I felt that a guide to the best places to write in London would be very much welcome on The Working Line.
If you’ve been here before, you probably already know I have been a freelance writer and a blogger for quite a few years now.
It is one of my passions to find the best coworking spaces in London, and the best cafes and libraries to study in the city.
As I am a writer, I am constantly searching for the best coffee shops to work in Shoreditch.
Sometimes, though, I’ll just want to go to a park or a quiet space to read, write, and plan my upcoming week.
I want the inspiration, and I remember all the articles I have put together in the following best places to write in London I’ll mention right below.
There are definitely a lot of places to work remotely in London.
Today, I am going to list my favorite among the spaces that do not necessarily have free WiFi or power outlets, so bear that in mind for some of them.
15 Best Places To Write in London, Read & Relax
I know that when you study abroad in London, or first move to the city with the goal of making your freelance business blow up, it can be quite difficult to know exactly what British people are like with laptop friendly cafes.
Ever since I first moved to the city, I have relentlessly been on the lookout for the best coffee shops with WiFi near me.
Whether I lived in Bethnal Green, Greenwich, North Finchley, or West Hampstead, I have always loved coffee shops.
Actually, when I started freelancing full-time, I started needing coffee shops with power outlets and WiFi to get out of my home (and out of my head).
I have lived in quite a lot of areas here, and I’m still looking for free places to look in London every now and then to switch up the atmosphere when I want to write.
Mostly, people visiting The Working Line are students and entrepreneurs.
So, whether you’re one or the other, you’re going to be looking for the best places to write in London at some point.
You might have to write an essay.
Redo your CV.
Or maybe you’d like to write a novel and you’re starting it the old-fashioned way, with a pen and paper.
So, if you’re looking for the best places to write in London and don’t necessarily need WiFi, you’re exactly where you need to be.
A lot of these spots are perfect places to read in London as well, and they’re really my favorite in the entire city.
Best Places To Write in London: The Thames Riverside
The Thames Riverside is certainly not one of the quiet places to study in London, but if you’re looking for free places to work, then this is a hub you don’t want to miss.
The Thames Riverside is my absolute favorite spot in the city, and it is arguably the best place to read in London.
Time and again, I travel all the way from North Finchley to Tower Bridge, just to sit on the grass near City Hall.
There, I’ll lay under the sun with one of the newest books I might have gotten in one of the best second hand bookshops in London.
I might be eating a meal deal, and I might reflect on the blog and what types of guides I’d like to share with you next.
The good thing is that this is one completely free space to study in London.
You could be working on your laptop there, either on the grass or in one of the cafes nearby, like one of the Pret cafes to work in London I’m going to mention lower in this guide.
Take a walk down the riverside, and you’ll see that it is one of the best places to write in London if you’re just looking to do light tasks, some brainstorming, and some scheduling.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Barcelona
Best Places To Write in London: Starbucks Tottenham Court Road
Starbucks on Tottenham Court Road, near Goodge Street, is one of my favorite places to write in London.
I am lucky enough that one of my buses is direct from my home to Warren Street, the station right at the end of Tottenham Court Road.
When I first moved to London, I started an online course that I would study on my own, and I found myself at Starbucks quite a lot.
This one, the one on New Oxford Street, and the Starbucks on Charing Cross Road sit at the top of my favorite cafes to work in Central London.
This Starbucks is one of the best places to work remotely in London since it offers both sockets and free WiFi .
If you’re looking to start an article or an essay, then that is going to be a coffee shop in Central London you’re going to visit quite a lot.
It’s not one of the really quiet places to study in London, but I have come to find that the coffee shop noises are something I’m quite addicted to.
It is really difficult for me to write without any background noise, and when I’m not working in a coffee shop in Central London, I’ll put on videos on YouTube with café background noises.
To sum it up, this Starbucks on Tottenham Court Road is one of the best places to write in London if you like the hustle and bustle of the city.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Paris
Best Places To Write in London: Italian Gardens
I first came to know of the Italian Gardens a few weeks back, and until then, I thought it was just a nameless part of Kensington Gardens.
Turns out that’s the best place to read in London not too far from South Kensington if you like Italian architecture.
And if, like me, you’re sometimes homesick because you’ve lived in Italy and know that no other country will ever come close in terms of architecture, food, and atmosphere.
Exit the usual quiet cafes in London to read and study, enter the Italian Gardens. You’ll need to stop at Lancaster Gate by Tube if you want to reach the gardens fast.
They have got to be one of the best places to write in London if you’re onto a novel or an article.
During the summer, Kensington Gardens slash Hyde Park obviously pack up.
Yet, the Italian Gardens are that kind of free attraction that means people will come to snap a few shots before they go deeper into Hyde Park.
There is no actual cafe right next to the Italian Gardens, but it is still the best place for me to write in London.
There is the occasional ice cream shop, and you have the Serpentine Gallery deep into the heart of Hyde Park, one of the best free museums in London.
If you love art and would like to take a break from studying, writing, reading, or whatever it is you’re doing, then book a free ticket to the Gallery and chillax for the rest of the day!
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Liverpool Street
Best Places To Write in London: Kyoto Garden
If you’re looking for the best place to read in London, then Kyoto Garden in the morning is your best bet.
There are a lot of really beautiful parks in London.
Yet, I have always felt that Holland Park, which hosts the Kyoto Garden and the Dutch Garden, is somewhat different.
For starters, I love going to the woods, but one could argue that although woods are some free places to work in London, it is a quite strange destination for a freelancer or a student.
Unless that’s your field, of course.
But inside Holland Park, where one part of the park resembles French forests, you have two amazing themed parks: the Kyoto Garden, and the Dutch Garden.
In Kyoto Garden, you’ll find tiny fountains and a waterfall, as well as peacocks when the weather is nice and they feel like showing off.
Kyoto Garden is one of the best places to write in London if you’re looking for that quiet, meditative state induced by a Japanese garden.
Then, you have the Dutch Garden, located just a few minutes’ walk away.
No coffee shops with WiFi there, however, the Dutch Garden has plenty of benches for you to read – and you might soon consider it the best place to read in London.
Families come there in the weekend, but if you go early on a sunny day, you won’t encounter many people as Holland Park is located in West London, commanding you to take a Tube or a bus to reach it.
Just one of the best places to study if, again, you don’t need power outlets – although there is a Starbucks and a Paul bakery near the Holland Park tube station.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Shoreditch
Best Places To Write in London: Pret London Bridge
I have already mentioned Pret London Bridge in my guide to the best Pret cafes to work in London.
When we’re looking for the best places to work remotely in London, one of the first options is always the coffee shops.
After that, you’ve got free quiet spaces to study in London like the British Library or the Wood Green Library.
I love the Pret London Bridge coffee shop on Borough High Street because it is seemingly one of the biggest cafes to study in London, and that’s a fact.
You’ve got a few seats on one side on the ground floor, but they also have a lot of free seats in the basement.
If you decide to get the monthly Pret subscription, you won’t have to pay for your drinks while you’re working.
That means that Pret will become one of the free places to work in London for you, and that’s dope.
Out of all the places to write in London, I particularly love this Pret because of the many power outlets it has.
It also has a very powerful WiFi, and I’ve never had any problem typing away on the keyboard when I was working in that Pret.
Plus, it seems like people really cherish it as one of the quiet cafes to study in London, as there’s always almost no noise when I arrive there to work.
Read: The Best Bookshop Cafes to Work in London
Best Places To Write in London: Grounded
Grounded is one of my favorite places to write in London, but not only.
This cafe in East London offers some of the best English Breakfast in the city, there are no two ways to say it.
When I was living in Mile End and Bethnal Green and was looking for coffee shops with WiFi near me, Google Maps would always pop up with Grounded.
The first time I went there, I feel like I ordered everything I could on the menu.
If you are looking for free places to work in London, you have the Bishopsgate Library not too far down the road to Liverpool Street Station.
That’s one of the best free libraries to study in London, so if you don’t want to work in a cafe that day, you always have that option.
I do personally think that Grounded is one of the best places to work remotely in London because they have power outlets and free WiFi.
Plus, they have lots of tables and fresh pastries made every day. Furthermore, those pastries are even more delicious when you order one of their coffees or teas.
Everything at Grounded is just beautifully rustic and deliciously tasty.
That’s one of the best cafes in London to work, study, or just eat and chill with friends and family.
My little tip, don’t go during the weekend if what you’re looking is a spot to read in London, as Grounded gets really packed!
Read: The Best Cafes in Brixton
Best Places To Write in London: God’s Own Junkyard
One of my favorite places to write in London is a very unexpected one; God’s Own Junkyard.
You read that right.
That’s definitely not one of the best places to work remotely in London if what you’re after is a quiet coffee shop or a library.
This neon shop is one of the most famous free attractions in the city.
Even if I do not consider it the best place to read in London (especially when you’ve got Kyoto Garden and the Dutch Garden!), it is perfect to jot down ideas.
I have been a full-on neon lover for years, and lights fascinate me for some reason.
How could it be, then, that I didn’t see God’s Own Junkyard as one of my favorite places to write in London? I’ll come there when I feel like traveling from North London.
I’ll sit down at one of the many tables they have for guests, and I’ll start brainstorming on my next guides for The Working Line, or articles for clients.
The colored lights will most probably trigger a lot of creativity, and I cannot wait for you to feel the rush.
Read: The Best Halal Afternoon Tea in London
Best Places To Write in London: Bar Italia
Bar Italia is definitely not one of the quiet cafes in Soho to study and work, but I think it’s still one of the best places to write in London.
I have always loved that Italian vibe that the coffee shop has got to it, even before I moved to Rome last year.
Since then, I have moved back to London, but I’m still missing that Italian laidback chill that you can only find in Italy, and when you hang out with Italian people.
If I think that Bar Italia is one of the best places to write in London, it is because it is quaint and original.
It is very different from any other chain cafes where you go to study, like Starbucks, Pret or Caffè Nero coffee shops.
You don’t just plug in your laptop because there are almost no power outlets at Bar Italia, and to be honest, there are not that many seats either.
That’s the type of Italian cafe in London that I’ll visit when I want to plan work for the upcoming week.
That’s also where I will sit, on the terrace, with a cornetto filled with delicious cream and amazing double espresso.
If you’re looking for places to write in London near the center, then you’ll love Bar Italia.
You’ve got amazing little bakeries and restaurants all around, but I promise you’ll want to try their Italian food – maybe before you go on a spree to the best second hand bookshops in London!
Read: The Best Halal Burgers in London
Best Places To Write in London: Crossrail Place Roof Garden
The Crossrail Place Roof Garden at Canary Wharf has got to be the best place to read in London if you’re a plant lover.
I first came across this rooftop garden a few months ago, and I was very surprised to find out that it’s completely free to access.
Sometimes, you might be so into looking for the best cafes in London to work that you forget that you don’t always need a power outlet or free WiFi.
So, the Crossrail Place Roof Garden is one of the best places to work remotely in London, especially when it’s warm.
Since it’s a free, and very instagrammable spot in London, people are going to come for little dates and pictures.
However, you can sit with a book, take notes, work on your computer a little bit…
That’s definitely one of the most exotic free places to work in London.
That’s also where I will go when I want to do some planning while marveling at the stunning greenery and art exhibited at the roof garden.
One of the best places to write in London if you also want to brainstorm with friends about projects you have in common.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Canary Wharf
Best Places to Write in London: Queens Walk Garden Tower Bridge
Another one of the best places to write in London, and one of my favorites, is the Queens Walk Garden right in front of Tower Bridge.
I’ve always felt like the atmosphere is very peculiar there, and love journaling while watching tourists and locals take a stroll along the Thames.
I’ve spent many hours reading in front of Tower Bridge too. While the area is bustling, it has this vibe that helps you focus in a couple of minutes.
Read: The Best Candle Shops in London
Best Places to Write in London: Joe and the Juice Baker Street
There are lots of amazing cafes to work in Marylebone, but one of my favorites is Joe and the Juice on Baker Street.
There are two branches on the same street, but I like the vibe of 105 Baker Street better, and the decor is really inspiring.
In terms of prices, Joe and the Juice is on the higher side – that’s one of the most expensive places to write in London that I’ll mention in this guide.
However, from the fresh pastries to smoothies, I have to admit that’s one of the best study spots.
Read: The Best Makeup Shops in London
Best Places to Write in London: Victoria Embankment Gardens
I’ve spent many afternoons at the Victoria Embankment Gardens, which are located at the end of Villiers Street, around Charing Cross Road station.
There are so many cool things to do in London, but this is one of the prettiest gardens the city offers.
You can really feel nature surrounding you, and the city strives to brighten up the park with colorful flowers all year round.
So if you’re looking for secret gardens in London to write or read a good book, it seems like the Victoria Embankment Gardens are a perfect spot.
In my opinion one of the best hidden gems in London – out in the open!, that’s a place where you’ll feel inspired, without a doubt.
Read: The Most Colorful Places in London
Best Places to Write in London: Bread Ahead Wembley
I used to live in West Hampstead up to a few months ago, and I discovered then one of the coolest bakeries in London.
I already knew of Bread Ahead Bakery Borough Market, and have even written a full review including the famous doughnuts they freshly bake every day.
Unlike Bread Ahead Borough Market, the Wembley branch is huge.
There are many seats, amazing caffè latte if that’s your jam, and incredible pastries – including otherworldly cinnamon buns.
There are also a couple of power outlets there, which makes Bread Ahead Wembley one of the coolest cafes to work in West London.
The important thing to remember, too, is that since the London Designer Outlet is located a couple of minutes’ walk away, you can go shopping after writing.
Specifically, if you’re ever looking for cheap Yankee Candles in London, you have the Yankee Candle Outlet store there.
Just sayin’.
Read: The Best Budget Shops in London
Best Places to Write in London: Reflection Garden St Paul’s
The Reflection Garden is one of the best places to see the views in London, since it offers a pretty immaculate view of St Paul’s.
And well, around that beautiful, clear pond, you have a few benches and can even sit near the water with your notebook to write.
Not too far, you have the Millenium Bridge and the Tate Modern, so if you’d rather write in a quiet museum, that’s a good one.
And if at some point you’d like to try a new coffee place, one of my absolute favorite cafes in London Bridge, a stone’s throw away, is Coffee Academy.
It’s nestled inside Brand Academy, one of the coolest shops in London.
And since Coffee Academy offers Crosstown Doughnuts, that’s all the more reason to visit the London Bridge area!
Read: The Best Charity Shops in London
Best Places to Write in London: Host Cafe St Paul’s
I wrote a complete Host Cafe review just some time ago, and it’s in my opinion one of the best places to write near St Paul’s Cathedral.
Host Cafe is one of the best hidden cafes in London, since it’s set right inside a Gothic church.
The coffee and pastries there are incredible, and the atmosphere will really help you be productive.
Or chill, really, as I feel like Host Cafe is a relaxing place to put your thoughts in order too.
In any case, another one of the best places to write in London if you’re looking for a really quiet spot.
Read: The Cutest Pink Cafes in London
15 Best Places To Write in London, Read & Relax
There you have them, my best places to write in London when you don’t necessarily want to visit a coffee shop to work and study.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this guide, these are not always the best places to work remotely in London, especially if your laptop battery doesn’t hold up very well.
However, if you’re just looking for places to write in London, far from the prying eye of busy cafes in Central, then you’ve landed on the right page today.
Until next time!
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