Finding a comfortable study space in London is nearly impossible. Heading outside your home study space usually means sitting in cafes and coffee shops that are cramped and noisy, with tiny tables. It's not very conducive to focused study.
That is why we have compiled a list of the best cafes to study in London to spare you from spending another unproductive, brain-fogged day in a boring Pret-A-Manger or Costa Coffee.
Read on to find your new favourite study café in London.
The Most Spacious Cafe To Study in London
The Wren Coffee
The Wren is located inside the St Nicholas Cole Abbey on Queen Victoria Street. This legendary building has been destroyed twice in its life, first by the great fire of London in 1666, then by German bombs during the London Blitz in the 1940’s.
Legendary architects Christopher Wren and Arthur Bailey took it upon themselves to restore this hallowed space, making its very existence a thing of wonder.
When you first enter the spacious interior of the Wren, away from the hustle and bustle of London, you completely understand why people have refused to let the abbey die.
Despite the size and popularity of the Wren, it has a hushed atmosphere making it the perfect study spot. It’s a welcome change from the many cramped and pretentious jazz cafes in London.
With very fair prices and great pastries, both savoury and sweet, the Wren comes highly recommended as one of the best cafes to study in London. If there is one downside, it is that they close at 16:30.
What To Know:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Loads of desk space
- Breakfast menu and pastries
- Vegan menu options
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday 07:00 - 16:30
- Closed on Thursdays between 12:45 - 14:00
Contact:
- [email protected]
- +44 20 7236 1014
Address:
114 Queen Victoria Street, Moorgate, London, EC4V 4BJ
Close To:
- St Mary's College
- King’s College
- The College Of Central London
The Most Interesting Cafe To Study In London
The Reading Room
The Reading Room is a fascinating cafe forming part of the museum and library known as the Wellcome Collection. Henry Solomon Wellcome was an entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry and as such, the Wellcome Collection has regular fascinating exhibitions of Wellcome’s collection of books, paintings and other objet d’art from the world of health and medicine.
The Reading Room is an incredibly inspiring study space, filled with comfortable seating and eye-catching (and free) exhibits. The only hitch is that it can be tough to find an open desk, studying will need to be lap-based here!
What To Know:
- Free Wi-Fi
- If you prefer studying on table surfaces, you will need a bit of luck as desk space is limited
- There is a great selection of sandwiches, cakes, teas and coffees
Operating Hours:
- Open daily between 10:00 - 18:00
- Galleries are closed on Mondays
Contact:
- [email protected]
- +44 20 7611 2222
Address:
183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
Close To:
Located on Euston Road, The Reading Room is close to a plethora of colleges and universities, including:
- University College London
- London University
The Most Aesthetic Cafe To Study in London
The Artisan Coffee School
The rustic look of the Artisan Coffee School makes it hands down one of the most pleasing aesthetic coffee experiences in London. It is the ideal study spot for coffee fanatics as they have a range of unique, artisan brews that come straight out of the school’s Coffee Lab. You literally will not find another cuppa in London that can compare.
The interior of the shop has a hint of industrial chic with unfinished concrete walls and beautiful worn wooden floorboards. Delicious pastries and the incredible smell of artisan coffee brewing make The Artisan Coffee School a feast for the senses and one of the cosiest cafes in London.
What To Know:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Ample desk space
- Vegan friendly
- Breakfast menu and pastries
- Range of SCA-certified artisan coffee courses to sign up for
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 07:30 - 16:00
- Saturdays: 08:00 - 16:00
- Sundays: 08:30 - 16:00
Contact:
- +44 20 7030 3170
- [email protected]
Address:
32 New Broadway, Ealing, London W5 2XA
Close To:
- Arden University
- London Paragon College
- Ealing Green College
- Amity College
Best Late Night Study Cafes in London
The London Night Cafe
The London Night Cafe is not so much a cafe as it is a futuristic crash pad where the wandering denizens of after-hours London come to wind down. The interior has a cyberpunk aesthetic while remaining cosy and fun. Entering here gives you an incredible sense of escape. You feel like you are entering an alternate reality, like when you enter the Cafe in the Crypt in London.
While the London Night Cafe is not open all day like some 24-hour cafes in London, it will give you a place to get away and study until the early hours of the morning.
There is a flat entry fee of £7. You get to stay as long as you want and you get a complimentary tea or coffee and free Wi-Fi. Even though it can be tough to find a study table, it is easily one of the best cafes to study in London if you prefer late-night studying.
What To Know:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Ample seating but limited study desk space
- Incredible one-of-a-kind aesthetic
- Lots of networking opportunities
Operating Hours:
- 18:00 to 03:00 or later.
Contact:
- +44 740 739 1867
- Visit www.londonnightcafe.co.uk to sign up to their mailing list
Address:
56 Middlesex Street, Whitechapel, London E1 7EZ
Close To:
- GCU London
- Hult International Business School
- Eynsford College
BrewDog
BrewDog is a bar, cafe and restaurant chain with locations all over London. Each BrewDog has its own vibe and sense of space, while still maintaining an overall sense of the brand’s Victorian-era industrial look.
For £10 you get the Hot Desk Pass, where you get Wi-Fi, free tea and coffee as well as a pint of beer at the end of your day. The addition of a huge student discount on food means BrewDog can easily go toe to toe with any of the best cafes to study in London.
It can get a bit noisy here at weekends so bring along earphones and your favourite study music playlist!
What To Know:
- Ample desk space
- Unlimited Wi-Fi when purchasing your day pass
- Students get a 25% discount on food all day
- Full restaurant and cafe with various specials
Operating Hours:
- Opening times vary by venue
- Weekdays from 07:30 – 02:00
- Weekends from 09:00 - 02:00
Contact:
- [email protected]
- +44 13 5872 4924
Address:
Various locations all over London
The Best Museum Cafe To Study in London
The Barbican Kitchen
The Barbican Kitchen is located within the Barbican Centre, the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Open until the evening and with lots of desk space, the Barbican Kitchen makes a great study space. If you need more peace, you can head to the Barbican Library, an incredibly spacious and visually stunning area for focused study.
If you want a quaint and cosy study space, you will find the Barbican a bit intimidating and may be better off with the Hello Kitty Cafe in London.
What To Know:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Outside seating areas
- More than enough desk space
- Loads of alternative study space options throughout the Barbican Centre
Operating Hours:
- 10:00 – 20:00
Contact:
- +44 20 7870 2500
- [email protected]
Address:
Barbican Centre Art's Centre Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Close To:
- City of London School for Girls
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Free Up Study Space With Storage King
When you escape to the best cafes to study in London, it makes student life easier. But sometimes a good declutter is all you need to create the perfect study space at home!
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To learn more, check out our beginners guide to self storage.
