The best spots for remote working in London
Whether you’re a freelancer, student, or just visiting London and need a place to work remotely, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite places to work from in the city. Now that I work full-time, I spend most of my working hours in an office, but as a student, I would much prefer studying for my exams from coffee shops than from home.
There are several factors that define a good remote working spot for me: free Wifi (obviously), a coffee and food offering that will keep you satisfied for the day, a good number of seating options (I’m talking a mix of sofas, standalone tables, and communal ones) and enough plug sockets around. Another important requirement: not too busy, no maximum length of stay, and the music also can’t be too loud.
Housed inside St Mary Aldemary church, this cafe near St Paul’s is a pretty special place. With a soaring ceiling, beautiful architecture, and an overall calming atmosphere, it’s no wonder that city slickers love to spend their lunchtimes here. Other than the lunchtime rush however, there’s a quiet hush here during the day, with a variety of single and communal tables to work from. The cafe also serves a simple and tasty menu of sandwiches, soups, and cakes supplied by Luminary Bakery.
Not far away from Host Cafe, you’ll find The Wren coffee shop, housed inside St Nick’s Church, positioned at one end of Millenium Bridge. Offering a wide, open space with a multitude of tables, and coffee roasted by Caravan, plus a range of breakfast and lunch options (avocado on toast, bacon sarnies, salads, and toasties), you’ll find your every need catered for here.
I’m a huge fan of working from hotel lobbies: think free Wifi, an endless lounge menu that you can order from, and you’re usually welcome to stay as long as you like. Whilst The Hoxton’s Holborn branch is much more centrally located, their Shoreditch branch is usually a little less busy on weekdays. The hotel lobby has lots of natural light, and multiple nooks and crannies available for you to plug in and while away the hours.
This co-working spot in Holborn has a spacious lobby that’s free to use; simply set up shop here, and keep yourself supplied with food and coffee from the in-house cafe. Whilst Labs may lack the character and buzz of a coffee shop or hotel lobby, there’s free Wifi, clean loos, and loads of different seating options available.
This boutique hotel in Paddington has an upstairs bar and lounge area that’s great for grabbing a table and drink at the same time. It’s usually quite quiet during the day, so great for those who don’t like much noise when working.
And lastly, some more coffee shops which are great for working from if you’re able to nab a seat:
Ozone Coffee Roasters: if you’re lucky enough to snag one of the window seats here, you can easily while away the day whilst plied with delicious coffee and Ozone’s tasty brunch menu. Get here early.
Ask for Janice: serving a tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner menu in a relaxed environment, you could easily spend the whole day working from here (I have before!). Be warned that it gets very busy at lunch, but good thing is, you can book a table online.
Timberyard: a firm favourite amongst the freelance crowd, this coffee shop in Covent Garden is packed daily with remote workers. Get here at opening, as people tend to grab a seat and stay here for several hours; there’s a huge brunch and pastry selection available to keep you going throughout the day.
