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6 Of The Best Flexible Coworking Spaces In London Right Now
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Lockdowns and, for some, never-ending WFH has made co-working an even more attractive choice than in the recent past. We're desperate to get out there and work around other humans. Even smelly, strange-looking ones.
Paying for a desk in London isn’t always the right choice – and working from a chain coffee shop isn’t always the right solution. Luckily there are some superb places to work in London that deliver an experience equal to, or very close to, that of a London coworking space (like Runway East!).
If you are a freelancer, entrepreneur or startup looking for coworking space that has that little bit extra then read on.
1. Hart Shoreditch Hotel – Shoreditch
Hart Shoreditch (or "Hart Shoreditch Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton" to give it its full name) is a chic, swanky hotel that also (slightly secretly) offers workspace.
Community type: Secretive and high-class
Plus points about Ace Hotel:
- Open 24hrs
- Beautiful spaces
- Great food and drink
Check out Hart Shoreditch.
2. Barbican Centre – Barbican
You don’t need to pay extraordinary prices to work in extraordinary places. The Barbican centre offers a plethora of art-based entertainment and venue hire but it also provides a free workspace for those who love the buzz of central London.
Free WiFi and a multitude of cafes make this an exciting place to get your work done. It’s not very often that you might be able to enjoy an exhibition during your lunch break.
Community type: Freelancers, Artists, students
Plus points about Barbican Centre:
- Central London location
- Fantastic event and venue space
- 2nd floor library for quiet reading and relaxation
Opening hours: 9am-11pm (Mon – Sat) 11am-11pm (Sun)
See the Barbican Centre.
3. Southbank Centre – Southbank
The Southbank Centre provides a cultural setting for you to conduct your work and meetings with an opportunity to explore some of the capital’s finest art.
Located south of the river, the Southbank Centre boasts wonderful views of the Thames whilst you work on that next pitch, sipping on a coffee or a cocktail.
Community type: Artists, freelancers, startups
Plus points about Southbank Centre:
- Incredible food choices that will impress your associates
- Open until 11pm
- National Poetry Library for quiet working
Opening hours: Depends on which part of the centre you wish to visit please see the full listing.
4. Look Mum No Hands! – Old Street
Looking for a cool place to work with friendly people and a great vibe? How about somewhere that could get your bike fixed at the same time? Well, this is the place for you.
OK, it's a bit small, and when it comes to coffee shops, there are plenty of competitors around here (including the superb Ozone Coffee Roasters). But there's something special about LMNH (our own abbreviation).
Community type: Bike nuts, cool kids
Plus points about Look Mum No Hands
- Great vibe
- Excellent coffee
- Great food
- A handy place to get your bike fixed
Opening hours: 8am-10pm (Mon-Fri)
5. The Reading Room, Wellcome Collection – Euston
Based within the Wellcome Collection, the Reading Room is a comfortable, inspiring space to browse books and objects, work or relax.
Community type: Freelancers, students, book-nerds
Plus points about public libraries:
- The silence! Bask in it!
- Plenty of useful books surrounding you and a knowledge-base you can’t beat
Opening hours: 10am-5pm
See The Reading Room.
6. Tate Modern – Southbank
To finish with, why not work amongst the most iconic art in London? The Tate Modern ticks a number of boxes to make it a great location to work in.
Excellent views of the city? Tick. World-renowned art exhibitions? Tick. Delicious food? Tick. Free WiFi? Nah... Just kidding, imagine somewhere without free WiFi! Sitting right by the river in the centre of the capital with a cafe and bar on the top floor, it's a fantastic location for big fancy meetings and great views over your laptop.
Community type: Artists and freelancers
Plus points about Tate Modern:
- Free collection displays to explore during your work breaks
- Impressive views of the city
- Free WiFi (obvs)
Opening hours: 10am-6pm (Sun-Thurs) 10am-10pm (Fri & Sat)
...and last but not least: Runway East
Obviously we couldn't have a list of the best spaces in London and no include ourselves! With hot desks and dedicated desks available across a number of our sites, there really isn't anywhere better (in our EXPERT opinion) to grow your brand from.
Depending on availability, we can offer day passes at some or all of our sites – just use our live chat to ask our team.
Community type: Startups, growing businesses and freelancers galore!
Plus points about Runway East:
- Free (decent) tea & coffee + meeting room access
- Convenient locations right next to transport links
- Top-notch service and stellar startup connections
- 24-hour building access
- Cake Wednesdays, drinks trolley on a Friday and dogs on demand
Got Questions? We've Got Answers
We've put together some FAQs to help you settle into life at Runway East.
What’s included in the price?
Our pricing is all inclusive, so as well as access to your own private office space, your price includes business rates, utilities, cleaning, tea and coffee, a program of professional and social events for your team, and (all importantly), Cake on a Wednesday and a Drinks Trolley on a Friday.
What will my quote include?
Your quote will include all currently available office space that meets your requirements, along with the information you need to decide if we might be right for you - images, floorplans, and full details of our services.
Do you offer free meeting room access to members?
Yes, if you become a member with a private office at a Runway East site, you get free meeting room access for your team across 100+ meeting rooms we have, with industry leading allowances. To make sure members use space fairly, overages are charged only in the event you go over your allowance.
I have specific needs - can you meet them?
Almost all our members have specific needs - and we pride ourselves on aiming to meet them. Reply to your quote with them, and we’ll give you a speedy response - or call us on 0203 1379 953.
How long are your office space agreements?
Our standard pricing is on 12 month terms, but if you want a shorter or longer agreement, those are also available, with custom pricing to reflect your commitment level.
Can I customise my office?
Yes - we have a range of office customisation options you can choose from, and we want to deliver a great environment for your team. Options include your logo on the wall, to your own phone booths in office, through to building meeting rooms and custom requirements.
I’d prefer to speak to someone on the phone or via email?
No problem - you can give us a call on 0203 1379 953 or you can email us at membership@runwayea.st.
Are Runway East expensive?
We provide a range of options for all budgets, and always aim to work with your budget where we can. If we can’t meet your needs - we’ll be upfront about that with you from the start.
Can I speak to someone on the phone/over email?
No problem - you can give us a call on 0203 1379 953 or you can email us at membership@runwayea.st
How flexible are the length of the agreements and notice periods?
Our standard pricing is based on a 12 month contract, if you want longer or shorter contract, we're up for it, just bear in mind the price may change depending on what you're looking for.
Are there any hidden fees we should be aware of?
Nope - everything is included. Your rent, business rates, service charge, utilities - even a tonne of meeting room credits. The only times you'll be charged outside of your agreement is if you A) exceed the generous meeting room credits already included, or B) Want to customise your space.
What are the membership criteria?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
How does the meeting room system work?
We price most of our memberships on desks, or the equivalent number of desks within an office.
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