High price of a West End office

LONDON'S West End is the world's second most expensive office market, second only to inner central Tokyo, according to a new survey from the property consultants CB Hillier Parker.

Rents in the West End are hovering around pounds 77 per sq foot and are so high - with further rental growth expected - because of an acute shortage of stock.

The City of London is ranked fourth behind outer Tokyo while Mumbai in Bombay comes in fifth, ahead of Hong Kong which is sixth. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham are all in the top 15 of the 50 most expensive office markets around the globe.