Office workers in English market towns return to desks faster than city colleagues

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Office workers in English market towns have returned to office spaces at markedly higher rates than those in urban centers, with towns like St Albans and Windsor seeing increases close to 50 percent over the past six months. This shift reflects a growing corporate trend toward flexible, local office leasing that reduces commute times and costs, signaling a lasting move toward hybrid work models outside major cities.

Office workers in English market towns are returning to their desks at significantly higher rates than their counterparts in urban centers, according to data from International Workplace Group (IWG), a leading provider of office space in the UK. The research, based on daily wifi login activity, highlights a notable shift in attendance patterns over the past six months.

Among the market towns, St Albans experienced the largest increase, with office visits rising by 49 percent in the six months to May 2026 compared to the preceding period. Windsor followed closely with a 47 percent rise, and St Neots saw a 40 percent increase. Other towns such as Huntingdon, Harpenden, Henley-on-Thames, and Leamington Spa also recorded double-digit growth in office occupancy. While city centers have seen a rise in attendance, IWG reported that it is more pronounced in these smaller towns.

Christian Schmitz, CEO of IWG, attributed this trend partly to large organizations opting to lease flexible office space nearer to employees’ homes. He noted that this approach offers companies increased flexibility and reduces the need for expensive, long-term real estate commitments. For employees, it also means shorter and less costly commutes.

This development aligns with broader corporate policies encouraging greater office presence. Barclays recently mandated that most of its 45,000 UK employees attend the office at least three days per week, with senior staff expected for four days. Investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown has introduced a minimum three-day office requirement for its 2,400 staff starting next year, reversing previous flexibility. In the fintech sector, Revolut is phasing out its "remote-first" model for new graduates, requiring them to be in the office three days weekly from 2027, although it will maintain flexible policies for other employees.

These moves follow actions by major firms like Amazon and JP Morgan, which have required many employees to return to the office full time. However, despite these company-driven increases in office attendance, some analysts maintain that hybrid working will remain a permanent fixture.

Remit Consulting, which monitors office occupancy trends across ten UK cities, reports that while average office occupancy has climbed from around 10 percent in summer 2021 to over 45 percent in summer 2026, hybrid schedules remain common. Lorna Landells, a partner at Remit, stated that the debate over post-pandemic office attendance has largely been settled, with a three-day workweek in offices emerging as the standard for many white-collar workers.

As the working landscape evolves, the balance between remote and office work continues to shift, with market towns playing an increasing role in accommodating employees seeking alternatives to city-based commutes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.