This is probably the best work-from-home office in London
Londoners have endured their fair share of grim home offices. Kitchen tables doubling as desks, flatmates blasting music, and that one neighbour who seems to own a leaf blower.
But what if your setup came with a pristine green outfield, live first-class cricket, and a beer stand within arm’s reach?
Surrey County Cricket Club is aiming to make that a reality with the group now promoting the Kia Oval in Vauxhall the ‘best home office in the country’.
During County Championship matches, ticket holders can now set up on the terraces with dedicated desk access, panoramic views of the action, and WiFi upgraded over the winter to ultrafast WiFi 7. Food and drink are readily available.
The club’s not-so-subtle pitch: “See you there and we won’t tell your boss.”
London’s office market is still figuring out post-pandemic life. Many companies have embraced hybrid schedules, but the commute, the cost of central London real estate, and the soul-crushing fluorescent lighting haven’t gone away.
Meanwhile, workers report higher productivity and happiness when they have flexibility, and a genuinely inspiring environment doesn’t hurt.
The Kia Oval, one of the world’s most iconic cricket grounds and home to Surrey County Cricket Club since 1845, already draws huge crowds for international matches, The Hundred, and T20 Blast games.
Opening the terraces for remote work during the domestic County Championship season is a clever way to fill seats on weekdays while giving London professionals a perk most co-working spaces could only dream of.
Other stadiums and arenas worldwide have experimented with “work-from-stadium” days, recognizing that fans (and remote workers) want more than just match-day tickets.
Surrey’s move feels particularly well-timed as cricket’s slower pace is perfect background noise for focused work, and the social, open-air setting beats a windowless pod.
Tickets for County Championship matches at The Kia Oval are available through the club’s website. General admission and terrace seating give you access to the new work-friendly zones, no need to explain to your manager why your “office” suddenly has a better view than their corner suite.
