Media and entertainment occupiers in Edinburgh typically cluster in Haymarket, plan ~165 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($180–260/sqft), and pay around 42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD) on Class A.

  • Preferred submarket: Haymarket.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($180–260/sqft).
  • Plan ~165 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD).
  • Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Edinburgh: 85/100.

Media and entertainment office space in Edinburgh

Media and entertainment occupiers in Edinburgh typically cluster in Haymarket, plan ~165 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($180–260/sqft), and pay around 42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

  • Preferred submarket: Haymarket.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($180–260/sqft).
  • Plan ~165 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD).
  • Typical lease: 10 years with 18 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Edinburgh: 85/100.

Where they cluster

Media and entertainment occupiers in Edinburgh typically anchor in Haymarket. Tech, financial services, professional services, hospitality.

What they pay

Class A rent in Edinburgh runs 42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD) on a 10-year lease with 18 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical media and entertainment fit-out targets high-end specification at $180–260/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 165 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount media office in Edinburgh typically targets 16,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Creative-class talent prefers loft-style, photogenic submarkets with adjacent agency and post-production ecosystems. Among the deepest fintech and asset management talent pools in the UK regions. University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt anchor the regional pipeline. Strong AI talent (Edinburgh's AI4ER programme) drives the post-2020 tech absorption pipeline.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 25%. Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) structures predominate. 10-year terms with 5-year tenant breaks standard. Scottish leases differ procedurally from English (different forms of guarantee, irritancy rather than forfeiture). Rent-free periods of 18-24 months on a 10-year term, plus £40-£60/sqft TI typical.

Key facts

cityEdinburgh
industryMedia and entertainment
naics512, 515, 519130
preferredSubmarketHaymarket
preferredFitoutSpecHigh-end
fitoutBand$180–260/sqft
sqftPerSeat165
classARentLocal42 GBP/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$53/sqft/yr
vacancyPct8.4%
typicalLeaseYears10
typicalRentFreeMonths18
talentIndex85
corporateTaxPct25%

Frequently asked questions

Where do media and entertainment occupiers lease office space in Edinburgh?
Most cluster in Haymarket. Rent runs ~42 GBP/sqft ($53 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do media and entertainment occupiers run in Edinburgh?
Typically high-end at $180–260/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a media and entertainment occupier plan in Edinburgh?
Plan ~165 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 16,500 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the media and entertainment vertical?
Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 512, 515, 519130.
What is the talent index in Edinburgh?
85/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

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Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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