Introduction
Choosing the right data centre is one of the most critical decisions for your infrastructure. In the UK, the market is dominated by a handful of key locations: London (Docklands, Slough), Manchester, and increasingly, smaller regional hubs.
London Data Centres
London remains the UK's primary connectivity hub. Facilities in Docklands offer dense peering fabrics and low-latency connections to continental Europe. Power costs are higher, but the network ecosystem is unmatched.
Manchester & The North
Manchester has emerged as a strong alternative with significantly lower power costs (up to 30% less than London) and growing connectivity options through carriers like Manchester IX.
Key Factors to Consider
- Power density — Modern servers need 20-30kW per rack minimum
- Connectivity — Access to major IXPs and carrier diversity
- Latency — Distance from your end users impacts performance
- Compliance — ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS certifications
- Support — 24/7 on-site engineers with fast response SLAs
Cost Comparison
UK colocation pricing typically ranges from £500-£2,000/rack/month depending on location, power, and connectivity. London commands a premium, but the network benefits often justify the cost for latency-sensitive workloads.
Conclusion
At Hostingowy, we operate from premium UK data centres with diverse power feeds and carrier-neutral connectivity. Every server is backed by our engineering team with 24/7 support.