Anthropic, OpenAI splurge on London office space in leasing wave

[LONDON] Artificial intelligence-linked companies ranging from Anthropic to OpenAI have been rushing into London for office space, a surge that has surprised local landlords struggling to boost the supply of top quality property.

Such tech firms have leased more than one million square feet since the start of 2025, according to data compiled by real estate broker Knight Frank. That is equivalent to about 7 per cent of all the lettings during that period.

More than half of those were signed in April alone, with Anthropic announcing 158,000 square feet of space at British Land’s One Triton Square development and OpenAI agreeing to take up space near Alphabet’s new UK headquarters by King’s Cross station.

Earlier, crypto firm Ripple Labs rented about 90,000 square feet in Brookfield’s newest London skyscraper, while enterprise software provider ServiceNow in December signed a deal for 50,449 square feet in EDGE London Bridge.

“It’s taken us by surprise in the last six to 12 months,” said Mike Wiseman, head of campuses at British Land. “From a London perspective, it’s really good news,” he added.

There is more to come, with AI-enabled firms looking for roughly 630,000 square feet of space across the UK’s capital. Many of them are looking for the same top quality space often occupied by finance and professional services tenants, increasing competition in a market already characterised by low levels of supply.

The expansion coincides with the debate over the impact of rising AI adoption on companies’ headcounts and floor-space needs. That said, the spate of lettings to the very companies sparking those conversations means that the impact on office space is not clearcut.

“AI for London is going to be net positive in the short to medium term,” said Chris Dunn, a research associate at Knight Frank.

Along with AI companies, the latest to splash out in London include legal firms. US law consultants expanded on this side of the Atlantic, increasing the space they lease by 75 per cent in the final quarter of 2025, Knight Frank data show.

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“US law firms continue to grow at pace and they continue to look for the best quality offices,” said Dan Gaunt, co-head of London office leasing at the broker. This is in addition to several large financial occupiers, including Jane Street Group, BlackRock and Bank of America, who have been looking for fresh space in the capital. BLOOMBERG