10 Best Chain Cafes To Work in Central London – Or Study

Why did I want to write about the best chain cafes to work in Central London? Easy – if you’ve been to The London Local before, you probably know I’ve been a freelance writer and a blogger for quite some time. Finding the best London cafes to work in is something very important to me. I like the hustle and bustle around me, and I like hearing the sound of coffee machines rumbling. Doesn’t matter if they’re the most famous cafes in London, or just quaint little independent cafes to study in London.

Because yes, when I’m not writing, I’m still studying all kinds of things to make my writing better and getting to know more about the world. As such, finding cool cafes to work in Central London is essential to me.

After living for some time in Mile End, Bethnal Green, Seven Sisters, and Greenwich, I have moved to North Finchley. It’s cool, full of cute cafes, but when I work, I am mostly looking for the best cafes to work in London – as in, Central London. There’s a vibe there that just makes me super productive. 

If you’ve missed my previous guides on The London Local to the best places to work in London, you might want to check them out:

• The most aesthetic places to work in London
• The best free libraries to study in London
• And the best cafes to work in Shoreditch

10 Best Chain Cafes To Work in Central London – Or Study

I love finding new coffee shops in London, and since I always have my laptop with me, it’s quite easy to just sit down in a cafe to work, right? Hmm, not so fast. There are a lot of laptop-friendly cafes in London, that’s true. But lots of coffee shops don’t actually have sockets, which makes them, well super fun cafes to visit, but most often not to work.

In this guide to the best cafes to work in Central London, I’ll be focusing on freelancers and students working on laptops. Not so much on students trying to actually revise and learn lessons. If that’s what you’re looking for, then I can totally recommend one of the best public libraries in London, like the British Library or the Islington Central Library. 

In any case, when I’m looking for cafes to work in London, most of the time, it’s because I need to get off my couch and really just get my creative juices flowing again. I might love working from home, but sometimes, visiting cafes to work in Central London really is going to help. Because believe it or not, being at home all day kind of makes you unproductive beyond a certain point.

I’ll just roam around the kitchen, the room, the garden, and just make myself believe I’m productive when I’m actually wasting all the time in the world. That’s why, even if I live far from the center, finding cafes in London to work can really save a whole day of work. So well, if I need to travel, by any means, I’ll do it.

Once again, in this post, I’ll be talking about chain cafes to study in London – or work, which means you’ll see the same coffee shop brands a few times. I’ll be talking about Starbucks, Grind, and Caffè Nero among other names. If you’re looking for independent cafes to work in London, then I’ve already written about that so you can defo take a look and find your next favorite study cafe in London there.

Now, let’s get down to business and check out together the best cafes to work in Central London!

Best Cafes To Work in Central London: Starbucks New Oxford Street

One of my very favorite cafes to work in Central London is the big Starbucks on New Oxford Street. Basically, you can definitely start the day with a wee bit of walking around Oxford Street, especially if you’re looking to do some cheap shopping in London, since there’s one of the coolest Primark stores there, just in front of Tottenham Court Road Station. 

When I’m around the city, I’m always looking for cafes to study in London – when I’m not working as a blogger or freelance writer, I’m always studying new ways to write better or just overall do my job better. So, I’ll almost only ever look for hangout places in London where there is also something like study cafes close to me where I can work and be productive. 

I feel like the Starbucks on New Oxford Street is definitely one of the best cafes to work in Central London – or study – if you’re looking for a huge space. I have lived in France and Italy, where people will look at you weird if you’re just coming to a cafe to study all day in most cases.

That’s why even in London, I’ll look for big cafes to work in so no one bothers me. That Starbucks has two floors, which are very busy most of the time, so I’d definitely recommend going there in the morning. Plus side, there’s free WiFi, and there are power outlets all around the coffee shop – so if you’re looking for the best cafes to work in London, that’s going to be a really good destination. 

Best Cafes To Work From London: Caffè Nero Brompton Road

Not too long ago, I’ve started visiting West London a bit more. I’ve written quite a few articles about the area, ranging from the best halal restaurants in Knightsbridge to some very famous landmarks in London. Now that I live in North Finchley, I really need to have a coffee shop pre-chosen in my mind before I move around since transportation to and from Central London can sting pretty fast.

One of the best cafes to work in London I’ve found is located near Harrods, and it’s Caffè Nero on Brompton Road. The staff there is absolutely amazing, easily making this Caffè Nero one of the best London cafes to work in. There are power outlets and quite a few tables at the back end of the coffee shop, making it the optimum study cafe, super laptop friendly, and busy enough that the environment pushes you to be more productive. Also, there’s the Saatchi Gallery not too far, and that’s one of the best things to visit for free in London.

The really cool thing about this Caffè Nero, and why it is, to me, one of the best cafes to work in London, is the availability of single tables, where I’ve seen quite a few people sit with their laptops to grind and make it happen. Caffè Nero is an Italian coffee brand, and if you’ve been to The London Local before, then you probably already know that finding the best Italian cafes in London is a life mission for me.

The coffee is quite good and affordable, so you can defo fill up on coffee while working. One of the best cafes to work in London if you’re looking for a real work environment and a busy coffee shop sound background.

Best Study Cafes in London: Ozone Coffee Roasters

If you’re looking for the best cafes to work in London around Shoreditch, then I’ve already written a full guide for you guys on The London Local. But I feel like even if I’ve been mentioning Ozone Coffee Roasters quite a lot around here already, they really deserve their spot on all the guides I could ever put together to the best cafes to work in London, and that’s a fact. Not only are they one of the best coffee roasters in London, but their background, their food, their atmosphere – all of it make this place one of the very best cafes to work in London.

Sure, since we’re in Shoreditch, then that’s not exactly one of the best cafes to work in Central London. But it’s close enough, and honestly, as soon as you pass the threshold and you see that wooden slash industrial vibe going on at Ozone Coffee Roasters, you’ll understand why I absolutely wanted to include it here. Great, great pastries and some of the best coffee in Shoreditch, and probably the whole of London.

I came across it when I was living in nearby Bethnal Green and was looking for good laptop friendly cafes near me. Never regretted the walk, and visiting Ozone Coffee Roasters might be one of the very best things to do in Shoreditch ever, whether you’re looking for a cool study cafe in London or just to chill there with your morning coffee.

Oh, and nearby, you’ve got one of the best cat cafes in London, Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, so if one day you’re just looking to chill, you should defo visit. They do amazing afternoon tea which is also super affordable.

Best Cafes To Work in Central London: Starbucks Charing Cross Road

Now, that is one of my very favorite cafes to work in Central London – Starbucks on Charing Cross Road may be one of the smallest cafes in London when it comes to the Starbucks chain. However, I’ve spent many hours there working on projects, and it will remain the study cafe in London that has seen me build up my businesses. Back when I was studying to be a personal trainer (don’t ask me why), I’d come with my notebook and my laptop and just study anatomy there for hours.

I think I’ve never seen a staff that nice and kind in all the cafes to work in London, to be fair. They’ve never said anything to me, never looked at me wrong, even when I would spend hours on end just working there. Of course, it is also one of my favorite study cafes in London due to the fact that there are free WiFi and power outlets a bit everywhere. 

By the way, when you visit, you’ll definitely see other people working and studying there. Since it’s a cafe in Central London, lots of people come to order drinks and food, but it’s really families and people studying who actually really take the time to sit down. Just really one of the best cafes to study in London if you’re around Soho, Chinatown, and Tottenham Court Road.

Best Cafes To Work in Central London: Grind London Bridge

Grind London Bridge is one of the best cafes to work from in London, and if you’re around London Bridge, then that’s your best bet. Although it’s not a chain in the sense that we think of Starbucks, Costa Coffee or Caffè Nero, Grind has quite a few coffee shops in London, so in my book, that makes it a chain cafe. For instance, it’s also one of the best cafes in Old Street if you’re looking for a cafe to work in Shoreditch but don’t want to visit Ozone Coffee Roasters for some reason. 

I came across Grind London Bridge as I was looking for laptop friendly cafes near me, and whether you just want some brunch at London Bridge, or grind all day on your projects, no one’s going to say anything to you. This coffee shop slash restaurant is big, with lots of space, and that’s definitely one of the best working cafes in London. Not too far, you’ve got White Cube, one of the best free art galleries in London. 

And if you’re looking for the best things to do in London Bridge after the work day is done in this study cafe, I’ve put together a great guide on The London Local for you that you might want to check out. Definitely one of the best cafes to work in Central London if you’re looking for a busy place with artisan coffee and deliciously fresh pastries.

Best London Cafes To Work in: Cafe W

If you’re looking for really cool cafes to work in Central London and you’re around Piccadilly Circus, then Cafe W at Waterstones could be the place for you. It’s busy and bustling most of the time, which is something I actually look for when I’m looking for a study cafe near me. Why? Because I love hearing the world going about around me – it helps me focus greatly. Back when the pandemic was raging, I would listen to coffee shop sounds on YouTube because I was missing that atmosphere so much. Writing and coffee shops seem to go hand in hand for me. 

Cafe W clearly isn’t one of the cheapest coffee shops, that’s for sure. So I’d definitely recommend it for freelancers or students who have some budget. However, it is one of the best cafes to work in Central London if you’d like the atmosphere of the biggest bookshop in London with delicious coffee and fresh pastries (see how I’m big on my coffee and pastries? No joke, can’t get to a working cafe if there’s not good coffee and pastries, OMG). 

There are quite a few Cafe W in various Waterstones bookshops in London, but this is surely the biggest and whether you’re coming to read or cram on your notebooks, that’s a cool place to focus.

Best Cafes to Work in Central London: Pret a Manger at London Bridge

I don’t go to Pret a Manger very often; for some reason, all the food I’ve ever tried there has always been excellent and I always end up at least a tenner lighter. But the Pret on Borough High Street, right in front of Borough Market, is really big and quite cool if you have some papers to write or some studying to do. It’s not that interesting if you’d like to work for long periods of time on a laptop there, but it’s big enough that no one will look at you in a weird way if you’re staying for more than thirty minutes, you know. 

The plus side is that there are lots of amazing things to do in London Bridge, and there’s also one of the most beautiful bridges in London, the Millenium Bridge, located not too far. I can also recommend really cramming that day, then visiting Shrigley’s, one of the best Moroccan restaurants in London, right down Borough High Street.

Best London Cafes To Work in: Starbucks Goodge Street

Ah, another one of the best London cafes to work in is defo Starbucks on Goodge Street. It’s the third Starbucks cafe near Tottenham Court Road, and I’ve also got loads of writing done there. All you need to do is turn left at the end of Oxford Street, right before it becomes New Oxford Street, after the Primark. Walk for a bit, and you’ll pass some really amazing shops and cafes there. 

The area is really nice, and there are plenty of cute cafes there. You’ll want to walk just a bit more, and there, on the right, you’ll find one of the best cafes to work in Central London – a pretty decently-sized Starbucks with power outlets and WiFi. 

There’s not much more to say about that; a Starbucks remains a Starbucks wherever you go. Just plenty of seating space, I’ve been there a few times during the day and I’ve always found a nice place to sit and work.

Best Cafes To Work in Central London: Caffè Nero Cranbourn Street near Leicester Square

Then, another one of my favorite cafes to work in Central London or study when I’ve got to study, is Caffè Nero on Cranbourn Street, just opposite Leicester Square. For some reason, I always seem to find myself roaming around Leicester Square, probably because some of the cutest statues in London are there and I just can’t get enough of the Mary Poppins and Harry Potter statues.

This Caffè Nero is certainly not the biggest in the city, but it’s definitely one of the best cafes to work in Central London in my opinion. There are a few seats downstairs, but no power outlets there. However, when you go up the stairs, there are quite a few tables with sockets that will allow you to plug in both your laptop and your cell phone if you need a hotspot. 

Which you shouldn’t need, since Caffè Nero has their own WiFi system, The Cloud, and it works really well. Plus, whichever Caffè Nero in London you should visit, your laptop will connect directly to the WiFi if you’ve used The Cloud in another Caffè Nero coffee house in London before. 

I’ve gotten huge loads of work done in this Leicester Square cafe, and that’s definitely one of the very best cafes to study in London and get work done because no one will come and check on you. However, there are no toilets there, so you’ll probably not want to stay all day.

Best Cafes To Work in Central London: DeskDog at BrewDog

I wrote about DeskDog some time ago, and it definitely is one of the best cafes to work in London – even if it’s not a proper cafe to start with. The pub chain is one of the most famous hangout places in London, that’s for sure. 

I’ve been there quite a few times before the pandemic and their food is absolutely amazing. But did you know that if you’re looking for cool cafes to study in London, you might want to think again and actually set your laptop and books on one of their tables?

There are many BrewDog pubs in London that actually offer the possibility, during the day, for you to use their space as a study cafe. Not only do you have WiFi and power outlets there, but you can also use printers, and they have some paper and pens you can use. 

It just works as a coworking space kind of vibe, wherein you pay £7 for the whole day, with unlimited free coffee or tea. What’s not to like about that? I, for one, know that for the amount of coffee I down every working day, £7 is a pretty cheap price to pay.

If you’re looking for cafes to work in Central London, then BrewDog Chancery Lane, Paddington, Soho, or Seven Dials might be a good option. There are other workspaces at all the BrewDog pubs, including Camden, Canary Wharf, Brixton, and Tower Hill as well – it’s up to you to decide where you want to make it happen that day.

10 Best Chain Cafes To Work in Central London – Or Study

There you have them, my favorite chain cafes to work in Central London. I visit most of these on a regular basis, especially Caffè Nero and Starbucks because I’m sure that they have power outlets and free WiFi. Plus, when I get a tea or an Americano there, I know it’s going to be so scorching hot that I will have to drink it very slowly (if I don’t forget it because I’m super focused).

Keep checking back here, as I’m always looking for the best cafes to work in the city, and I will be writing about free places to study in London pretty soon too. The city is big and likely to provide all the study spots you need to make it happen quietly and in a focused manner. 

If you’d like to discover more about London, I can recommend the following guides on The London Local:

• The best charity shops in London
• The coolest free libraries to study in London
• Super cute dog cafes in London (with dog friendly cafes too!)

Until next time!

PS. Did you know there are amazing cat cafes in London? Yep – it’s not just about dogs!