The 10 Best Coffee Shops for Freelancers: London Edition

When I studied in London, I always thought it was a writer’s dream city. Part of the reason for that is I was living care-free as a study abroad student, which is code for college kids who go on vacation for a semester and pretend to go to classes so they can justify traveling and doing whatever they want. But a large part of it is also London’s rich creative heritage—you know, Dickens, Keats, Woolf, old pubs, cozy cafés, famous theaters, and ancient churches. Shakespeare walked on the same cobblestone streets as I did—although if he wanted to work while drinking a pint, he probably couldn’t get a good Wi-Fi signal.

We’ve already hit New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Pittsburgh, but now it’s time for us to take the coffee shop series international. Here are the coffee shops in London that every freelancer should go check out.

1. Forge & Co (154-158 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch)

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Forge & Co is a great spot for brunch after a night out. Their Bubble and Squeak—a food so British-sounding you have to try it— is on point. However, if you go to the second floor, you’ll find an entirely different scene. That’s because Forge & Co prides itself on being both a restaurant and a communal working space. While the first floor is a restaurant, the other three are filled with resident desks and office spaces.

For £450 ($660) per month, freelancers get their own desk and access to Skype booths, meeting rooms, printing and copying, and members-only lectures. However, it’s okay if you don’t have the kind of cash to throw down on a workspace. The restaurant on the first floor is usually filled with people on their laptops as well. As long as you steer clear of popular brunch times, you’ll have hours of uninterrupted work fueled by caffeine.

2. Shoreditch House (1 Ebor Street, Shoreditch)

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The Shoreditch House is part of a collection of workspaces that are located all over the world. The clubs are meant to be “a home from home for people working in creative fields.” I’ve been to the Soho House, the Hospital Club, and the Shoreditch House. Trust me, all of them will make you feel far more powerful and cool than you did before you walked through the door.

Membership to the Shoreditch House includes access to their rooftop pool and bar, their gorgeous gym, a screening room, a spa, and members-only events. In terms of work, the space is filled with plenty of long tables and comfy couches. And there’s free fruit. Seriously, if you can afford the annual membership fee—£600/$878, if you’re under 27, £900/$1317 if you’re not—find a someone who will bring you as heir guest, this is a great place to work and eavesdrop on interesting meetings.

3. TimberYard Seven Dials (7 Upper St. Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden)

A photo posted by Timberyard TYUK (@timberyarduk) on Apr 5, 2015 at 10:01am PDT

Timberyard Seven Dials is conveniently located in central London, right off the Covent Garden tube stop. One look at the website tells you this is definitely a trendy place to work. (Latte foam art is always a dead giveaway.) If a hipster vibe helps your writing, this is the spot for you.

On TimeOut London, Timberyard boasts a 5-star rating—a rare feat. There are big, cushy armchairs and tables made of old suitcases. The coffee is a grade-A blend called Jaberwocky, made by the Has Bean Company. While the drip process takes a good 10 minutes, it’s worth the wait. Plus, when lunch time rolls around, there are locally baked sandwiches and enormous salads to keep you healthy and satisfied.

Timberyard is also stocked with plenty of outlets and a staff who won’t rush you out the door. The basement even has a meeting room in case you want to hash out an article with your editor or work on a project with a friend.

4. Riding House Cafe (43-51 Great Titchfield Street, Hoxton)

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The Riding House Cafe is a sanctuary for anyone overwhelmed by the bustling shoppers in Oxford Circus. The atmosphere is better than any of the thousand Costa Coffees that are scattered throughout the area. Freelancers often seat themselves at the long communal table in the center of the café or the bar.

If you’re lucky, you can snag one of the orange booths on the wall and start your day right with a proper English breakfast. Maybe get a smoothie while you’re at it. Later order a coffee, which is reasonably priced by London standards. Finally, at the end of the day, when your fingers are aching from all of your hard work and creative genius, treat yourself to a cocktail. The Riding House Cafe is not lacking in variety. Alcoholic milkshake, anyone?

5. Love Shake (5 Kingsland Road, Dalston)

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Three words: unlimited coffee refills. Love Shake is an adorable retro diner that will please even the pickiest of greasy-spoon lovers. There are peanut butter and banana milkshakes, crisps, and nachos to get you through writing even the dullest article. Plus, with free Wi-Fi until 2:30 a.m., you can get some work done if you’re on a serious deadline for a client in another time zone. Although you might be distracted by all of the retro art on the walls.

6. Beaufort House (354 King’s Road, Chelsea)

Image via Beaufort House

Nothing is better than writing by a big open window and letting the sun shine in. While that scenario is uncommon in London, when weather permits, you don’t want to let the opportunity pass. Once a sunny day finally arrives, head to Beaufort House.

One of the unique aspects of the Beaufort House is that it offers a membership option. For 400 quid per year for Londoners, or 200 quid per year for out-of-Londoners, you get access to the member’s lounge and can stay in the space until 3 a.m. Added bonus: no “restrictive dress code.” In other words, you’ll have a swanky late-night office without any annoying coworkers or office rules.

7. Southbank Centre (Belvedere Road)

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The Southbank Centre isn’t just a place to go and meet with friends for dinner and a show. It’s also a freelancer’s paradise. There are four floors of tables and couches, with a ton of outlets on each. The people watching will surely provide inspiration—groups of tourists, school children, and performers flow in and out constantly. While the Wi-Fi can get spotty, the ample seating is a huge plus. As is the proximity to the Thames, the London Eye, and Trafalgar Square.

8. Google Campus (4-5 Bonhill St., East London)

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You don’t have to work at Google, or even in the tech industry, to get some work done at Google’s London Campus. You can simply plonk your laptop down and bask in the air of pure innovation that permeates the place. As the space’s website explains, “With speedy Wi-Fi, a café, frequent networking and speaking events, and co-working space, Campus is seven floors dedicated to startup success.” Does a freelancer count as a startup? Sure!

In order to gain access to the Campus, freelancers need to sign up online. Once you are registered, you can work in the café area for free. If you think you’re going to use the space frequently, you can apply to become a Campus Resident. There are two levels to a residency—permanent resident membership (when you get your own desk each month) and annual membership (which lets you drop for a desk when needed).

If you want to write about the tech industry, or are interested in the startup game yourself, the Google Campus is the perfect place to network. There are free events held in the space like “Big Data,” “External Finance,” and “Women in Data.” There’s even an hour-long yoga class once a week. It’s technically not a coffee shop, but I hope you’ll give me the benefit of the doubt.

9. The Laundry (2-18 Warburton Road, East London)

Image via The Laundry

What sounds cozier than an ex-industrial laundry basement? Okay, a lot of things, but that doesn’t discount how great of a place The Laundry is for freelancers. The café is taken over every month by a new restaurant, which means even the most frequent visitors won’t get tired of the menu. This month, the menu includes items like rainbow barley salad, thick cut udon noodles, and rainbow trout dumplings. Items are purposefully chosen to meet every type of dietary restriction, so those gluten-free and vegan diners out there don’t have to leave their workspace in order to feed themselves. The café is also loaded with tables, so you’ll never have to awkwardly hover over someone until they leave. (You’ve done that before, right? That’s not just me?)

10. Flatplanet (39 Great Marlborough Street, Central London)

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As long as you’re not at Flatplanet during peak lunch hours, you’ll find a table that you can work at peacefully for a long time. If you’re a fan of mediterranean food or flatbread pizza—hence the name—you could stay all day. I’m personally partial to the falafel pizza and the quinoa pot.

The downstairs area is the best place to do some writing, where you’re farther away from the chatting customers on the first floor. There’s even a piano named Tom if you’re in a musical mood. Oh, and free Wi-Fi. This place wouldn’t be on the list without it.