Updated 15th October 2024
London has long been a global centre for innovation, creativity, finance and commerce, making it a natural magnet for businesses, artists, digital nomads and entrepreneurs alike.
London’s diverse population makes up around 13% of the total population of the United Kingdom making it the UK’s undisputed centre for business, finance, politics, culture and more.
With its long history as a centre of trade and culture, dating back to Roman times, London’s identity has evolved into one that blends rich history with cutting-edge modernity.
This modernity is evident in its current day vibrant café culture with digital nomads busy tapping away on their laptops while sipping delicious Oat Milk Lattes.
Today, much like New York City, London boasts an infectious buzzing energy that makes it an attractive city for remote work as a digital nomad and for cutting-edge startups looking to network and raise capital.
Unsurprisingly, London was the most popular city visited by digital nomads up to March 2024, followed by Bangkok and New York City.
Granted, just like New York City, London isn’t cheap by any means but the choice, cultural offerings, vibrant energy and diversity make up for it in spades as long as you have the cash to spend some time in the UK’s vibrant and diverse capital.
Both cities, London and New York are dynamic, multicultural, and fast-paced, providing an inspiring backdrop for professionals who thrive in bustling urban environments.
In recent years, London’s café scene has exploded, thanks to the rise of third-wave coffee culture and the growing number of remote workers seeking cosy yet productive spaces to work from.
A decent latte or cappuccino only arrived in London just over 50 years ago
Just as work from home (WFH) didn’t really exist 50 years ago, neither did a decent coffee culture in the UK.
There was actually a time not that long ago when British people were quite content drinking instant coffee, yes, really!
This slowly began to change with the arrival of the first Costa Coffee in the early 1970s and thereafter the barista-driven coffee scene took off massively in the 1990s to the point where there is now a serious coffee culture in London that can rival any city on the planet.
From sleek, minimalist coffee shops in Shoreditch to artisanal bakeries in Notting Hill and fancy cafes on the famous Kings Road in Chelsea, London’s trendy cafes don’t just serve excellent coffee and food; they provide an inspiring atmosphere where creativity can flourish.
London offers an incredible diversity of choice, vibes and styles for every budget, from the “greasy spoon” cafes where a traditional British “fry up” should be tried at least once to the highest level Michelin Star restaurants, you’ll find it all in London!
As with most major global cities remote working in cafes can be a bit hit or miss at times.
You might get lucky and find a space to work and other times the good coffee shops are packed and it’s hard to find a space to sit down and work.
Most often weekdays mid-morning and mid-afternoon are good bets after the breakfast and lunch rush.
Do keep this in mind when visiting the laptop-friendly cafes on our London list.
As London is a huge city we have broken our laptop-friendly guide into separate sections for Central London, North London, South London, East London and West London to make it easier to find the best laptop-friendly work cafes close to you.
If you have any suggestions for cafes to remote work in London please drop them in the comments section or use the contact page to get in touch with us.
We hope you find our laptop-friendly guide to London useful! We update our guides regularly so do check back in from time to time.
CENTRAL LONDON
PRUFROCK COFFEE, FARRINGDON, LONDON, EC1
23-25 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TE, United Kingdom
Prufrock Coffee on Leather Lane, Farringdon in London, EC1, is a popular spot for digital nomads and coffee lovers looking for a work-friendly cafe in London.
Prufrock Coffee is well known for its world-class coffee and minimalist vibe.
Prufrock Coffee was founded by Jeremy Challender and Gwilym Davies, a 2009 World Barista Champion so that should say it all!
Highlights include its high-quality brews, especially the rotating pour-over options, and a friendly atmosphere that caters nicely to the WFH crowd looking for a cool place to work with their laptops.
The seating includes window stools, perfect for people-watching, and some tables inside, making it suitable for solo work sessions and free Wifi of course.
The nearest underground stations are Chancery Lane (Central Line) and Farringdon (Elizabeth, Circle Line and overground train)
Have you been to Prufrock Coffee, let us know in the comments
OAT COFFEE, SHOREDITCH, LONDON, EC2
31a New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EY
Oat Coffee in Shoreditch, EC2 is a solid choice for remote workers and digital nomads looking for a nice laptop-friendly café to camp out and work for a while.
Oat Coffee Shoreditch offers a spacious environment with large windows, creating a bright, open atmosphere. The Wi-Fi is reliable, making it a good spot for work, though some customers mention the limited availability of power outlets, which are mainly located around the walls. So, if you’re planning to stay a while, it’s worth arriving early to grab one of those coveted spots.
The staff at Oat Coffee are known for being friendly and welcoming, and there’s no pressure to keep buying drinks while working although we always recommend buying something every hour to 90 mins in exchange for having a nice place to work and Wifi access.
Overall, Oat Coffee in Shoreditch is a great workspace with a few quirks, but be sure to plan ahead for seating and power access.
ATTENDANT COFFEE ROASTERS, SHOREDITCH, LONDON, EC2
74 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3JL, United Kingdom
Attendant Coffee Roasters in Shoreditch offers a great environment for remote workers seeking a laptop-friendly café with free Wi-Fi and space to settle and work for a while while enjoying a decent cup of coffee or two.
Known for its stylish interior, featuring whitewashed walls, copper accents, and a nice plant-covered wall, Attendant Coffee Roasters (Shoreditch) provides a calm atmosphere to escape Shoreditch’s busy streets and get some work done.
Attendant Coffee Roasters spacious layout and ample seating make it easy to settle in for a few hours with a laptop knowing there’s decent coffee whenever the need strikes.
Customers generally praise the quality of the coffee, brewed from their own roastery, as well as the brunch options like the salmon bagel and vegan-friendly choices.
For digital nomads, it’s a solid choice if you’re in the Shoreditch area, but you might want to avoid peak hours to ensure a better working experience.
SOUTH LONDON
JULIET’S QUALITY FOODS, TOOTING BROADWAY, LONDON, SW17
110 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG, United Kingdom
Juliets Quality Foods in Tooting Broadway offers a contemporary, welcoming environment that appeals to digital nomads, locals and families alike.
With high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and plenty of natural light, this cosy cafe strikes a balance between retro and contemporary design.
Juliets Quality Foods is known for excellent brunches with inventive dishes like their smoked pork neck pastrami bagel and sourdough waffles, often highlighting seasonal ingredients.
The coffee shop accommodates laptop users, and while it has a communal table that encourages a work-friendly vibe, it can get quite busy so do keep that in mind. Also, Juliets Quality Foods closes quite early, typically by 3pm so best for morning work sessions if you are in the Tooting area of South London.
STIR COFFEE BRIXTON, SOUTH LONDON, SW2
111 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1AA, United Kingdom
Stir Coffee in Brixton, South London, is a popular spot for digital nomads seeking a laptop-friendly café with free WiFi and naturally a decent cup of coffee.
While some visitors have mentioned that the coffee can occasionally be hit-or-miss depending on the batch, the overall experience is highly positive as Stir Coffee are serious about their coffee.
Stir Coffee also serves delicious pastries, including their highly recommended brownies, and usually has a steady flow of customers, keeping the space buzzing yet conducive to working.
Stir Coffee’s comfy layout, especially the window-side bar stools and communal tables ideal for work on a laptop, makes it a comfortable choice for both casual work sessions, socialising and short coffee breaks
Stir Coffee Brixton is popular and can get busy at peak times, so securing a quiet spot might be challenging, best to get there early or try during less busy times.
Overall, Stir Coffee combines great coffee, laptop-friendly space, and a warm Brixton neighbourhood ambience
NORTH LONDON
TRAMPOLINE CAFE, ANGEL, LONDON, N1
27 Camden Passage, London N1 8EA, United Kingdom
Trampoline Cafe in Angel, London, offers a unique remote workspace for digital nomads with its commitment to social causes helping refugees train and find work.
If you would like to support a local cafe that is championing social causes, Trampoline Cafe could be a great choice!
Located at 27 Camden Passage, N1, Trampoline Café is known for its specialty coffees and an authentic Sri Lankan-inspired menu. If you are looking for a nice place to work and have delicious spicy food, Trampoline Cafe could be just the ticket!
A flat white or Cappucino will cost around £3.50 and if you are really hungry you can grab a curry for around £8 or a thali for around £12. There are both meat-based and vegetarian options available.
If you have been to Trampoline Cafe and would like to share your experiences please do so in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
VAGABOND N7, HOLLOWAY, NORTH LONDON, N7
105 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LT, United Kingdom
Vagabond N7, located on Holloway Road, N7, North London, is a lovely laptop-friendly work cafe for digital nomads looking for a comfortable workspace with free Wi-Fi in North London.
Vagabond N7’s laid-back atmosphere, featuring reclaimed materials and a cosy garden area, makes it a perfect environment for focused work or casual meetings.
Vagabond N7 offers a varied menu, including vegan options, making it a versatile choice for all dietary preferences.
The name “Vagabond” particularly resonates with the digital nomad lifestyle—with both representing a sense of freedom, rebellion and mobility. We like that!
Vagabond N7 café invites patrons to embrace that roaming spirit, whether they’re stopping by for a quick coffee or settling in for a productive workday
The nearest underground station is Highbury & Islington on the Victoria line.
Have you been to Vagabond N7? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments
EAST LONDON
WAVE (WE ARE VEGAN EVERYTHING), HACKNEY, LONDON, E8
11 Dispensary Lane, London E8 1FT, United Kingdom
WAVE (We Are Vegan Everything) in Hackney, London, E8, is a popular spot for digital nomads looking for a laptop-friendly café with free Wi-Fi.
WAVE should be particularly appealing to vegans and generally plant-based individuals looking for a nice selection of food options while getting some work done.
Known for its cosy, Bali-meets-Scandi interior, WAVE offers a relaxed vibe perfect for settling in with your laptop for a while. WAVE also has a nice outdoor seating area for those sunny days!
Customers appreciate the comfortable atmosphere and wide range of vegan food and drinks. Gluten-free options are available too.
Standout menu items include their hearty vegan brekkie bowl, pancakes, and plant-based English breakfast options.
WAVE’s brekkie bowl is popular made up of scrambled tofu, roast tomatoes, hummus, garlic sauteed kale, BBQ beans, avocado and toasted focaccia. The brekkie bowl costs around £16.50 which is perhaps a little on the pricey side but does include some delicious ingredients.
Overall, WAVE offers a great environment for those needing a temporary co-work space with good vegan food options on the ready in the Hackney area of London.
Have you been to WAVE cafe in Hackney? Let us know your experiences in the comment section.
Click the link below for more info about WAVE and to see their vegan menu
BLACKHORSE WORKSHOP CAFE, WALTHAMSTOW, EAST LONDON, E17
Blackhorse Workshop 1-2 Sutherland Rd Path, London E17 6BX, United Kingdom
Blackhorse Workshop Café, in Walthamstow, East London is a laptop-friendly cafe with a difference. It’s a social enterprise that makes woodworking and metalworking available to all while also offering up a nice cafe for locals to enjoy.
So, if you’re looking for a good neighbourhood cafe in East London that is not another trendy brunch cafe, Blackhorse could be a good place to try out.
Nestled within a creative hub that includes a woodworking and metal shop, Blackhorse Workshop café offers an artsy workshop/industrial vibe with plenty of communal seating and outdoor terrace options for when the sun is shining.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays, there’s a community kitchen serving up affordable vegan/vegetarian meals.
On Fridays, the Blackhorse Workshop Cafe stays open later until 8pm and offers up wine and cocktails to help get the weekend started!
Blackhorse Workshop Cafe’s support of local artisans and social mission certainly sets it apart from other work cafes in London.
WEST LONDON
BLUEBELLE’S OF PORTOBELLO, LADBROKE GROVE, LONDON, W10
320 Portobello Rd, London W10 5RU, United Kingdom
Bluebelles of Portobello in the Ladbroke Road /Notting Hill area is a cosy, welcoming café ideal for digital nomads seeking a relaxed, laptop-friendly environment.
The closest underground station is Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill is a short walking distance away.
Bluebelles of Portobello is a popular spot and perhaps a little less hectic than other cafes in the area giving you a better chance to find some space to work and enjoy their delicious menu no matter what time of day.
Highlights on the menu include their orange cake, pancakes, banana bread and brunch options including their Green Breakfast consisting of guacamole, spinach and feta, poached eggs and sour dough bread, this costs £12,95 and a coffee will set you back £3.50.
Have you been to Bluebelles of Portobello? Let us know in the comments section.
PROUD MARY'S, SHEPHERDS BUSH, LONDON, W12
1C Oaklands Grove, London W12 0JD, United Kingdom
Proud Mary’s in Shepherd’s Bush is a cosy little laptop-friendly café known for its welcoming atmosphere and perfect for digital nomads looking for a place to work from in West London.
Proud Mary’s is about 20 minutes walking distance from Shepherd’s Bush underground station.
Proud Mary’s offers free Wi-Fi, a great selection of coffee, and a comfortable environment to work or relax along with tasty meals and great coffee of course!
Whether you are a local or looking for a nice laptop-friendly cafe close to Shepherd’s Bush / White City in West London, Proud Mary’s could be a good choice.
With a bright, airy interior and outdoor seating, it’s a great spot to spend a few hours working. Their menu features tasty brunch options like smashed avocado, halloumi, pancakes, and healthy juices.
Have you been to Proud Mary’s in West London? Let us know your experiences in the comments section.