Stirling Ackroyd – an independent firm of specialist estate agents operating across central London and the City fringes – has released its top 10 postal districts with the highest number of financial services businesses.

Of those outside the City, the Isle of Dogs in Canary Wharf (E14) had the most financial services firms with 1,718, followed by SE1 with 1,640 (Lambeth, Waterloo, Borough) and then NW1 with 1,397 (Camden Town, Regents Park)

W1 postal districts dominant the table in terms of financial business density per km², taking up the top four spots in Stirling Ackroyd’s table.

Andrew Bridges, managing director of Stirling Ackroyd, said: “London’s financial heart has always seemed [to be] the City of London.

“But the scarcity of City office space and the growing attractiveness of new locations over the wall is causing an increasing number of businesses to bypass the City or relocate.

“Brexit may have fuelled fears that the capital’s financial reputation is dimming but, in reality, it’s growing.

“Spiralling rents have pushed financial businesses towards cheaper locations that still benefit from the transport links, ready customers and global positioning London offers, as well as an enticing range of cafés, bars and restaurants.

“Budding financial businesses are gathering in the east of London – drawn in by the start-up culture and gradually transforming the area’s reputation as a cultural hinterland into a serious economic rival.

“Our data shows an emerging ‘game of loans’ as rival centres … try to take the City’s crown. City Road, Shoreditch and Old Street have all been seen as top tech locations, but now the focus is turning to finance.

“Fintech is the future and the City fringes are the perfect place for this to unfold.”