Finding a useful workspace between London meetings

Work backwards from the next meeting

Start with the next fixed appointment and the building entrance you need. A workspace near that destination reduces the number of moves in your day. Include time to leave the workspace, collect belongings and register at the meeting.

A hotel lounge, bookable meeting room, coworking day pass and café serve different purposes. Decide whether you need focused desk work, a confidential call or simply somewhere to wait before searching.

Ask specific questions before reserving

Check whether advance booking is required, whether non-members can enter, and what the quoted price includes. Ask about sockets, Wi-Fi access, quiet rooms and whether luggage can stay beside you. Do not assume a hotel lobby is open for unrestricted working.

If you need a private conversation, book an appropriate room and confirm the setting. Headphones do not make confidential discussion private in a shared lounge or café. Follow your employer’s guidance for working away from the office.

Make luggage part of the plan

A laptop bag is easy to move; a large suitcase and presentation case may make several short stops inconvenient. Ask your hotel whether it can hold luggage before check-in or after checkout.

Tell P5 if the onward collection includes more bags than the earlier journey. A point-to-point vehicle is released after the agreed drop-off; retaining a vehicle or leaving items requires a separate confirmed arrangement.

Set a leave-by time

Write a departure time into your diary rather than relying on the meeting reminder. Keep the booking confirmation and collection instructions available, especially if the building has several exits.

If work overruns, contact the team promptly. An updated collection time depends on availability and any applicable charges. Keeping a car booking unchanged while moving to another workspace can leave the driver at the wrong address.

Plan the next step

• Plan a multi-stop day
• Business travel productivity