According to new research from CBRE, artificial intelligence (AI) firms continued to play a prominent role in the Central London office market in Q2 2026.
AI-related office take-up reached 450,816 sq ft in Q2 2026, bringing the H1 2026 total to 705,371 sq ft. This figure is over four times higher than H1 2025 (165,819 sq ft) and more than double the full-year 2025 total (317,979 sq ft).
Central London office uptake reached 2.7 million sq ft during the quarter, rising 19% from Q1. Despite the increase, activity remained 7% below the ten year quarterly average of 2.9 million sq ft and 14% below Q2 2025 levels.
Companies in the technology, media and telecoms (TMT) sector accounted for 27% of all activity, making it the most active occupier sector during the quarter.
Two of the four largest transactions in the quarter were completed by AI occupiers. Anthropic leased 158,500 sq ft at 1 Triton Square, NW1, while OpenAI secured 95,500 sq ft at Jahn Court, Regent Quarter, N1.
Second-hand space accounted for 64% of total take-up during the quarter, compared with a ten year quarterly average of 61%. Newly completed space represented 29% of activity, above its long-term average of 17%, while pre-let activity accounted for just 7%, markedly below the ten year average of 22%.
Together, newly completed and pre-let space comprised 36% of take-up, their lowest combined share since 2020, highlighting the continued supply shortage.
