London is a huge, sometimes daunting city that people from all over the world call home. Students, in particular—whether born and bred in London, journeying from the further reaches of the UK or from other countries—find themselves in this vast metropolis to take advantage of the many exceptional universities (like the London School of Economics, SOAS, Imperial College London and Goldsmiths, and many more), along with cultural attractions, entertainment and great food.
But with its damp weather and occasionally surly locals, London can be a difficult place to live in, especially if you’re a PhD or master’s candidate working on a thesis through a miserable winter. So where do you turn when you just need to get out of the house and study, and the tables at the British Library are all taken? Here are some tips.
Crisis Skylight Cafe
66 Commercial Street, London E1 6LT, United Kingdom
This is perhaps the ideal place for students to work in. Close to the shopping and nightlife of Shoreditch, it’s a not-for-profit café run by a homeless charity. Their menu changes daily in response to the cheapest seasonal produce, and it offers among the cheapest food you’ll find in London—perfect for a student wallet. You can set up camp at a table near one of their huge windows and feast on their nutritious fare while working away at your thesis. Crisis benefits earlybirds, though—they’re open 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays only. Plus, if you ever find yourself in Oxford, they have a location there as well.
Best for students at:
- Queen Mary University of London
- London Metropolitan University
- GCU London
Nearest tube stops:
- Liverpool St
- Aldgate
- Aldgate East
- Whitechapel
- Shoreditch High Street
The Café at Foyles Charing Cross Road
5th Floor of Foyles – Charing Cross
107 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DT
What better place to work on your thesis than a café above a bookstore? Serving coffee, loose-leaf tea and a range of non-dairy options, this café is also fully licensed. Sit in the spacious café and enjoy the floor-to-ceiling length windows, while enjoying a vegan soup or pastry.
Charing Cross location best for students at:
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- King’s College, London
- University of Notre Dame
- Imperial College London
Nearest Tube stops:
- Charing Cross
- Leicester Square
- Embankment
Mare Street Market
117 Mare Street, London E8 4RU
A study in ‘cluttercore’, Mare Street Market offers a range of food, including pizza, at affordable prices. A sprawling, open plan space, the market offers a deli, serving small bites; a relaxed open-plan kitchen; a restaurant; a bar; a florist; a record shop; and even a tattooist—if you’re feeling adventurous. A hip and vibrant place to work with free WiFi and—an added bonus—accessible power sockets!
Mare Street location best for students at:
- Loughborough University in London
- University of the Arts London
- Metropolitan University London
Nearest tube stops:
- London Fields
- Cambridge Heath
The Barbican Kitchen
Barbican Centre, Barbican Kitchen, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
With fast free Wi-Fi, the foyer of the Barbican Centre is a great place to work in. There’s a café with seating and lots of inspiration to be found. If you’re taking a break from writing your thesis, there will often be a free art installation, performance or exhibition taking place.
The Barbican location best for students at:
- Anglia Ruskin University, London
- University College, London
- Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus
- University of London College
Nearest tube stops:
- Barbican
- Moorgate
YumChaa
35-37 Parkways Camden Town, NW1 7PN1
Granary Square, Kings Cross N1C 4AA
9/11 Tottenham Street, W1T 2AQ
45 Berwick Street, W1F 8SF
YumChaa is a small but growing chain of independent teahouses with a delightful array of tea and cakes. The Camden Parkways location gets plenty of natural light, with its glass atrium ceiling; while the Soho locations get very busy, there is a downstairs area with much less traffic.
Camden Town and King’s Cross locations best for students at:
- Birkbeck, University of London
- University of the Arts
- University College London
- Regent’s Business School
Nearest tube stops:
- Camden Town
- Mornington Crescent
- King’s Cross
Soho locations best for students at:
- University of Westminster
- University of London
Nearest tube stops:
- Goodge St
- Holborn
- Tottenham Court Road
- Oxford Circus
Image attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timmorris/3103896345
Updated 13 May 2024