9 Aesthetic Places in London To Study and Work For Freelancers & Students

Aesthetic places in London make up the bulk of the city if I dare say so. As a freelancer working half of the year from London and half of the year in Rome (especially during winter time), I’m always looking for quiet places to study near me. There are lots of study areas in London and free libraries to work. Yet, I want to highlight the fact that even as a freelancer, I keep learning and so, good and quiet public places to study near me are always a must. It’s not always easy to be a freelancer, as you need to get your head in the game even if you’re working from home in London.

The Best Places To Study in London

As a freelancer, as I said, I’m always on a mission to find new aesthetic places in London to study and work. So here are a few recommendations, from me to you, for those of us who want to enjoy a peaceful environment outside the comfort of our own home.

By the way, if you’d rather find cafes to work in Central London, I’ve recently put together a guide for you to the best chain cafes I usually visit because they have power outlets, WiFi, and are pretty affordable.

9 Aesthetic Places in London To Study and Work For Freelancers & Students

Finding good libraries to work in London always feels like the jackpot. There are quite a number of aesthetic places in London that offer study areas and quiet spots to work. That’s for sure, however, I like finding really different places. Whether we’re talking free WiFi, a nice background, nice music… To be fair, I’ll admit that I prefer libraries to work in London, or nice, big coffee shops. For instance, you could definitely bring your laptop to work at Ikea or Starbucks.

Yet, in this article about the cool aesthetic places in London that offer quiet places to study and work, I wanted to focus on areas that are more personal. More of a homey feel like Paper & Cup, one of the best coffee shops in Shoreditch. Or, on the other hand, very individualist like the London Library or the British Library. Quiet places to study in London where no one knows you, but everyone is working or studying with you. Yup. That’s what I wanted to tell you about today.

Quiet Places To Work and Study in London: The London Library

First on this list of the most aesthetic places in London to study and work is The London Library. Situated in the St. James neighborhood, it’s one of the most instagrammable libraries in London. I know we’re not there to take photos (I should be reminded at times, when I find a super instagrammable library in London, to be honest), but wow. You probably already know I’m crazy about instagrammable things in London, from the colorful houses in Notting Hill to pink latte in London. That’s just me – love cute vibes.

The London Library is only a short walk from Green Park, and surprisingly central and accessible, given its prosperous demeanor. This library is one of the best places to study in London if you like nice surroundings. It was founded in 1841 and has become one of the world’s greatest lending libraries with an astonishing history, a massive borrowing collection that offers over one million books dating from 1700 to the present day: from Charles Dickens to Virginia Woolf and Bram Stoker.

With a labyrinth of hidden corners inside, the building is such a magical place for gothic literature enthusiasts like me. My first visit to the library was for this research I’d been working on, and I completely fell in love with its old-fashioned reading room with plenty of desks. Just browsing the endless shelves could spark so much joy for me. Also, the staff is super friendly, helpful, and welcoming. If you’re not a member, just ask for a free tour and they will show you around.

So if you’re a student, a book lover, or just need to find new libraries to work in London, I guarantee you will have a wonderful time here.

Westminster Reference Library

What’s really cool is that when I’m in the center and am looking for good places to study near me, all the spots are quite close to each other. When I used to live in Bethnal Green and wanted to go out, I had plenty of choices for cafes in London to work. Often, I’d find myself at Starbucks either on Tottenham Court Road or Charing Cross Road. You know as well as I do that when you’re looking for the best places to study and work in London, you’ll need WiFi. Not every place in London has that, so the fact that there was often space at those London coffee shops got me addicted to them.

Only a fifteen-minute walk from The London Library, you will find Westminster Reference Library, just around the corner of Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. This is one of my favorite quiet places to study near me when I’m in Central London because of its very private location on a side road.

Read: 13 Seriously Stunning Cafes in London Bridge

There are three floors to read or study with fast and reliable Wi-Fi and sockets on desks for you to charge your phone and laptop. If you’re also interested in architecture and interior design, you’ll appreciate the gorgeous mahogany stairs and bookshelves on the second and third floors. That’s also definitely one of the most instagrammable libraries in London.

I spent a few days working here and the atmosphere is just perfect for concentration. The staff is super friendly and welcoming, and one of them even enthusiastically showed me exactly where to find the books I needed to study.

Quiet Places To Study in London: Bishopsgate Library

You were looking for amazing aesthetic places in London to work and study, right? You’ll be served with the Victorian library at Bishopsgate. Word. Opened to the public in 1895, Bishopsgate Library has been steadily growing, with unique collections of more than 150,000 books, pamphlets, maps, and photographs of London. They even include super modern collections on women’s history, labor, socialist history, LGBTQ+, etc.

I was often around Bishopsgate and Aldgate East when I lived in Mile End. Yet, I didn’t come to know about the Bishopsgate Library until after I moved into Seven Sisters. Too bad, as it then became far, but it is indeed one of the best quiet places to study in London.

Read: The Best Free Libraries in London To Work and Study

This beautiful building is just about a two-minute walk from the Northumbria University London Campus. And although it’s open to the public, the Bishopsgate Library still remains a well-kept secret. There’s free WiFi so you can easily access your usual online resources for your studies or write, or whatever it is you need to do on the Internet. They also offer free newspapers for you to catch up on local and national news. This is a great place to get some silent time alone even for just a short lunch break, perfect for people who are looking for the best spots to work and study in London.

Gordon, Tavistock, and Russell Squares

Of course, I couldn’t make a list of amazing aesthetic places in London to work and study without including London parks! On rare sunny days, I like to look for outdoor public places to study near me. So, I’ve discovered these three squares, where you’ll usually find students reading on the grass and benches. They’re located in Bloomsbury with great access to nearby attractions like the British Museum, Covent Garden, and Oxford Street. These are the perfect choices to work and study in London in a new setting.

Gordon Square is a hidden gem surrounded by handsome Georgian terraced houses. There is a lovely little cafe that serves homemade foods. Tavistock Square is quite small, a lovely piece of green and serenity in the middle of the rushing capital. Russell Square is more well-known for tourists, so it’s not always as quiet and peaceful as the previous two. However, I still recommend coming here for the beautiful gardens in the summer with a fountain and a cafe with outside seating. 

The best part about studying in these squares is that you will be surrounded by other students, since they’re close to several university buildings and halls. This creates a very productive and exciting environment, undoubtedly some of the nicest study areas in London. The only downside is that if you need free WiFi in a place to work in London, well. I mean, those are parks, aren’t they?

Best Places to Study in London: Paper & Cup

I’ve talked about Paper & Cup a few days ago, stating it is one of the best coffee shops in Shoreditch to work, study, or chill. This small coffee shop is located on Calvert Ave near Victoria Park. Both the location and the vibe are perfect for those who study and work in London and want a place with good food and a relaxing atmosphere.

I found this place by chance and I’m so glad I did. The staff here are very nice and friendly, and they always greet you with a smile. I love their facade, all turquoise and bright – just makes me happy for the day to see such a splash of color in London. Like when I go to instagrammable bakeries and pastry shops in London, for instance. Also, it’s so comforting to just sit by the window with a coffee, books, and laptop, and just watch strangers pass by and carry on with their day. I will definitely come back to have that main character moment soon.

Paper and Cup is a not-for-profit cafe and bookstore in the artsy Shoreditch district. They promote a work-friendly environment and are definitely one of the best coffee shops to study from in London. If you like London charity shops, well, Paper and Cup is not only a coffee shop; they also sell quite a few amazing items you’ll want to bring home. The books they sell are second-hand and very inexpensive. They also showcase local artists’ works, which you can purchase.

The WiFi is fast and free, and since they keep a relatively low profile, there are usually plenty of seats available, including a couple of outdoor benches. That would make it one of the best places to study and work in London, right? Paper and Cup serve espresso drinks along with tea and tasty treats, like cinnamon rolls, brownies, and vegan cakes. When you’re done working, make sure to stick around the area and explore the hip Shoreditch street art scene. Because I mean – you’ll want to see that.

Cafes To Work in London: Dillons Coffee

You can say whatever you’d like, but Waterstones book shops will always be some of the most aesthetic places in London. Some even have coffee shops inside, which can make for quiet study areas in London when you need to get out of the house and get s*** done. Located inside the Waterstones bookstore on Gower Street, Dillons Coffee is one of the highlights on my list of best places to study in London. I have come here a few times with friends and alone and I’ve only had good experiences.

The coffee is amazing and the cakes and sandwiches are very tasty. You will find a lot of students here, so it’s not as quiet as I’d like it to be, but I still enjoyed it very much. They always play a vibey music playlist that really sets the tone, and there’s a small courtyard for the customers who prefer to sit in open air. Also, the staff is always with a smile and full of energy, which really brightens my day every time I visit. There’s a variety of options for vegans and vegetarians, so if you’re not working and studying, this is still a great place to come and chill with your friends.

Best Places to Study in London: The British Library

I’ve spent my fair share of days working at the British Library. Even when I was living in Seven Sisters (as a reminder, I’ve lived in Seven Sisters, Mile End, and Bethnal Green), I would take the bus all the way to study and work at the British Library. It’s just such a huge library, and one of the really quiet places to study in London. No one talks there; there’s an air of sobriety and grind that you don’t find anywhere else.

If you’re around Euston, St Pancras, or King’s Cross, the British Library is one of the best study areas in London. I have to say that the WiFi at the British Library is free, however, it’s not always that consistent at all. While I was writing there, I would spend days getting hotspot from my phone. It’s just not good enough for activities that need good WiFi. Rather, there are so many people who come there to work and study that it can’t be strong enough, I guess. You can sign up for a free Readers Pass and work at the Reading Rooms, where you can plug in your laptop and work without the risk of running out of battery.

Read: The Best Public Libraries in London

If you’d rather find cafes to work, well, the British Library Cafe is quite a good one. If it means you don’t have to go out every two hours to get some more coffee, it’s good enough. I usually go out every few hours to get a new cup of coffee. Doesn’t matter whether I’m at quiet places to work and study in London or coffee shops. That can be Subway, McDonald’s (the cheapest, with an infamous yet very affordable americano priced at £1.19), or Greggs. Just need it strong enough that it keeps me running.

So yeah – with its statues and paintings, its countless old books, the British Library is one of the best places to study and work in London. Well worth the travel, wherever you are in London.

Libraries To Work in London: Islington Central Library

When I was living in Seven Sisters, I would go out to work all the time. One of the amazing public places to study near me I found was the Islington Central Library. To be fair, I’ve been to quite a lot of the Islington libraries (there are 10 in total). I’ve found they were some of the best spots to study and work in London. It was cold, I didn’t want to have to travel too far, and I needed both free WiFi and plug sockets for my PC. Bingo.

If you’re ever in North London and type in “good public places to study near me”, Google might give you back the Islington Central Library. And honestly, even if it’s a bit far from where you are, it’s open for long hours every day. I used to be there from the opening until it closed. I also went quite a few times to the library in Finsbury Park. That was also more than enough, and one of the best quiet places to study near me at the time.

Cafes To Work in London: Bloomsbury Coffee House

Without a doubt, the Bloomsbury Coffee House belongs on this list of the best quiet places to study and work in London. If you’ve been looking for quiet cafes in London to kill some work productively, that’s a great space. Not only do they have proper free WiFi, but there are countless plug sockets in the coffee shop.

Yet, the Bloomsbury Coffee House is one of the best places to study in London. Not only for students but freelancers too! It is located close to the University of London. That alone makes it a very accessible coffee shop to work in London. Then, the food – whether you’re vegetarian or not, you’ll find plenty to relish for breakfast and lunch there.

Even when I’m looking for simple work and study areas in London, I’ll always want some great coffee. You probably already know I live half of the year in London, and half of the year in Rome, Italy. As such, it’s very important for me to get a proper coffee wherever I am. That’s what Italian culture has done to me. You don’t have to go all the way to one of the best Italian cafes in London to get a proper shot. The coffee at the Bloomsbury Coffee House will be more than enough to keep you awake.

9 Aesthetic Places in London To Study and Work For Freelancers & Students

Here, you have all the best places to study and work in London. I’m definitely in love with someplace more than I am with others. For instance, when I was living in Seven Sisters, you could never get me out of the Islington libraries. I also really enjoyed the Wood Green Library. Why? Because it is large, with inside, great quiet places to study near me, or work when I would be writing an article. Plus, the fact that there’s free WiFi and plenty of plug space is always a big criterion when looking for the best places to study in London, right?

There are many more aesthetic places in London to work and study. You can definitely start there if you love nice backgrounds and a great study atmosphere. I’ve also written about the best cafes to work and study for freelancers a while back if you want some more inspiration. One thing is for sure, study areas in London will carry you up to success. Don’t overthink it!