Workspace Comparison Guide: Which Space Is Right for You?
The right workspace depends on how you work, not simply how much space you can rent. A freelancer using a workspace a few days a week has very different requirements from a growing team that needs privacy or a business looking for self-contained premises.
At Gunnery Works in Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, you can choose from flexible shared workspace, dedicated desks, private offices and larger specialist spaces. This guide explains the differences so you can narrow down the options before arranging a viewing.
Which Workspace Option Suits the Way You Work?
Think first about what you actually need from your working environment. How frequently will you use it? Do you want the same desk each day? Will you regularly take confidential calls? Does your team need a room of its own, or do you require facilities that go beyond a conventional office?
These practical differences can help you identify the most suitable starting point.
Co-working is suited to freelancers, creatives and hybrid workers who want a professional place to work while remaining part of a shared environment. With options starting from £150 + VAT per month, it offers flexibility without requiring you to take an enclosed office.
It can be a good fit if working alongside other professionals appeals to you and having your own permanently assigned space is not a priority.
Learn more about co-working spaces at Gunnery Works.
Co-working: For Flexibility & Shared Working
A private desk provides your own dedicated workstation within a shared studio. Starting from £275 + VAT per month, it sits naturally between flexible shared working and taking an entire office.
This option can suit independent professionals and small businesses that value consistency. You retain the atmosphere of a shared workspace but have a desk that serves as your regular professional base.
Private Desks: For a Consistent Base
When privacy becomes more important, an enclosed office may be a better fit. Private offices at Gunnery Works start from £375 + VAT per month and are suitable for independent professionals, small teams and growing businesses.
A private office gives you a defined business space while keeping you connected to the wider Gunnery Works environment. It may be particularly useful when your team works together regularly or your working day involves calls and conversations that are better handled away from shared areas.
Private Offices: For Greater Privacy
BOXD container offices provide a more self-contained alternative. Starting from £750 + VAT per month, these duplex units include a private kitchenette, private bathroom and personal parking space.
BOXD may therefore appeal to businesses that want their own distinct premises and greater day-to-day independence while remaining based at Gunnery Works.
BOXD: For Greater Independence
Some businesses need more than a conventional office environment. Industrial units and studios start from £4,000 + VAT per month and offer adaptable space for uses including creative and production work, media, fitness and leisure, and light-industrial or warehouse-style operations.
Features can include split-level or open-plan layouts, 3-phase power, kitchenettes, WCs, demised parking and 24-hour access. For these spaces, the right choice depends on your operational requirements as much as the number of people using them.
Industrial Units & Studios: For Specialist Space
How Do the Workspace Options Compare?
The biggest differences become clearer when you consider what would prompt you to move from one type of workspace to another.
Co-working vs Private Desk
Choose co-working when flexibility and access to a shared professional environment are your priorities. A private desk makes more sense when you still want that shared setting but would prefer a workstation that is consistently yours.
The question is less about privacy and more about flexibility versus permanence.
Private Desk vs Private Office
A dedicated desk gives you your own working position without separating you from the shared environment. A private office introduces an enclosed space of your own.
If you work independently and are comfortable sharing your surroundings, a desk may be sufficient. If you have a team, regularly hold conversations that require greater privacy or simply want a defined company space, a private office may be more appropriate.
Private Office vs BOXD
Both options give businesses private space, but the level of independence differs.
A private office provides an enclosed workspace within the main Gunnery Works environment. BOXD goes further by providing self-contained facilities, including your own kitchenette and bathroom, as well as personal parking.
The decision therefore comes down to whether you primarily need privacy within a shared business environment or a more independent base of your own.
What If You Do Not Need a Permanent Workspace?
A permanent desk or office is not necessary for every working pattern.
Hot desking at Gunnery Works provides a flexible alternative for people who need somewhere professional to work without requiring their own permanent office.
If your requirement is specifically for a client meeting, presentation, workshop or collaborative session, a meeting room may be more appropriate. Gunnery Works has meeting spaces for up to 12 people, available for hourly or daily hire, with Wi-Fi and AV equipment.
These options can be particularly useful when your need is occasional rather than permanent.
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What Should You Consider Before Choosing?
Before deciding, consider how the workspace will function on an ordinary working day rather than focusing solely on price.
Ask yourself:
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How many people will regularly use the space?
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How frequently will you work from Gunnery Works?
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Do you need a permanent desk?
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How important is privacy for calls and conversations?
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Do you need your own kitchenette or bathroom?
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Is dedicated parking important to your operation?
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Do you have specialist space or power requirements?
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Could your requirements change as the business grows?
Your answers may quickly rule certain options in or out. If two spaces still seem suitable, seeing them in person can make differences in layout, privacy and atmosphere much easier to assess.
More Than the Space Itself
Your workspace also needs to work as a location for employees, clients and everyday business life.
Gunnery Works is based in Royal Arsenal, with access to the Elizabeth line as well as DLR, National Rail and river connections nearby. You can explore our Woolwich location and transport connections before considering how the commute works for your team.
The wider Gunnery Works environment also includes an on-site café and a varied business community. If you want a better sense of the spaces before visiting, take a look through the Gunnery Works Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Co-working provides a flexible place to work within a shared environment, while a private desk gives you a dedicated workstation of your own within a shared studio. A private desk may suit you better if having a consistent working position matters more than maximum flexibility.
Consider a private office when you need greater privacy, an enclosed team environment or a more defined business base. It can be particularly relevant as a team grows or when regular calls and conversations make shared working less practical.
BOXD provides a more self-contained setup. In addition to private workspace, the duplex units have their own kitchenette, bathroom and personal parking space. A standard private office provides privacy while keeping you more closely within the shared Gunnery Works environment.
Yes. Co-working, hot desking and meeting-room hire provide alternatives to taking a private office. The most appropriate option depends on whether you need somewhere to work regularly, occasionally or simply for a meeting or collaborative session.
Yes. A viewing gives you the opportunity to compare the layout, working environment and facilities in person and discuss which available option may suit your requirements.
Find a Workspace That Fits the Way You Work
You do not need to decide from a list of features alone. If you have narrowed your choice to two or three options, visit Gunnery Works and see how the spaces differ in practice. Our team can show you the available workspaces and help you explore the options that match the way you or your business works.