of Europe, already being home to thousands of e-commerce companies.

London is an incredibly challenging market to operate in, with enormous premiums on centrally located properties. This makes securing central logistics and commercial space a real challenge. As a result, the outskirts of London and the wider South East region have become critical to the last mile sector. Industrial and commercial properties that enable the supply of local goods and services are in ever-increasing demand in the London market.

Mileway provides a network of strategic locations that enable businesses across multiple industries to achieve a tactical edge with enhanced efficiency and fulfilment speed. Mileway’s portfolio of commercial properties for rent in London and the South East offers both relatively central locations in key business districts and larger, more affordable, sites further out in areas like Norwich, Ashford, and Milton Keynes.

Here is an overview of industrial and commercial activity in London and the South East:

Area	Cities, Towns, and Districts	Main Industries Include	Population	Employment Rate
Kent	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Kent, Ashford, Edenbridge	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Human health and social work activities Education	Population:1,639,000+	Employment Rate:~75.9%
London	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Croydon, Enfield, Leyton, London, Wimbledon, Sutton, Uxbridge, Mitcham, Edmonton, Islington	Main Industries Include: Professional, scientific and technical activities Human health and social work activities Administrative and support service activities	Population:9,089,000+	Employment Rate:~74.6%
Essex	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Harlow	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Human health and social work activities Administrative and support service activities	Population:1,563,000	Employment Rate:~76.8%
Hertfordshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Hatfield, St Albans	Main Industries Include: Administrative and support service activities Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Professional, scientific and technical activities	Population:1,236,000+	Employment Rate:~77.8%
Buckinghamshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Human health and social work activities Education	Population:578,000+	Employment Rate:~81.2%
Hampshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Andover, Basingstoke	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Human health and social work activities Professional, scientific and technical activities	Population:1,447,000+	Employment Rate:~81.7%
West Berkshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Newbury	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Information and communication Manufacturing	Population:165,000+	Employment Rate:~81.6%
Reading	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Reading	Main Industries Include: Information and communication Professional, scientific and technical activities Human health and social work activities	Population:182,000+	Employment Rate:~86.1%
Bracknell Forest	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Bracknell	Main Industries Include: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Professional, scientific and technical activities Information and communication	Population:130,000+	Employment Rate:~80.3%

Adapted from Office of National Statistics & NOMIS.

Space to grow for every business

Mileway offers commercial properties across the London area. Whether you are looking for an office, warehouse, storage space, or anything else, our team can help you find suitable properties to take your business forward. Discover more about our London offers by visiting one of the pages below, or contact a member of the Mileway team today.

Interior of a warehouse with high shelves holding stacked pallets of boxed goods, seen under bright overhead lighting.

Warehouse space in London

Storage, manufacturing and fulfilment spaces for businesses of all sizes.

A stack of blue shipping containers is arranged in tiers against a partly cloudy sky.

Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) in London

Open-air storage yards for vehicles, equipment, building materials, containers and logistics management.

Modern open-plan office with multiple desks, chairs, computers, and large windows letting in natural light. The office appears empty and well-organized.

Commercial offices in London

Standalone offices and warehouse-office properties, perfect for admin and logistics in key UK locations.

London and the South East have great transport hubs and connections

It goes without saying that London’s transport links are some of the best and most important in the UK. The 117-mile M25, also known as the London Orbital Motorway, encircles most of Greater London, offering direct access to a population of nearly 9 million people. Meanwhile, the M1 links London with the north, along with other major routes connecting the rest of the UK.

Business spaces in London also have access to the capital’s major aviation hubs. These include:

London City Airport
Gatwick Airport
London Luton Airport
London Stansted Airport
London Southend Airport
Heathrow Airport

Commercial freight in the capital is booming too. In 2024, Heathrow processed £215.6bn worth of goods, more than the rest of the UK combined. Local commercial spaces can also access the Port of London – one of the UK’s largest and most important ports.

This level of connectivity continues further afield. Here are just a few of the transport links industrial properties can access in London and the South East of England:

County	Cities, Towns, and Districts	Major Roads	Accessible Airports	Accessible Ports
Kent	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Kent, Ashford, Edenbridge	Major Roads:M2, M20, M25, M26	Accessible Airports:London Gatwick Airport, London Southend Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of Dover, Port of Ramsgate
Greater London	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Croydon, Enfield, Leyton, London, Wimbledon, Sutton, Uxbridge, Mitcham, Edmonton, Islington	Major Roads:M1, M11, M25, M4	Accessible Airports:London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Stansted Airport, London Luton Airport, London City Airport, London Southend Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of London (which includes the Port of Tilbury with the London Container Terminal and the Port of London Gateway)
Surrey	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Crawley, Dorking	Major Roads:M3, M23, M25, A3, A24, A25	Accessible Airports:London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport, London City Airport, Farnborough Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of London, Port of Southampton, Portsmouth International Port, Newhaven Port
Essex	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Harlow	Major Roads:M11, M25	Accessible Airports:London Stansted Airport, London Southend Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of Tilbury, Port of London Gateway, Harwich International Port
Hertfordshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Hatfield, St Albans	Major Roads:M1, M25, A1	Accessible Airports:London Luton Airport, London Stansted Airport, London Heathrow Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of Tilbury, Port of London Gateway
Buckinghamshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell	Major Roads:M1, M25, M4, M40	Accessible Airports:London Luton Airport, London Stansted Airport, London Heathrow Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of Tilbury, Port of London Gateway
Hampshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Andover, Basingstoke	Major Roads:M3, M27, M275, M271, A3(M), A27	Accessible Airports:Southampton Airport, Farnborough Airport	Accessible Ports:Port of Southampton, Portsmouth International Port
Berkshire	Cities, Towns, and Districts:Reading, Berkshire, Bracknell, Newbury	Major Roads:M25, M4, A308, A329, A404	Accessible Airports:London Heathrow Airport	Accessible Ports:NA

Why here, and why Mileway?

As one of the most sophisticated e-commerce markets in the world, consumers in the London region expect fast delivery times and excellent service. Mileway’s last mile commercial portfolio in the city and wider region empowers businesses to meet those expectations across a variety of commercial property types.

In addition to constantly expanding our portfolio, we’re making it a priority to meet the growing need for last mile logistics spaces to support critical ESG initiatives. Sustainability is a core focus area, with a growing number of our industrial, warehouse, and office spaces being refurbished to have a reduced environmental impact and accommodate electric vehicle storage and charging facilities.

We also know how important it is for businesses in the region to have flexibility as they grow. This is why access to the wider Mileway network of industrial units and warehouse spaces across the South East and the UK is so valuable when it comes to expansion. Our specialists can analyse the region to find business spaces that suit your long-term projections.

Showcase property

Tongwell 130, Milton Keynes

Tongwell 130 is located in Tongwell, Milton Keynes, and will be available in Q1 2025. The property encompasses a total area of 131,780 sq ft, which includes 11,056 sq ft of office space distributed across the north and south blocks. It features eaves 12.8m-high, six dock-level loading doors, four level-access loading doors, and a 50m deep enclosed yard.

Externally, the unit features a secure yard that extends to 50 metres, with a dedicated access point via Maryland Road. Parking spaces are available, with a front staff-parking entrance accessible via Delaware Drive.

Find out more