What to do on your lunchbreak around St Paul’s, London?

Picture this … you’ve dragged yourself out of bed, bleary eyed, to the insistent beeping of your alarm. You’ve zigzagged across the tube because of rush hour delays on the central line. You’ve blitzed your inbox/attacked the report that’s been hanging over you for days/presented the pants off your ideas in a team meeting. And now it’s lunchtime and your celebrating your productive morning with … a limp ‘meal deal’ sandwich, a packet of ready salted and a can of Coke, at your desk. No!

A 2023 study by Compass Group found that in the UK workers are taking less than 33 minutes per day for their lunch break, and 10% admitted to taking no breaks at all during their working week. Yet 73% of UK workers claimed taking a lunch break makes them more productive.

In our recent article about office health and wellbeing we highlighted how important it is to regularly step away from your desk. This is something we’re going to keep exploring, especially as our OSiT buildings are all in prime locations, making it easier to make the most of your lunchbreak, whether it’s a one off or becomes a regular habit.

Over the next few months we are going to be featuring some of our favourite things to do on a lunchbreak, based around our various buildings. First up, our St Paul’s serviced offices in the heart of the City of London.

With St Paul’s Cathedral just a stone’s throw away, its unsurprising that a visit to Sir Christopher Wren’s English baroque masterpiece would feature. The cathedral is one of the most famous and recognisable London sights, and its towering dome has dominated the city’s skyline for over three centuries. If you’re looking for a more inspiring spot to each lunch than your desk then consider spending your lunch hour in Festival Gardens, which surround the cathedral, soaking up the beauty of this architectural icon.

If you have a little more time on your hands, it’s well worth visiting the cathedral itself. There is an entry fee, however, if you’d like to visit more than once (to uncover all the gems hidden inside) you can buy an annual membership, which allows you unlimited year-round admission, plus a host of other benefits.

If you’re looking for a calm space in the city, where you can relax – read a book, enjoy a chat with a friend, get a hit of vitamin-D or simply savour a bit of time out of the office – head to Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden. The church itself was largely destroyed in 1940 during The Blitz, when WW2 saw London heavily bombed. However, the site of the church has been reimagined as a rose garden, with box-edged beds, wooden towers and benches.

The perfect antidote to an overflowing inbox, an over-zealous colleague or a drawn out meeting.

Another peaceful spot to enjoy your lunch is Postman’s Park, a short stroll north of St Paul’s cathedral and Paternoster Square. You’ll be in good company, the park got its name due to its popularity with workers from the nearby old General Post Office, who used to visit in their lunchbreaks, to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is also home to The Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, with individual ceramic plaques commemorating ordinary people who gave their lives to try to save another. There are still 66 empty spaces for heroes of the future.

If you’re looking for a bit of distraction from the office, why not walk over to Leadenhall Market? You’ll get your step count for the day up and can also do a bit of window shopping, while soaking up the Grade II listed splendour of the Victorian arcade with its ornate roof, cobbled floors and wide lamp-lit passages.

Alternatively, if you really want to stretch your legs, head towards the River Thames; the Millennium Bridge is just a five minute walk from St Paul’. Crossing over the pedestrian suspension bridge gives you stunning panoramic views of the river, the City of London skyline, the Shard and the Globe Theatre. The South Bank on the other side offers a treelined, riverside walkway – a great spot for a walk (or even a jog if you’re feeling energetic).

Even if you’re just nipping out of the office for a quick breath of air and to pick up a Pret, you can still make the most of your change of scenery. Head to Paternoster Square, on the way checking out Christopher Wren’s stone archway, the Temple Bar Gate, originally erected in 1669, and re-erected as an entrance to the plaza in 2004. Pause to look at the bronze statue, Paternoster (aka the Shepherd and Sheep) by Dame Elisabeth Frink or take a moment to notice the Paternoster Square Column, a 75 foot Corinthian column of Portland stone.

We can’t guarantee the English weather but we can promise you will feel better for stepping away from your desk an taking some time for yourself.

If you are looking for flexible office space to rent in St Paul’s, close to financial heart of the City of London, get in touch with us to discuss joining the OSiT family.