The coworking market in the UK and Ireland has reached another significant milestone. New figures show that the two countries now contain 4,698 flexible workspaces, confirming that coworking is no longer a niche alternative to the conventional office.
Yet the headline number only tells part of the story.
The latest market data also reveals sharp differences between cities, products and price levels. London remains dominant, but regional markets are building meaningful inventories of their own. Meanwhile, the most expensive city depends heavily on whether a customer needs a monthly membership, a day pass, a meeting room or a virtual office.
For coworking operators, landlords and businesses, the message is clear: the flexible office market is expanding, but it is not developing uniformly.
London remains dominant, but regional markets are gaining scale
Of the 4,698 coworking locations identified in the second quarter of 2026, 4,415 are in the UK and 283 are in Ireland. Greater London accounts for 1,275 spaces, giving the capital a coworking inventory roughly ten times larger than Manchester, the second-biggest market with 128 locations.
London’s lead is unsurprising. It has the largest concentration of employers, international businesses, independent professionals and commercial property in the region. It is also an important entry point for flexible-workspace brands testing the UK market.
However, the regional figures should not be overlooked.
Glasgow has 73 coworking locations, followed by Birmingham with 72, Bristol with 69, Leeds with 65 and Edinburgh with 60. Belfast leads Northern Ireland with 44 spaces, while Cardiff has the largest inventory in Wales at 40 locations.
These numbers suggest that coworking has moved beyond a capital-city phenomenon. Regional markets now have enough supply to support different operator models, customer segments and price points.
That creates opportunities, but also raises the competitive bar. Opening a generic coworking location in a growing city is no longer necessarily enough. Operators need a clear proposition, whether that is premium hospitality, affordable local workspace, specialist facilities, corporate suites or a strong professional community.
There is no single “most expensive” coworking city
One of the most revealing findings is the variation in flexible-workspace pricing.
Oxford records the highest median monthly coworking membership price, at £295. Dublin has the highest median day-pass price, at €45. London leads meeting-room pricing, with a median hourly rate of £54, while Liverpool has the highest median virtual-office subscription at £175 per month. Aberdeen, by contrast, is among the most affordable markets for both day passes and monthly memberships.
This price fragmentation reflects the fact that coworking is no longer one simple product.
A monthly membership is influenced by local demand from freelancers, hybrid employees and small businesses. Meeting-room prices are often shaped by corporate demand and the cost of centrally located commercial property. Virtual-office pricing may depend on the perceived value of a particular business address, as well as the services included in the package.
For customers, city-level averages therefore provide only limited guidance. Two coworking spaces in the same city can serve entirely different needs and charge accordingly.
For operators, this makes local market research essential. Pricing a workspace solely by copying competitors or applying a national benchmark can result in lost revenue or an offer that is poorly matched to local purchasing power.
Scale and local specialisation are developing side by side
Regus remains the largest coworking operator in the UK, with 238 locations. Its national network gives it broad geographical reach and makes it especially relevant to businesses that need workspace in multiple cities. Fora, Bruntwood, Workspace Group and Spaces complete the five largest UK operators identified in the report.
Ireland presents a different picture. Its 283 flexible workspaces remain heavily concentrated around Dublin, which contains 129 locations. Pembr and Iconic Offices are among the leading Irish operators, and both focus their portfolios entirely on Dublin.
The contrast highlights two viable strategies.
Large operators can compete through network coverage, standardisation and the ability to serve national or international accounts. Local and regional operators can compete through detailed market knowledge, distinctive design, stronger communities and services tailored to a particular customer base.
Neither model automatically wins. Success increasingly depends on how well the workspace responds to its immediate market.
What the figures mean for the wider office market
The rise from approximately 4,550 locations in the first quarter to 4,698 in the second quarter indicates continued expansion, although quarter-to-quarter comparisons should be treated carefully because databases and market definitions can change.
Even so, the broader direction is significant.
Flexible workspace is becoming a permanent component of office-market strategy. Companies can use it to enter new cities, accommodate project teams, support hybrid employees or avoid committing too early to a long lease. Landlords can use flexible products to diversify buildings and respond to occupiers seeking shorter commitments and more services.
Growth also brings new challenges. As supply increases, operators will need to monitor occupancy, operating costs and local competition more closely. A large inventory does not guarantee sustainable demand, and the strongest cities may also become the most crowded.
The next stage of market development is therefore likely to focus less on the number of openings and more on performance: which formats remain occupied, which services customers value and which operators can build profitable, differentiated networks.
A mature market requires a sharper proposition
Nearly 4,700 coworking spaces demonstrate the scale that flexible working has achieved across the UK and Ireland. But the more important lesson lies beneath the total.
The market is becoming increasingly local. London’s scale, Oxford’s membership prices, Dublin’s day-pass rates and Liverpool’s virtual-office costs all point to different demand patterns.
For workspace providers, expansion decisions should begin with detailed local evidence rather than broad assumptions about the coworking sector. For businesses, the growing range of locations creates more choice but also makes careful comparison more important.
Looking for a flexible office or professional business address that supports the way your company works? Explore your options carefully and choose a solution that combines the right location, services and level of flexibility.
