Where to work remotely in London: 30 cool places to 'WFH'

The days of us all being tied to desks are over - flexible working hours are here to stay, with many of us choosing to split time between the office and home. There are many proven benefits to working from home, such as increased productivity, fewer sick days, higher levels of employee satisfaction and staff reporting a better work-life balance. But there are drawbacks too - lack of interaction with employees and peers can lead to feelings of isolation. People can also experience cabin fever as a result of not leaving their house for long periods of time.

The solution? Remote working outside your home. You might be familiar with the classic cowork spaces in London such as Soho House, We Work and Uncommon, which are popular among start-ups and individual businesses. But the problem with these is the cost – they're great options if you're a regular remote worker but if you just like to get out of the house or the office from time to time, you need a bank of solid working spaces in London where you can decamp for the occasional afternoon.

However, there are plenty of other amazing spots in London that you can head to when you need a place to study in London, or a break from working in your flat, and most of them won’t even cost you a penny to use. There are countless restaurants, cafés and bars that have free WiFi, free-flowing coffee and comfy seating. Being restaurants and cafes, you are naturally expected to buy something while you’re there, but if you purchase the odd coffee here and there, not to mention your lunch, these establishments will be happy to have you.

Our list of work spaces also includes the best cafes to work in London, where you're guaranteed great coffee and a comfy place to hunker over your laptop for a few hours. Not all cafes can host remote workers at busier times of day (they'll normally tell you if they have a no laptop policy between certain hours). In our experience, there are other places to keep an eye out for if you're in need of a temporary office for the day. Museums often house large, comfortable cafes where you can grab a bite to eat and occupy a table for a few hours. The same can be said for hotel lobbies, some of which even have coffee shops built in so you can grab a flat white whilst you pile through some work undisturbed. Many cinemas in London also have cafes and bars, which tend to be fairly quiet during the day and will stay open until much later than most cafes. 

With so many different co-working spots to choose from in London, we’ve put together a guide below to our favourite places to work from home in each area, so you don’t even have to travel too far from your own postcode.

Where to work remotely in central London

The great thing about working remotely in central London is you're never too far away from a laid-back cafe or a plush hotel lounge to hunker down in and get some work done. Discover cosy cafes, bright and spacious restaurants, and even a museum bar to set up shop with your laptop.

Riding House, Bloomsbury

What: Open all day, Riding House is a buzzy, energetic space that is often packed out with the Fitzrovia media set. There’s a lengthy counter table that is a great spot for setting up your laptop and enjoying coffees and snacks, while if you want a bit more comfort, head to the cosy booths towards the back and treat yourself to a three-course lunch as you work.
Where: 1 Brunswick Centre, Bernard Street, WC1N 1AF
Read more: Riding House

Nessa, Soho

What: This welcoming lounge, bar and restaurant opened up smack bang on the corner of Warwick and Brewer Streets in 2023. The closed door may look a little intimidating from the outside but staff are ever so friendly, and during the day you can sit very happily with a coffee and do some work in the lovely art deco lounge area.
Where: 86 Brewer Street, W1F 9UB
Read more: Nessa

Mortimer House Kitchen, Fitzrovia

What: Mortimer House Kitchen’s spacious restaurant feels a bit like a luxurious living room, with parquet flooring, Turkish rugs, stylish table lamps and comfortable seating. Helpfully, it opens from early in the morning Monday to Friday, so you can head there first thing to get stuck into your morning tasks. We recommend ordering something off the Italian breakfast menu to get you going – the Caprese muffin with avocado, stracciatella and a fried egg is a must, perhaps washed down with a cold-pressed juice or a smoothie.
Where: 37–41 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JH
Read more: Mortimer House Kitchen

The Barbican Centre, Barbican

What: The sheer scale of this famous brutalist landmark makes it one of the most popular and spacious free remote-working options in the city. With expansive public foyers, designated study desks, and quiet corners spread across multiple levels, it’s incredibly welcoming to remote workers who want to get their heads down for a few hours. There’s free public WiFi available all over the site, loads of power sockets around the designated working areas, and multiple on-site cafes and restaurants, like Barbican Kitchen.
Where: Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Read more: Barbican Kitchen

Royal Festival Hall, South Bank

What: There are solid remote working options spread all over the Southbank Centre, but we always find ourselves heading to the iconic Royal Festival Hall; the spacious public lobby has loads of desks available, as do the upper-level balconies. The building has some of the more reliable free WiFi in London too, and you’ve got the excellent Southbank Market right outside to grab some lunch when you need a break.
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX

The British Library, Euston

What: If you need something a bit more focused and academic than a coffee shop, The British Library really is hard to beat. The Reading Rooms are restricted access of course (you can register for a pass for free) but there are still public access rooms and desks on the upper floors that you can use. There are multiple on-site coffee shops, and a restaurant too, providing all the sustenance you need to spend a whole day here. Be prepared though: the vibe is much more library-esque, so not ideal if you have lots of calls to make.
Where: 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB

The Newman Hotel, Fitzrovia

What: We love the gorgeous, airy, boutique charms of The Newman in Fitzrovia, and inside you’ll find a couple of different spaces that are very welcoming for remote workers - although they’re more suited for a couple of hours doing emails on the go than a full day out of the office. Brasserie Angelica is stunning and spacious, and quiet in the mornings if you want to hang out with a coffee and get a few tasks ticked off. Stay for a fantastic lunch, or alternatively, you can decamp to the moody Gambit Bar downstairs.
Where: 49 Newman Street, W1T 3EB
Read more: Brasserie Angelica; Gambit Bar

Gatsby's Room at The Beaumont Hotel, Mayfair

What: The thoroughly elegant Gatsby’s Room at The Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair is certainly on the smart end of the working from home scale. If you’re feeling inspired to leave your trackies at home and sit somewhere a little more sophisticated, this is the spot. We'd recommend sticking around for a snack too, or if you're working in the afternoon, you could organise to meet a friend for a post-work drink in the very stylish Magritte Bar. 
Where: Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF
Read more: Gatsby's Room at The Beaumont Hotel; Magritte Bar

The Wellcome Collection, Fitzrovia

What: This quirky (and free) museum is a great place to work remotely. The reading room on the second floor is a gallery and library rolled into one, with comfy sofas and WiFi to boot. There's even a postbox which allows you to send a card to anywhere in the world for free! It does tend to get busy and it's not as big as, say, The British Library, which is right across the road. 
Where: 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE

The Wren Coffee, City of London

What: This stunning cafe is housed inside The City’s historic St Nicholas Cole Abbey church, and it makes a rather inspiring change of scenery if you’re trying to escape the home office. Staff here are welcoming, the coffee is good and there’s lots of room, lots of tables and excellent WiFi. It’s not designed as a remote workspace so plug sockets are limited, but come with a fully charged battery and you’ll be just fine.
Where: St Nicholas Cole Abbey, 114 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4BJ
Read more: The Wren Coffee

Dean Street Townhouse, Soho

What: You have to hand it to the Soho House Group for creating this dynamo of a place – the neighbourhood’s media goings-on would practically grind to a halt without it. Start your day with a full English and a cup of strong coffee in the buzzy ground-floor brasserie, then the area’s rakes, wordsmiths and fashionistas are back in again at lunch, making Dean Street Townhouse a great place to people-watch when you want to procrastinate (not that we ever do that).
Where: 69-71 Dean Street, W1D 3SE
Read more: Dean Street Townhouse

Where to work remotely in east London

To the east, you'll find plenty of trendy coffee shops where laptops are more than welcome, as well as a few slick, modern hotels with lobbies and lounges that are well-equipped for remote workers. 

The Brush East London Grand Cafe, Hoxton

What: The Brush is a relative newcomer to London’s dining scene, opening inside the design-led art’otel London Hoxton. There’s a deli counter with pastries and cakes which offers excellent snacking potential as you while away a few hours over your laptop. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer plenty of natural light for working, and the atmosphere is always chilled and relaxed. If you don’t mind the noise of Hoxton's bustling streets, pull up a chair on the large patio terrace.
Where: 84-86 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3JL
Read more: The Brush East London Grand Cafe

Cafe Mission, Shoreditch

What: This trendy Shoreditch hangout is many things – a restaurant, bar and rooftop terrace for one – but did you know that Cafe Mission also operates as a co-working space? The multi-faceted eatery offers both monthly memberships or daily drop-in rates to work in its bright, open, industrial-chic space, and you’ll benefit from speedy Wifi, comfy sofas, and sturdy tables, where you can set yourself up for the day. The cafe serves breakfast, brunch and lunch throughout the week, with things like porridge and granola in the morning, all the way through to its famous Japanese sandos later in the day.
Where: 7-9 Fashion Street, E1 6PX
Read more: Cafe Mission

One Hundred Shoreditch

What: The space previously known as the Ace Hotel is well-known as a remote working hotspot - just pop into the ground floor lobby and you’ll see lots of tables with power points, as well as a communal work table in the centre. The excellent coffee shop next door keeps you charged through the day too. We'd recommend getting there as early as possible as it does get busy, and they tend to turn the music up in the afternoon, making calls slightly more difficult. 
Where: 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
Read more: One Hundred Shoreditch

FWD: Coffee, Old Street

What: FWD: Coffee’s various locations feel purpose-built to house out of office workers, with lots of counters, window seats and long communal tables - though admittedly some are better than others. The Old Street location is always buzzing with laptop-armed day-workers and it has a nice atmosphere, lots of space and plenty of sockets to plug into. It's worth checking out the equally good Farringdon site too, which has a lovely comfy lounge area. By comparison we'd say the Shoreditch site is less well equipped when it comes to plug sockets and the like, though it is still full of laptops everyday and clearly popular.
Where: 54 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3BL
Read more: FWD: Coffee Old Street

Pophams, Hackney

What: Pophams has a considerable cult following thanks to its brilliant pasta restaurant and iconic pastries (do you even live in East London if you haven’t eaten a Pophams Marmite and Schlossberger swirl?) It makes a lovely remote working spot during the day too, with plenty of tables and a pleasing wabi-sabi interior vibe.
Where: 197 Richmond Road, E8 3NJ
Read more: Pophams Bakery London Fields

Pavilion Bakery, Walthamstow

What: We love Pavilion Bakery, but they’re mostly small (or extremely busy with only outside seating if you’re around Victoria Park). Lo and behold, though, Walthamstow-ites (is that what they’re called?) can nip down to the Pavilion Bakery by the river and enjoy delightful pastries, coffee and a good amount of space. This site tends to be pretty quiet in the week too.
Where: 11 Argall Avenue, E10 7QE
Read more: Pavilion Bakery Walthamstow

Grind, Shoreditch

What: The Shoreditch Grind, a post-industrial refectory on Old Street’s silicon roundabout, opens for continental-style breakfasts, and offers an all-day roster of cakes, soups and sandwiches. The ‘grind’ of the title refers to freshly roasted and brewed coffee in all its forms, from skinny lattes during the day to espressos in the evening, meaning you can work from dawn 'till dusk (great). The hip coffee shop doubles as a bar at night, so ideal for (ahem) post-work drinks, too. The mini-chain also has locations in London Bridge and Soho and they too welcome keen WFH-ers.
Where: 213 Old Street, EC1V 9NR
Read more: Grind

Where to work remotely in west London

Towards the west, you'll find boujie cafes and Instagrammable bakeries that offer aesthetically pleasing backdrops for a day of hard grind. Whatever helps you get the work done, we say! 

V&A Cafe, South Kensington

What: Another great museum cafe worth a visit for remote workers, the V&A is a huge, Victorian space, with loads of space to get a laptop out underneath the magnificent arched ceiling. There’s a wide array of hot and cold meals as well if you’re staying for lunch, as well as scones and speciality teas. And, of course, you have one of the world's great exhibition spaces right there if you fancy a bit of culture. 
Where: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Read more: V&A Cafe

Cafe at The Lavery, South Kensington

What: Set in a stunning South Kensington townhouse - once the home of famous painter Sir John Lavery - this bright ground floor space makes a very peaceful desk away from home for a few hours. With widely spaced tables, soaring ceilings, and ample natural light, it’s ideal for solo working or casual meetings. It isn’t flush with plug sockets (come with a full battery) but it makes up for it with expertly brewed Assembly coffee and delicious, freshly baked sweet treats.
Where: 4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE
Read more: Cafe at The Lavery

Granger & Co, Chelsea

What: Granger & Co Chelsea is a great option for remote working in West London when you're looking for somewhere a little more high-end than your average café. You will be expected to order from the menu throughout the day if you want to stay, but in return, you'll be able to get cosy on one of the leather banquettes and enjoy treats from the great food and drinks menu.
Where: 237-239 Pavilion Road, SW1X 0BP
Read more: Granger & Co Chelsea

Where to work remotely in south London

Head south of the river for laid-back spots, some of which even offer day passes with unlimited coffee (especially handy on slow Monday mornings). Excellent coffee and super-sized pastries are just some of the extra perks these places offer. 

BRIX, London Bridge

What: This New York-style warehouse certainly has a lot to offer, including private dining, exhibitions, all-day dining, album launches, film screenings, DJ sets and, most importantly, hot desking. To fuel your day of work, enjoy great coffee along with delicious small plates like chilled beetroot soup, grilled Delica pumpkin with avocado and baby kale or tasty sandwiches.
Where: 16 Great Guildford Street, SE1 0HS
Read more: BRIX

Common Clapham

What: Common’s sun-baked terrace tends to get most of the headlines, but pop down during the day and you’ll find this cosy Clapham cafe also makes an excellent office away from the office, serving Assembly coffee and an excellent all day brunch for when hunger strikes.
Where: 17 The Pavement, SW4 0HY
Read more: Common Clapham

Lumberjack Coffee, Camberwell

What: A favourite with Camberwell locals, Lumberjack Coffee is a local general store as well as serving outstanding coffee. It’s perfectly set up for remote working, with a variety of tables - solo and communal - where you can take a seat and busy yourself over a laptop. Lumberjack is part of London Reclaimed, hosting young trainees to help step them up into skill-specific work - just another reason to visit this lovable local cafe.
Where: 70 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8QZ
Read more: Lumberjack Cafe

Origin Coffee, Southwark & Shoreditch

What: Quality coffee is a given at Origin sites around London, but Southwark also has plenty of space for remote workers, as does the newly refurbished Origin Coffee site in Shoreditch. Both are pretty easy to get to if you're in the area and there's a good selection of nice lunchtime treats as well. If you're in a pinch you can even grab a stool at Origin Coffee at the British Library but it's a little cosier than the others. 
Where: 84 Scoresby Street, SE1 0XN
Read more: Origin Coffee Southwark

Where to work remotely in north London

Whether you live in north London, or are just passing through and need to pause somewhere and fire off some emails, you'll be well-catered for by these restaurants and hotels. Keep scrolling for a secret library, and the most work-conducive Champagne bar you'll ever walk into. 

St Pancras Brasserie and Champagne Bar, King’s Cross

What: You might be surprised that a bar with a name involving Champagne would be ideal as a remote working spot, but trust us, it is. St Pancras Brasserie and Champagne Bar, located inside St Pancras International Station, turns a third of its dining spaces into workspace tables during the day, complete with sockets and complimentary wifi. This is also ideal for commuters, or if you’re jumping on the Eurostar on business (or holiday), a quick stop here can turn your half-day into an efficient working day.
Where: Kings Cross, N1C 4QL
Read more: St Pancras Brasserie and Champagne Bar

Smith's Bar and Grill, Paddington

What: Bright, light, and relaxed, Smith's Bar and Grill is a great spot in which to sit down and get some work done. Situated near Paddington station, it's easy to get to and even easier to take a seat, order from a wide menu, and work away. Smith's serves breakfast Monday to Friday (amongst other things), so you might choose to sample some beautiful pastries, maple syrup stacked pancakes, or a full English. You're spoilt for choice, and these tasty plates are certain to make the work day zoom by.
Where: 25 Sheldon Square, W2 6EY
Read more: Smith's Bar and Grill

The Standard Library Lounge, King's Cross

What: The Standard Hotel certainly has a lot to offer when it comes to food, thanks to Decimo and Double Standard. But, if it's a quiet place in which to work you're after, look no further than the Library Lounge. Here, you'll find plush sofas, private corners and playful book pairings such as romance and technology, politics and tragedy or order and chaos. You can also order coffee (or cocktails!) from the restaurants within the hotel.
Where: 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG
Read more: The Library Lounge at The Standard

Great Northern Hotel & RAILS Restaurant, King's Cross

What: A convenient place to get some work done whilst you wait for a train (or the Eurostar from St Pancras) Great Northern Hotel’s RAILS Restaurant is big, with lots of space during the day, and it does an excellent breakfast - perfect for early risers who want to tick off the to-do list over some food. We especially love the quaint Little Bar, which has a few little tables you can perch on too. 
Where: Great Northern Hotel, N1C 4TB
Read more: RAILS Restaurant and Little Bar

Drake & Morgan, King's Cross

What: Head to Drake & Morgan in King's Cross for strong WiFi, plenty of plugs and an extensive food and drink menu to keep you fuelled. While you're working, switch to the lovely terrace for a breath of fresh air, and tuck into delicious breakfast foods such as buttermilk pancakes or shakshuka and the likes of seafood risotto with saffron later in the day. At the end of a hard day's work, be sure to try the bar's top-notch Paloma - you've earned it!
Where: 6 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG
Read more: Drake & Morgan

Remote working FAQs

Do cafes in London allow you to work on laptops?

Yes, many London cafes welcome laptop users, but be aware that policies vary: some cafes have dedicated co-working tables, whilst others enforce a ‘no laptops’ policy during lunch hours or on weekends to keep tables free for dining customers. It’s generally seen as good etiquette to buy a coffee and/or some food from a cafe if you’re staying to do some work.

Can you work from hotel lobbies in London without being a guest?

Yes, many hotel lobbies in London are open to the public and function as excellent, free remote-working spaces. Note that not all hotels operate in this way. Some hotels - like Hoxton Hotels, The Standard, and 100 Shoreditch - actively encourage remote workers to use the lobby, with communal tables set up for laptops and coffee easily available.

Where can I work remotely in London for free?

If you’re looking for somewhere genuinely free (and therefore ruling out cafes where you ought to buy something) - London still has lots of public free spaces where you can work. We’ve listed some of the best above, including libraries (like the British Library), museums (like the Wellcome Collection) and other galleries and public spaces (like The Barbican Centre and Southbank Centre). These spots don't require you to purchase food or drinks and they usually have good WiFi, but we recommend getting there early as they get busy quickly.

What is the etiquette for working from a London cafe or restaurant?

To be a respectful remote worker in London, we’d think it’s reasonable to buy something small (a coffee or a drink, for example) if you’re just staying for an hour or so. If you’re taking a table for longer, consider that that’s a table you might be occupying instead of paying customers, so consider buying lunch at the restaurant as a treat for yourself. If a venue starts getting busy for lunch, it’s polite to pack up, or offer to move to a less busy area. For the sake of your fellow remote workers, avoid taking loud video calls without headphones, be tidy when sitting at communal tables, and don’t take up a large table if you are working alone.

Prefer to ride solo? We've rounded up the best restaurants for solo dining in London where you can enjoy a meal for one without fear of judgement. Equally, if you want to hang out with your mates after a day of working on your own, then check out our pick of the best London restaurants for groups.