Doing Business

Business Etiquette

• The British tend to be punctual. Ten minutes early or late is acceptable
• Meetings tend to start with brief chitchat before the focus turns to business matters
• Participants typically exchange business cards at the end of a meeting
• The British pay close attention to table manners, so be careful during business meals
• After-work drinks are part of British culture. It is good form to buy your colleagues a round
• A business lunch can be a quick sandwich at a café or a long, drawn-out affair in an upscale restaurant. Breakfast meetings are rare

Chambers of Commerce

London Chamber of Commerce

Address: 33 Queen St., London EC4R 1AP

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7248 4444

Website: London Chamber of Commerce

French Chamber of Commerce

Address: Lincoln House, 4th Floor, 300 High Holborn, London WC1V 7JH

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7092 6600

Website: French Chamber of Commerce

Italian Chamber of Commerce

Address: 1 Princes St., London W1B 2AY

Telephone: +44 (0) 207 4958191

Website: Italian Chamber of Commerce

Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce

Address: Imperial House, 7th floor, 15-19 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6UN

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7539 7960

Website: Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce

Russo-British Chamber of Commerce

Address: Willcox House, 3rd Floor, 42, Southwark St., London SE1 1UN

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7403 1706

Website: Russo-British Chamber of Commerce

Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Address: 126 Wigmore St., London, W1U 3RZ

Telephone:+44 (0) 20 7009 9070

Website: Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Embassies & Consulates

American Embassy

Address: 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7499 9000

Website: American Embassy

Chinese Embassy

Address: 49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7299 4049

Website: Chinese Embassy

Czech Embassy

Address: 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7243 1115

Website: Czech Embassy

French Embassy

Address: 58 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7JT

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7073 1000

Website: French Embassy

Italian Embassy

Address: 14 Three Kings Yard, Davies Street, London W1K 4EH

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7312 2200

Website: Italian Embassy

Kenyan High Commission

Address: 45 Portland Place, London W1B 1AS

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7636 2371

Website: Kenyan High Commission

Mexican Embassy

Address: 16 St. George's St., Hanover Square, London W1S 1FD

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7499 8586

Website: Mexican Embassy

Netherlands Embassy

Address: 38 Hyde Park Gate, London SW7 5DP

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7590 3200

Website: Netherlands Embassy

Panamanian Embassy

Address: Panama House, 40 Hertford St., London W1J 7SH

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7409 2255

Website: Panamanian Embassy

Russian Embassy

Address:13 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QX

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7229 6412

Website: Russian Embassy

South Korean (Republic of Korea) Embassy

Address: 60 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7227 5500

Website: South Korean (Republic of Korea) Embassy

Spanish Embassy

Address: 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7235 5555

Website: Spanish Embassy

Business Centers

Most large hotels have business facilities. There are also a few independent executive centers, including the following:

Lenta Business Centre (Bank)

Address: Token House Business Centre, 11-12 Tokenhouse Yard, London EC2R 7AS

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7073 2600

Website: Lenta Business Centre (Bank)

MWBEX (Liverpool Street venue)

Address: 55 Old Broad St., London EC2M 1RX

Telephone: 0808 100 1800 (from within UK)

Website: MWBEX (Liverpool Street venue)

Conference & Exhibition Centers

ExCel London

Address: One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7069 5000

Website: ExCel London

The 02 Dome

Address: Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8463 2000

Website: The 02 Dome

Business Design Centre

Address: 52 Upper St., Islington, London N1 0QH

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7359 3535

Website: Business Design Centre

Translation Services

Ask Translation

Address: 5-7 St. Helen's Place, London EC3A 6AU

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7256 2880

Website: Ask Translation

Courier/Messenger Services

UPS

Address: Regis Road, Kentish Road, London, NW5 3UP

Telephone: 08457 877 877

Website: UPS

FedEx

Address: Kirtling Street, Unit 4, Tideways Industrial Estate, London SW8 5BP

Telephone: 08456 07 08 09 (from within UK) or +44 2476 702 601

Website: FedEx