Newport International Group Runway, Capital ideas: London’s new Tech Cities

The Vibe: Fashionable tech. Clerkenwell attracts companies that have outgrown their space in Shoreditch – or are put off by the area’s escalating prices – but want to remain close to the buzz of Silicon Roundabout.

Local Heroes: Warner Yard is a tech co-working space and home to the London base of Techstars, a US accelerator programme, which nurtures early-stage ventures. 

Ones to Watch:

Farfetch is an online clothing retailer that provides a single shop window for dozens of independent fashion boutiques from around the world. It aspires to match the success of Net-a-Porter. EDITD, a data mining business for the fashion industry, provides real-time information on trends and shopping habits.  

The Vibe: Well-connected new media quarter. The renaissance of King’s Cross and St Pancras stations has brought business, culture and improved transport links to the area.

Local Heroes: Central St Martins, the world-renowned art college has moved here, bringing creative talent to the area. 

The Vibe: A crossroads: the glamour of the West End meets intellectual stimulation of Bloomsbury. 

Local Heroes: University College London is actively involved in nurturing entrepreneurship among its students and, through its UCL Advances programme, providing research and development resources for start-ups.

Ones to Watch: HouseTrip is one of Europe’s biggest holiday rental booking sites, enabling travellers to book a stay in one of more than 270,000 houses around the world, just as they would a hotel room, and homeowners to make money from their property when they are away. Kingis a mobile games developer, whose biggest hit to date has been Candy Crush Saga. 

The Vibe: Shoreditch on a shoestring. Like the East End, Southwark has plenty of interesting warehouse conversions. The entertainment is world class, including the Tate Modern, the National Theatre and the South Bank.

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