Where to work remotely in London: 31 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.

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

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 welcome 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 7:30am 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

Ham Yard Bar, Soho

What: Ham Yard Hotel has a number of little spots where you could perch with a laptop but Ham Yard Bar makes the most sense - the seats are cosy, the coffees are excellent and you’ve got free speedy WiFi on tap. Pop next door into the restaurant for excellent seasonal British cooking.
Where: One Ham Yard, W1D 7DT
Read more: Ham Yard Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

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.
Where: Brown Hart Gardens, W1K 6TF
Read more: Gatsby's Room at The Beaumont Hotel

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!
Where: 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE

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.
Where: 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
Read more: One Hundred Shoreditch

FWD: Coffee, Various locations

What: FWD: Coffee’s locations feel purpose-built to house out of office workers, with lots of counters, window seats and long communal tables. The Whitecross Street site has a lovely comfy lounge area too, and the coffee is excellent.
Where: Farringdon, Barbican, Old Street, Hoxton

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

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

Paradise Green, Liverpool Street

What: The Daisy Green Collective has sites all over London that are great for remote working, but we especially love Paradise Green - it’s big for a start, but proximity to Liverpool Street, friendly vibe and excellent coffee also help to seal the deal.
Where: 100 Bishopsgate, EC2M 1GT
Read more: Paradise Green

Hoxton Grill, Shoreditch

What: The scarlet red leather booths at Hoxton Grill are highly sought after by freelance folk who are looking to chow down while working on their latest projects. The restaurant’s hearty menu of diner classics - think mac ‘n’ cheese and strip steak - is sure to keep you well-fueled for a productive day of working.
Where: 81 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HU
Read more: Hoxton Grill

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.
Where: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Read more: V&A Cafe

Teatro Hall, Ealing

What: Looking for somewhere to work remotely all day? Teatro Hall in Ealing offers daily, weekly or monthly hot-desking passes, which gives you access to the space from 10am-5pm, plus bottomless coffee and fast WiFi! Just choose which pass you want (starting from £12 for the day) and use immediately. In fact, you can use your pass in any of its four London bars, including Botanica Hall (Clapham)
Where: 61 New Broadway, W5 5AH
Read more: Teatro Hall

Chestnut Bakery, Belgravia

What: London bakeries don’t get a whole lot bougier than Chestnut in Belgravia. Aside from the high-grade pastries, what you do get here is a beautiful, spacious place to work, with large tables.
Where: 17-21 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RP

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

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

Rude Health Café, Putney

What: The large communal benches and free wifi scream for remote workers to flock to this Putney caff, which serves up great coffee and nutritious brain food. Bring your laptop down and grab a healthy breakfast before kicking off your day – hearty soups and fresh sandwiches work decently for lunch, too.
Where: 212 New King's Road, SW6 4NZ
Read more: Rude Health Cafe

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, a cult bakery, 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

Frequency Coffee, Various locations

What: Frequency is one of our first ports of call if we need good coffee and a comfortable spot to send a few hours. The group has taken over the lobbies at Bermonds Locke, Leman Locke and Locke at Broken Wharf hotels, both of which are huge and comfortable spaces to get work done. There are also excellent espresso bars in King’s Cross, Paddington and on Angel’s Camden Passage, all of which fit the bill too.
Where: Paddington, King’s Cross, Angel, Blackfriars, Aldgate and Bermondsey

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. 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

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.