The Most Globally Connected Financial Centre

Always open and connected across the globe

Doing business with the world

The UK's offer

  • Easy to do business east to west within the same working day
  • Access to global capital through the London Stock Exchange, the world's most international exchange
  • The world’s most internationally connected financial markets
  • International thought leaders – working with financial centres across the world to shape the regulatory framework and future of the sector
  • A diverse and international workforce

The UK is open and ready for business

The UK’s financial hub has an international outlook and is open to talent, investment and collaboration from across the world - which means we understand you and your business needs. London is the world’s most international and connected financial centre, providing unrivalled access to global markets. It is a magnet for workers from around the world, who make up a diverse pool of financial and professional services specialists, with deep human linkages to virtually every economy globally. More than 300 languages are spoken daily.

The UK is physically connected, with one of the most comprehensive networks of flight connections – and digitally connected with at least 96% superfast internet coverage. The UK offers a creative energy that spans the country’s sectors and economy, a result of its open and multi-cultural society.

We are the UK: working with you

The UK: the heart of the world's financial market

With unrivalled access to global markets, the UK is the world's most open and connected financial centre. We have an inspiring ecosystem where your business can thrive. We're here, and we're ready to do business with you.

Forex for the world

London is responsible for $3.8tn in daily forex - this is more than one third of worldwide trades. That is more than the next three largest centres - New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong - combined. 

  • New York:  $1.9tn
  • Singapore: $930bn
  • Hong Kong: $690bn
 

The deepest pools of internationally oriented capital

Home to the London Stock Exchange, where debt has been raised in more than 47 currencies from over 90 countries. London is also the western centre for Islamic finance, including sukuk and Shariah-compliant Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). It was the first western offshore centre for RMB and is the centre for offshore rupee denominated Masala Bonds.

61%

of institutional investors of the FTSE All Share are international

100+

Issuers from over 100 countries have equity and debt listed on the London Stock Exchange

38%

The UK accounts for 38% of the global total of foreign exchange turnover

£1.1bn

in foreign direct investment in UK financial and professional services in 2023

Ideally located

The UK's favourable timezone makes it easy to do business with major markets to both east and west within the working day

300

different languages

spoken daily in London

680,000

international students

in the UK

40%

the share of international financial and professional services workers

in London

An ecosystem enabling international trade

Jointly published by The City of London Corporation and EY, this report demonstrates how the FPS ecosystem supports internationally exporting firms.

Read the full report

Strong relationships across markets

The UK has been steadfast in its commitment to deepening its financial market’s international ties. It has signed Memorandums of Understanding or FTAs with numerous countries including the US, EU, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, India, and Saudi Arabia.

Read now

The Berne Financial Services Agreement

The Berne Financial Services Agreement

Partner story

CDPQ | why London is the hub for its European operations

CDPQ | why London is the hub for its European operations

Partner Story

Aberdeen Standard Investments | view on the UK's global connections

Aberdeen Standard Investments | view on the UK's global connections

Partner Story

iProov | Connectivity is another benefit of being based in Manchester

iProov | Connectivity is another benefit of being based in Manchester

Scale, range and expertise

The UK's financial and professional services sector has unparalleled range: from banking to insurance; asset management to green finance; professional services to fintech. The knowledge, experience, performance and talent across each of the sector's verticals in the UK is world class, making the UK uniquely positioned to provide financial and professional services to the world.

Discover the UK's sectoral expertise

"London is globally recognised as one of the world’s foremost international financial centres. Its reputation has been earned over hundreds of years, supported by deep pools of talent and expertise, not just in the City, but in regional and national centres right across the UK"

Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer TheCityUK

"London is undisputedly one of the world's great financial centres. It is important for ING to be here to support and empower our UK-based clients and to be close to this "

ING

"As it lies right in the middle of the global day, London is the perfect location – straddling Asia and the Americas. And there are many other benefits."

Jon Vollemeare, CEO R5FX