Economic Real Estate Insights
Our Economic Real Estate Reports are published quarterly and annually, offering insights into the performance of real estate across the Heart of London.
The Heart of London area’s Economic and Real Estate Performance in 2024-25
£12.8BN and Rising: The Economic Strength of the Heart of London area
The Heart of London area is helping power the UK economy — and new data confirms it.
Our latest Annual Economic Real Estate Insight Report 2024/25 reveals that the area generated £12.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022 — a record-breaking 26.1% increase year-on-year. While covering just 12.8% of the West End’s footprint, it delivers 25% of its total GVA, underlining the extraordinary productivity and density of economic activity concentrated in the district.
Summarising our latest Annual Economic Real Estate Insights 2024/25 report released this week, we look at some of the factors, from increased footfall to a strengthening Experience Economy, that contribute to the area's resilience and momentum.
A hub of productivity
As of 2023, the area supports over 117,000 jobs, with two-thirds of employment in key sectors such as knowledge services (such as financial, legal or consulting based services), retail, hospitality, and arts and culture.
GVA per job also reached £114,550 — 76% higher than the UK average and 24% above the London average, a new record for the area and a clear signal of its outsized contribution to the capital's growth.
Resilient commercial property market
The commercial property market is showing signs of strength and stability:
Strong footfall and international appeal
Footfall in 2024/25 reached 83.3 million, a 7% rise year-on-year, with international visits up 12%. Hotel occupancy climbed to 81%, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
To meet this growing demand, significant tourism and hospitality investments are underway, including:
Cultural venues are thriving too:
The Experience Economy is thriving
While average spend per transaction has softened, eating out rose by 3%, highlighting the growing value people place on social and cultural experiences. According to SOLT, for every £1 spent on a theatre ticket, an additional £1.27 is spent locally — a clear boost to hospitality, retail, and tourism.
Seamless connectivity
The Heart of London area remains one of the best-connected areas in the UK. In 2024-25, local stations recorded a total of 87 million passenger journeys, reinforcing the area’s role as a central gateway for business, culture, and tourism.
The West End leads London's return to the office
The Heart of London area continues to outperform other business districts in the return to office-based working:
With flexible working becoming the norm, patterns are changing. Thursdays have overtaken Fridays as the new peak for socialising and spending — reshaping hospitality demand and underlining the need for adaptable public realm strategies.
HOLBA’s business survey shows that most employers now operate under informal hybrid working guidelines, suggesting long-term change — and opportunity — for central London’s working culture.
What's needed next?
To sustain this momentum and unlock the West End’s full potential, strategic action and investment are needed. HOLBA is calling for support in four key areas:
The West End is delivering exceptional value for London and the UK — but continued strategic support is essential.
HOLBA’s proposed International Centre for Commerce and Experience would align commercial vibrancy with cultural excellence and infrastructure investment, creating a unified vision for the area’s future. With the right tools, the Heart of London area can continue to thrive — not just as the capital’s cultural and commercial core, but as a blueprint for how modern city centres evolve and lead.
Our Economic Real Estate Reports are published quarterly and annually, offering insights into the performance of real estate across the Heart of London.
Our Area Performance Reports are published monthly and annually, accompanied by a data dashboard where you can explore key trends and highlights from the reports.