The new London GooglePlex office, located near Victoria Station, currently houses 200 workers, but plans are underway for a massive recruitment effort. The company is trying to create a favourable first impression by playing host to a doodling contest for kids.

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Schoolchildren of all ages arrived at the new GooglePlex office in London for a "Doodle 4 Google" contest.

Credit: Jo Best, silicon.com

G-whiz. The GooglePlex has some innovative features you won't find in Ikea.

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At London's GooglePlex, children and adults walk through a gallery of Google doodle drawings. The contest was open to children between the ages of 4 and 18.

Credit: Andrew Donoghue, ZDNet UK

Google managers hope that the floors in their spacious office building will get a little more crowded soon.

Credit: Jo Best, silicon.com

The winner of the Doodle 4 Google contest is Lisa Waiwaina, age 11. For her doodle, titled "Day of the Child," her prize was an upper case "G" of frosted glass, and her school won an interactive whiteboard.

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The GooglePlex will eventually fill the fourth and fifth floors of the building.

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Google has exported its work hard/play hard ethos to the London office.

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A presentation area for weekly meetings.

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The winning Google Doodle will be seen by 17 millon when loaded onto the Google.co.uk homepage.

Credit: Andrew Donoghue, ZDNet UK

Some of the young entrants enjoy the hospitality at the GooglePlex before the winner was announced.

Credit: Andrew Donoghue, ZDNet UK

Finalist, drawn by Tori Savage, age 10.

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Finalist, drawn by Tiggy Philipps, age 10.

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Finalist, drawn by Katherine Vetter, age 10.

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Finalist, drawn by Theo Sunley, age 10.

Credit: Google