How Coworking Spaces in Edinburgh Shape the City's Startup Culture
Edinburgh stands as an outstanding location for starting a business in the UK. The city boasts a booming economy and also offers entrepreneurs an amazing work-life balance.
One factor behind Edinburgh’s success is the popularity of coworking here.
Instead of working in a private office, you work in the same open-plan area as other business owners, sharing ideas and insights. This is a great way of building up your network of contacts who can help you grow your business faster.
Regus has six centres in Edinburgh, Scotland, with coworking spaces in the city centre and on the outskirts.
In this article, find out why a coworking space in Edinburgh is a match for your business. Then, we will share the details of our top picks on a range of Edinburgh office space for you to consider as your shared workspace.
Why is Edinburgh such a great place for startups?
Edinburgh is one of the major centres for business in the UK and Europe. This is an ambitious capital city that's home to startups, scaleups and big multinationals from a variety of industries.
There’s nowhere better in Scotland to get your business up and running. You’ll find exceptional staff, great office space and committed investors across this city.
Here are four key reasons businesses set up in this city of opportunity.
1. Excellent location and transportation options
Edinburgh’s location and its accessibility make it one of the leading business cities in the UK. You can get here by direct train from London, Leeds, York, Durham, and Newcastle on the East Coast Mainline.
From within Scotland, there are direct connections to Glasgow via the Falkirk High and Shotts lines. Change-free rail travel is also available to Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Stirling, and Perth.
The city has great motorway connections too. The A8 will take you to Glasgow and Stirling while the A1 takes you to Berwick and into England. For your staff, getting in and around Edinburgh by car is easy thanks to its compact size and the Edinburgh City Bypass, its convenient ring road.
Edinburgh Airport is just under 40 minutes away by car from the city centre. The airport has flights to and from 150 destinations in 38 countries including the U.S., China and many other European hubs.
2. Edinburgh’s culture
Edinburgh's vibrant culture is a major draw for both visitors and businesses. The city, steeped in history since before the seventh century, offers a unique atmosphere that blends its rich past with modern energy and creativity. This is evident in Edinburgh's distinctive architecture and street layouts.
3.25 million overseas visitors come here every year to take in its unique atmosphere and cultural offerings. Every August, the city is home to the renowned International Festival and the Festival Fringe. Throughout the year, there’s also the Science Festival, Jazz & Blues Festival, Art Festival and the New Year Hogmanay.
There’s a great choice of museums including the National Museum of Scotland and Dynamic Earth, offering educational and entertaining experiences. Its vibrant arts scene also features theatres showcasing plays and shows.
This rich cultural tapestry not only makes Edinburgh a great place to live but also adds to its appeal as a business location. It offers an engaging environment for entrepreneurs and their teams.
3. Quality of life
Edinburgh's reputation for quality of life is well-founded and recognised globally, with the city beating both London and Glasgow as the UK city with the best quality of life. Residents are happier, have lower commute times and have access to affordable housing.
In 2022, Edinburgh was declared the best city in the world, outranking cities like Chicago and Medllín. This ranking is based on surveys of thousands of city-dwellers worldwide, assessing factors such as walkability, beauty, and the ease of expressing oneself.
Such accolades reflect the city's blend of historical charm and modern livability. They make it an attractive place not just for visitors but also for residents who appreciate its less stressful environment compared to larger cities like London.
4. A robust and lively business sector
Edinburgh excels as a major centre for business and enterprise, gaining recognition as a top location for startups and commercial growth. It’s been named the second-best place in the UK to start a business and recognised as the best city outside of London for business.
The strength of Edinburgh's economy lies in its diversity, with burgeoning sectors in technology, health, IT, professional services, and manufacturing. This range ensures resilience and growth potential, even in challenging economic times.
Its status as a rapidly growing tech hub, supported by its rich educational resources and innovative spirit, further adds to its appeal to businesses.
Why choose a coworking space in Edinburgh?
Regus’s open-plan coworking spaces can help you make the most of this vibrant and lively city. Here are five great reasons to choose our shared office space in Edinburgh.
1. No property overheads
Our coworking offices in Edinburgh are ready whenever you’re ready to move in.
There’s no need to enter into protracted negotiations with a landlord and their solicitors on a 10-year lease. There’s no need to choose, pay for, and install furniture or set up a phone. You won’t need to sort out miles of cabling.
You don’t have to worry about maintaining the building, paying business rates or finding a cleaner to keep the office tidy.
Instead, you can get going straight away from your dedicated desk. Focus your time, energy and resources on building your company instead of managing an office.
2. Networking opportunities
If you want to meet like-minded entrepreneurs from a range of different sectors, choosing coworking is the right option for you.
There’s a real community atmosphere within our Edinburgh offices. Not only is networking crucial for all businesses, but for startups, you get a chance to build mutually beneficial relationships with other business owners in our centres.
Networking allows you and fellow professionals to share your expertise and ideas. It’s a great way to build a collection of valuable contacts that could later lead to new and exciting business opportunities.
3. Choice of prime locations
Regus has coworking spaces all across the city in Central, West, and East Edinburgh.
Central Edinburgh is where the financial, tech and professional services sectors cluster together. With great bus, rail, road, and tram links, getting here for you and your staff is quick and straightforward.
Choose our South Gyle location in West Edinburgh if connectivity is important. The M8 and City Bypass are close and the Airport is a 10-minute drive away. There’s on-site parking if you or your staff need to bring the car in.
If you need to get into the city and want to leave the car behind, there are tram and rail connections that can get you there. JP Morgan, British Telecom, and HSBC have their bases in this area.
Our Fort Kinnaird centre is in the east of the city. Just off the A1, this is the ideal location if you need to drive to England regularly. The fast-growing Edinburgh BioQuarter is a short distance away so it’s a great place to locate if you operate within the life sciences sector.
4. Increased productivity
There is a proven link between productivity and a coworking environment.
A structured and open coworking space fosters a sense of community, where individuals can work more effectively and collaboratively. They can work closely together on specific issues to make breakthroughs and overcome challenges.
In a private office, the opportunity to interact with someone with expertise is harder. There may be no natural opportunities for you and your staff to build a relationship because you’re in a closed space. Coworking unlocks these capabilities.
5. Ample benefits and amenities
A Regus coworking space comes with many benefits including:
- Friendly reception team: We’ll greet your guests when they arrive and show them over to you.
- Hot desks for colleagues: Book a hot desk by the hour or day if you need to accommodate an extra team member.
- The latest technology: Access the super-fast broadband, IT support and shared printers in your centre.
- Meeting rooms: Interviewing or getting an important client or investor coming in? Book one of our state-of-the-art meeting rooms.
- Break-out areas: Each Regus centre has areas you can go to for scrums, post-meeting huddles and short breaks. Networking events: Attend our regular networking events to strike up new business relationships.
Coworking spaces in Edinburgh
When it comes to coworking in Edinburgh, no one has a greater selection than Regus. When you see a centre you want to find out more about, please get in touch and arrange a viewing.
1 Lochrin Square
1 Lochrin Square is in the sought-after Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh, just to the west of the city centre. The centre is easy to get to by bus, tram and train. If you’re welcoming guests for a meeting or a seminar, plenty of hotels are nearby.
Our office is in one of Edinburgh’s newest commercial buildings. Taking up over three floors, you’ll appreciate how light and airy the space is thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows. As soon as you walk in, you’ll appreciate the style of the centre. With metal staircases and exposed piping, it looks the part.
Fully accessible, take the elevator up to your dedicated desk in the open-plan coworking area. There’s plenty of opportunity to network in the centre with its many meeting rooms and break-out areas.
Near to the centre is Lochrin Basin, the eastern end of the mighty Union Canal. Take a stroll here at noon for some quiet and a bite to eat.
If you want to burn off some calories, there’s a great gym just down the road. At night time, sample the bars and restaurants around Haymarket Station.
Highlights include:
- Meeting rooms
- Free refreshments
- Elevator
Information about 1 Lochrin Square:
- Address: 1 Lochrin Square, Edinburgh EH3 9QA
- Coworking space: From £279 per month
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: Port Hamilton Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away), Coates Crescent Tram Stop (an 11-minute walk away), and Haymarket Station (an 11-minute walk away)
93 George Street
93 George Street, in the heart of the city’s financial district, affords stunning views of Edinburgh Castle from its location.
This listed Victorian building impresses with its period details and imposing reception area. But the building’s original features belie a thoroughly modern, spacious business centre.
There are excellent transport links to the centre. Edinburgh’s extensive bus network will deliver you here quickly and it’s only one block away from the tram stops on Princes Street. If you need to bring your car in, there’s parking here too.
Part of the classical Edinburgh New Town, this is a beautiful part of the city to work from. Princes Street Gardens are close by as well as four quaint green squares you can spend time in.
The shopping around here is first class as are the bars and restaurants. After work, there’s plenty for you to show your guests and employees.
Highlights include:
- Outside seating area
- Secure underground parking
- Bicycle storage
Information about 93 George Street:
- Address: 93 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3ES
- Coworking space: From £169 per month
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: Frederick Street (Stop GE) Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away), Princes Street Tram Stop (a five-minute walk away), and Edinburgh Waverley Station (an 11-minute walk away)
Princes Street
Our Princes Street centre is on the city’s most famous thoroughfare. The Royal Scottish Academy is just over the road as are the tranquil Princes Street Gardens with its magnificent Rose Fountain. There is arguably no more prestigious address in Edinburgh than Princes Street.
This is the commercial and financial heart of the city and Scotland as a whole. Getting here is easy as Princes Street has a tram stop and is on multiple bus routes. Edinburgh Waverley Station is a few hundred metres away.
The building is a four-storey modernist building on the intersection of Princes Street and Frederick Street. Light floods into the centre thanks to its floor-ceiling windows. There’s a modern, minimalist aesthetic running throughout the centre with vibrant splashes of colour.
To impress clients and visitors, take them to the National Galleries of Scotland, just behind the Academy. Some of the city’s finest hotels are around here including the Hilton and Waldorf Astoria.
For evenings out, you’re in the hub of the city’s nightlife. Choice is abundant when it comes to bars, restaurants, leisure venues and nightclubs.
Highlights include:
- Meeting rooms
- Break-out areas
- On-site showers
Information about Princes Street:
- Address: 83 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2ER
- Coworking space: From £139 per month
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: Princes Street Tram Stop (a one-minute walk away), Foot Of The Mound Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away), and Edinburgh Waverley Station (a six-minute walk away)
9-10 Saint Andrew Square
Overlooking the picturesque tranquillity of the 1772 garden square that bears its name is 9-10 Saint Andrew Square. Once a fashionable place to live, later a major financial centre, it’s now a cultural and commercial focal point for the city.
This Regus centre is based in a 1960s-listed building designed by Sir Basil Spence, the legendary Scottish architect. Inside, the styling and furniture are modern, chic and contemporary.
The coworking areas, based in open-plan areas of the centre, are stylish and well-appointed. The atmosphere here is excellent, conducive to getting work done and regular networking.
Clients and investors will remark on the grand reception area and the exceptional styling throughout the centre. Take them onto the rooftop garden when the weather is good for one of the best views of the Castle.
The shopping around here is excellent. The hospitality and leisure options are especially fitting for a capital city. The Dome, one of Edinburgh’s most celebrated restaurants since 1996, is 100 metres away on George Street.
Impress your guests and staff by taking them there to check out the venue’s marble bars and Corinthian columns.
Highlights include:
- Outside seating terrace
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour CCTV monitoring
Information about Saint Andrew Square:
- Address: 9-10 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AF
- Coworking space: From £109 per month
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: George Street (Stop GM) Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away), Princes Street Tram Stop (a four-minute walk away), and Edinburgh Waverley Station (a four-minute walk away)
South Gyle
Located in the west of the city, our South Gyle centre is one of Edinburgh’s leading parks. This is an established commercial zone that’s home to banking groups like Lloyds, HSBC and RBS.
There are excellent road and bus connections here with parking on site. The local tram and train stops too are around a quarter of a mile away.
This Regus centre is within a modern, three-story office complex. Internally, there is a stylish minimalist design motif with contrasting dark and light colours. The windows are tall meaning that plenty of natural light enters the building. There’s a popular outdoor terraced area here too.
After work, there’s plenty to do in the area. There’s Gyle Shopping Centre and a large sports and fitness gym, both a few minutes drive away.
Highlights include:
- Outside seating area
- Meeting rooms
- Break-out areas
Information about South Gyle:
- Address: 4 Redheughs Rigg, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ
- Coworking space: From £95 per month
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: Redheughs Avenue Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away), South Gyle Station (a 15-minute walk away), and Gyle Centre Tram Stop (a 17-minute walk away)
Fort Kinnaird
Just off the A1 is our Fort Kinnaird workspace, part of the massive shopping centre that bears the same name.
Our offices are conveniently based in a two-storey building just next to Currys PC World at the corner of the estate. There are also plenty of parking spaces out front.
This compact, friendly centre is the ideal place to start up and grow a business. The coworking areas are generously proportioned and facilitate networking with like-minded company owners. There’s a popular on-site coffee and sandwich bar you can use if you need to refuel.
Being based on the second largest retail park in the UK, you have a choice of things to do during downtime or after work.
There is a wide array of shops from electrical retailers to outdoor apparel stores. There’s a gym and cinema on site as well as twenty places to eat.
Highlights include:
- On-site coffee bar and restaurant
- Parking
- Meeting rooms
Information about Fort Kinnaird:
- Address: Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, Edinburgh EH15 3RD
- Coworking space: Prices available on request
- Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7; Membership access during reception hours
- Nearest transport links: Fort Kinnaird Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away) and Newcraighall Station (an 11-minute walk away)
Discover coworking offices to rent in Edinburgh with Regus
If you’re looking for shared office space to rent in Edinburgh on flexible terms, contact Regus. We have state-of-the-art centres in the heart of the city as well as in East and West Edinburgh.
If business takes you places, you can hire private offices, dedicated desks and meeting rooms at any of our 4,000 worldwide centres.
Or, download the Regus app to check availability and confirm your space with a Day Pass. Become a Regus member to save money on every booking.
To find out more about shared coworking space in Edinburgh, please contact us.