11 Best Study Cafes to Work in West Hampstead & Kilburn

I’ve recently moved to West London, and since I’m right in the heart of West Hampstead, at the limit of Kilburn High Road, I thought it was the perfect moment to tell you about the best cafes to work in West Hampstead and Kilburn.

Those I’ve paid a visit to, at least.

I’ve written about so many laptop friendly cafes in London, from cafes to work in Oxford Street recently to cafes open late to study that I’m literally losing track of them all.

On The Working Line, you can find plenty of guides to the best cafes to work in East London, South London, and from Chelsea to Camden, but today, we’re going to be talking about the best study cafes to work in West Hampstead and Kilburn, close to both Tube stations.

11 Best Study Cafes to Work in West Hampstead & Kilburn

If you’ve been here before, you know what I’m like.

My favorite laptop friendly cafes in London, whether I’m in West Hampstead, Hammersmith or Kensington, are chain coffee shops.

By that, I mean Caffè Nero (some of my favorites!) and Pret a Manger, as well as Starbucks and Costa Coffee.

I still have to write full guides to the best Black Sheep Coffee in London to study, as well as perfectly digital nomad-friendly Joe and the Juice, but you already have complete guides to all four chains published here.

When I talk about laptop friendly coffee shops, I mean cafes with WiFi and power outlets – in most of the cafes I’ll mention today, you do have both.

And when it’s really just a cute cafe in West Hampstead to stay for a bit, to read your notes or a book without necessarily having your laptop with you, I’ll also let you know.

Let’s get on with it, then!

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Costa Coffee West Hampstead

I currently live about 10 minutes away from Costa Coffee on West End Lane, and if there’s one really laptop friendly cafe in West London I have to tell you about, it’s that one.

Before visiting the West Hampstead coffee shop, I’d honestly never been that attracted to Costa Coffee to work in London, but this one, oh boy.

The main thing about Costa Coffee West Hampstead is that the upstairs area is made to resemble a really cute coffee shop. The downstairs area, however, is made to resemble a coworking space.

That means you have some semi-private booths as well as high chairs and really comfortable armchairs, and it’s probably one of the most instagrammable cafes in London when it comes to laptop friendly spots.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in North London

Best Cafes to Work in West London: Starbucks West Hampstead

Right next door to Costa Coffee, and also just two minutes away from West Hampstead Overground and Tube stations, you have a Starbucks cafe.

I have always loved working at Starbucks in London, simply because I’ve always felt they’re the most suitable for freelancers, students, and digital nomads looking for a laptop-friendly spots for a few hours.

The Starbucks cafe is much smaller than Costa Coffee, but the terrace is really cute and that’s a perfect spot to read a good secondhand book you’ve just gotten or revise your lessons while daydreaming.

There are also seats inside, albeit not many power outlets at all, so I’d recommend coming with your laptop charged.

Read: The Best Bookshop Cafes to Work in London

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Wired Co

Located in Broadhurst Gardens, really close to West Hampstead station, Wired Co is another one of the best cafes to work in West Hampstead – but it’s really small.

It really depends on people to choose a small or spacious coffee shop to work on their laptops and notebooks; I know I prefer to blend in the background when I’m planning to stay for a few hours.

However, Wired Co is one of the most famous study cafes in West Hampstead, and you’ll definitely meet other students and freelancers working there during the day.

The only thing I’d recommend is coming when you know you don’t have to stay all day and just want to be productive with work for a couple of hours – after that, you might start feeling out of place.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Brick Lane

Best Cafes to Work in West London: Caffè Nero Finchley Road

Next up, we’re leaving the West End Lane area to go near Finchley Road, just a mere 10/15 minutes away from West Hampstead Station, and we’re reaching Caffè Nero.

I’m in love with all types of Caffè Nero except Nero Express – they’re useless when you have your laptop and want to study for a while since they’re literally just takeaways.

I’ve written about a lot of Caffè Nero in London where you can work, with some of my favorites being in Tottenham Court Road and Southbank; completely furnished with power outlets and fast WiFi.

Caffè Nero on Finchley Road is quite spacious and offers free WiFi too, but there are not many power outlets in that one.

You’re going to want to come as early as possible since obviously, laptop people will be snatching the power plug seats early in the day.

However, the windows are huge, and there’s really a nice atmosphere in this Caffè Nero which definitely makes it one of the best cafes to work in West Hampstead.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in South London

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Hart & Lova

I would not describe Hart & Lova Bakery as a laptop friendly coffee shop per se, but I live down the road from it, and it’s definitely one of the cutest cafes in West Hampstead to settle for a bit.

The decoration inside is vintage, really dated, almost like an old-school bakery slash coffee shop you’d find in some parts of Brooklyn or Paris.

There’s also a terrace on which you can sit down to read for a bit, and while the prices are literally following those of the area, Hart & Lova is one of my favorite cafes to have a delicious latte and journal or read for a while.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Canary Wharf

Best Cafes to Work in West London: Swiss Cottage Library & Cafe

One of the best places to study in West Hampstead is actually at the limit with Swiss Cottage, and you have Swiss Cottage Tube station just a couple of minutes away.

At the Swiss Cottage Library, you have a really nice cafe inside, but you know me – I love finding new free libraries in London to study.

I’ve worked at the Swiss Cottage Library a couple of times since I currently live about 20 minutes away on foot, and honestly, if you’re after really inspiring places to work around West Hampstead, that’s one of my new faves.

Read: The Best Free Coworking Spaces in London

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Lola’s Bakery

Like Hart & Lova Bakery, Lola’s Bakery is not a really laptop friendly cafe, but it is one of the cutest cafes in West Hampstead to read at.

If you’ve been in London for a while, you probably already know about Lola’s Cupcakes, and Lola’s Bakery is literally the same brand – the same delicious cupcakes, with coffee and breakfast on top of that.

The amazing atmosphere there reminds me of Aux Merveilleux in Leadenhall Market and Belle Epoque, two other amazing French pastry shops I love visiting for breakfast and treats.

Read: The Best Free Quiet Study Spaces in London

Best Cafes to Work in West London: Soho Coffee Company

I first visited Soho Coffee Company in the O2 Center on Finchley Road a few days ago, and that has quickly become one of my top spots when I need to be focused on work.

Soho Coffee Company in the O2 Center is out in the open, in the middle of the mall, and while there are people coming and going, I felt really motivated and inspired there.

The latte at Soho Coffee Company is great, and there are power outlets and free WiFi that work wonders – just one of the best cafes to work in West Hampstead, just a few minutes away from Finchley Road station.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Covent Garden

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Costa Coffee Kilburn

If you’re around Kilburn High Road, there are two Costa Coffee I love to work at, and the first one is located close to Aldi and Poundland, as well as lots of small restaurants.

I’ve worked there a couple of times so far, and what I love is that while you have a few seats outside where you can already work a bit and read (without your laptop, I’d recommend), there are many more seats inside.

The configuration of this Costa Coffee is so made that you have to go up the stairs, and the view opens up on lots of comfortable armchairs, single tables, and sofas.

Not every seat has power outlets, but the WiFi is very fast, and if you come in the morning, no one will ever disturb you.

One of the very best cafes to work in Kilburn, just a few minutes away from West Hampstead when you want to be really productive.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Shoreditch

Best Cafes to Work in West London: Costa Coffee Kilburn (facing Primark)

The other Costa Coffee on Kilburn High Road is closer to North Maida Vale, and located almost right in front of Primark, perfect if you like going for cheap shopping in London after work.

There’s also a larger Poundland really close, which has proven really useful at times when I needed new batteries for my wireless mouse – there’s really a reason why I love having that kind of budget shop in London!

Costa Coffee which faces Primark has another configuration; the workspace is actually downstairs. For people used to really large coffee shops like the Costa on West End Lane, it might feel cramped up, but I love that atmosphere.

There are almost no people in that coffee shop since they all stay either upstairs or on the terrace, and it’s another one of the best cafes to work in West Hampstead in my opinion.

Read: The Best Cafes to Work in Midtown NYC

Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead: Pret Kilburn

Close to the Costa Coffee that faces Primark, you have a Pret a Manger. That one is much more spacious than Costa, and there are many more people visiting it, so you might want to come early if you’re planning to work.

Not a lot of power outlets in this Pret, unlike many others around London.

Yet, it’s still definitely a lifesaver when all other coffee shops are either too loud or too busy – something I have not felt around Kilburn and West Hampstead though, to be honest.

Read: The Best Nontouristy Things to Do in London

11 Best Study Cafes to Work in West Hampstead & Kilburn

There you have them, all the best cafes to work in West Hampstead and Kilburn!

These are some of my personal favorites, and while not all these coffee shops are proper laptop friendly cafes, they’re still going to be the perfect background when you want to revise your notes, journal, or read a good book!

Until next time!

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