Business Travel, Impact
How to Make Business Travel to London More Sustainable
While business trips haven’t always had the best rap when it comes to environmentally focused travel, the next generation of eco-savvy business travellers to London is determined to change that image. Business travel to London can also be sustainable.
From getting around town the green way to visiting eco-friendly eateries and shops, finding sustainable places to stay to attending green events throughout the year, there are now more ways than ever to turn your essential business trip to London into a sustainable break in the city.
Read on to discover the best tips, tricks, and advice for eco-friendly business travel to London.
Get Around London the Green Way
Start your sustainable business trip to London the right way by choosing the most eco-friendly mode of transport in the city.
If you’re landing at one of London’s five main airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London City – you could have a bit of a journey to make before you reach your accommodation. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to lessen or offset your carbon footprint!
First up, try to choose a flight which gets to an airport near where you’ll be spending most of your time in London. This will not only save you valuable working time but will also cut down on travel emissions.
For those staying in West London, the closest airports are London City (around 9 miles away) and London Heathrow (13.3 miles away). From these two airports, it’s easy and eco-friendly to reach most West London hotels. You’ll have the option to travel by train, subway or bus, or, if you’d prefer to take a taxi, why not book one through Green Tomato Cars – the largest zero-emission passenger fleet in Europe?
Whether you’re heading out for an all-important meeting, to grab an after-work bite to eat or simply to explore some of London’s top attractions, the city has lots of eco-friendly travel options.
One of the best ways to find out what local secret spots are hiding in your neighbourhood is by foot or bike. London has dozens of bike rental schemes, with many of the most popular bike stores located in the West End. Pop into On Your Bike or The Bike Club to find your perfect set of eco-friendly wheels for the duration of your trip to London.
Eat, Drink and Be Eco-Friendly in London
Now that you know how to get around sustainably, you’ll have no problem hitting London’s top eco-friendly places to eat and drink after a hard day’s work! London is home to many of the best green restaurants in the country, with more sustainable eateries opening each year.
Start your day with a green, healthy breakfast at Australian-inspired Farm Girl Soho or opt for brunch at the Conscience Kitchen, the latter of which is dedicated to empowering small-scale suppliers affected by climate change and unethical trading.
Next up is lunch at one of London’s top sustainable spots – the Petersham Nurseries Delicatessen and Cellar in Covent Garden. Fine Italian meals are served in a stunning plant-packed glasshouse, with a focus on seasonal ingredients supplied by the family farm in Devon.
If work or business meetings are keeping you from heading out for a sit-down meal during the day, why not order an eco-friendly takeaway from one of London’s sustainable fast-food joints? Go meat-free at What The Pitta, try ‘health food for hedonists’ at Filth or opt for low-waste vegan served in fully recyclable containers from celebrity-favourite Cook Daily.
When it comes to evening dining with an eco-focus, London’s West End is the perfect base for exploring the top sustainable restaurants in London.
From big names like Fallow, Silo and Native to W5 Collective, London’s first climate-positive restaurant (meaning it removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits), you’re never far from a great-tasting and good-for-the-planet option for dinner.
Visit London’s Best Sustainable Attractions and Events
The list of sustainable spots to visit in London doesn’t end with places to eat and drink – there’s also a whole world of green attractions, eco-friendly events and experiences to discover in the city!
Considering the population, London is home to many peaceful gardens – the perfect place to escape and soak in the natural scenery on an eco-focused day out. In the West End alone, there are dozens of green spaces to explore – from historic Whitehall Gardens to Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens at Regent’s Park and, of course, the ever-popular Kensington Gardens.
If bad weather stops plans for outdoor exploring, why not try a sustainable cookery class? The Cookery School offers lessons on how to make delicious loaves of bread, jams, and pastries, as well as dedicated classes on how to reduce food waste in the kitchen.
For those who prefer to leave the cooking to the professionals, another eco-friendly rainy-day option is to check out what’s on at the Arcola Theatre. Aiming to be the world’s first carbon-neutral theatre, Arcola has implemented a range of green initiatives – from solar panels to carbon-neutral heating and has already reduced the theatre’s carbon footprint by more than 25% since 2012.
No matter what month your business travel to London falls in, be sure to check ahead and find out what green events are taking place during your stay.
From pedal-powdered outdoor cinema screenings to eco-art exhibitions and sustainable fashion shows, London is home to some of the best eco-friendly events in the country.
Guilt-Free Shopping with London’s Top Green Stores and Brands
If you’re the kind of business traveller who likes to take home a few souvenirs from your trips to London (whether you’re shopping for loved ones or just treating yourself!) you can now splurge guilt-free thanks to these green-focused stores and sustainable brands.
Head to fashion-pack favourite Reformation in Notting Hill for super-stylish pieces made from repurposed clothing and low-impact materials, or pop into Pop Boutique for sustainable vintage finds. Meanwhile, those searching for eco-friendly homeware and gifts might want to check out ISHQ near Hyde Park and The Good Earth Shop in Convent Garden for the perfect bottle of sustainably-sourced wine.
London is also home to some of the best sustainable markets in the UK, with Portobello Road Market and Buck Street Market in Camden being two of the most popular. Here, you’ll find not only sustainable fashion, gifts, and homeware, but also delicious food and drink from eco-minded suppliers.
West London’s Best Sustainable Stays
Want to know the biggest secret for sustainable business travel to London? It couldn’t be any easier! Simply choose a green-minded accommodation that has sustainability at its core.
With our collection of boutique West End short-term rentals, not only will you have all of London’s top eco-friendly destinations and events on your doorstep, but you’ll also be able to enjoy our sustainable partnerships with green suppliers – including luxury toiletries from Welsh brand Cole & Co and toilet roll from viral brand Who Gives A Crap.
Give a little something back, and help the city work towards a sustainable future. Follow these tips on your next business trip to London and you’ll soon find out just how good it feels to go green.