"Working from home" is no longer the euphemism it once was for slacking off on the sofa. Latest statistics put the self-employed figure at more than 15% of the UK’s workforce, in fact, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the coffee-supping, workspace-hubbing capital of it all, London, home to around half of this booming population. As such, free WiFi spots abound in the capital but, for those bored of guiltily eking out a frappuccino in Starbucks or the all-too-easy distractions of ping pong, pinball machines and beer on tap, here are the hippest hangouts to head to.
Ziferblat, Shoreditch
Dubbed London’s first pay-per-minute café, Ziferblat – which is Russian for ‘clockface’ – opened in 2014. With rates set at eight pence per minute and jolly decently capped at just four hours, even if you stay the whole day, it’s never going to break the bank. But the real draw has to be the own-blend artisan coffee, home-baked treats and no less than 43 types of tea, all of which come free. The only rule? "To respect the space like it’s a friend’s living room", which is exactly what Ziferblat feels like with its retro furniture, framed botanical prints and a soundtrack of fittingly hip melodies – on vinyl, natch – to work to.
Good to know: Shamelessly flouting the unwritten rule of never working with either, both children and dogs are welcome here, too.
The Social, Fitzrovia
Better known for its after-hours music scene and who’s who of past performers, The Social on Little Portland Street also operates a WiFi café. Open to all and completely free of charge – although make the most of the burgers and booze – the wood-panelled workspace is open every day from 12.30pm until 5.30pm. Plus, in a seemingly overgenerous move, the WiFi is hosted by tech wizards Sussed IT, who are on hand to deal with any technical support issues on your Mac, PC, smartphone or tablet, at no cost. Simple issues can be dealt with there and then, and for more in-depth, it’s-completely-broken-style stuff, you can book an appointment.
Good to know: Booths can be reserved in advance for meetings and if you become a member – also free – you can enjoy cheaper beer and cocktails.
Ace Hotel Lobby, Shoreditch
A hipster mecca thanks to its carefully crafted microcosm of food and drink outlets, retail options and general merriment opportunities, Ace Hotel has a grand but welcoming lobby which doubles up as a free-to-use workspace, not to mention an Instagram-worthy treat of interior design. Scandi-inspired furniture, regularly rotating art exhibitions and a whopping 16-seat communal table – made of cast iron, oak and copper – along with a constant stream of people traffic means working here requires serious eyes-down determination. But for short blasts, an impressive location to invite clients or those who prefer a buzzier backdrop, this stylish spot deserves a place on every freelancer’s radar.
Good to know: The Lobby is open 24 hours. As are the coffee-buying options, gym and help desk to carry you over the finish line of that looming deadline…
Huckletree West, White City
If "Dedicated Meditation Igloo" is enough to tempt you to part with your hard-earned readies – and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t – then plug in your PC at this high-spec co-working space. Based in the former BBC White City Place development – one of three London locations – Huckletree West offers more than just comfy chairs and bottomless coffee. Membership will set you back anything from £35 a day to £350 a month (not including VAT) but grants instant admission to its content creation, virtual reality and podcasting facilities, workshops, discussions and cultural events, plus discounts at lots of high-end partners – not to mention chill-out zones and a weekly wellness schedule.
Good to know: Come summer 2017 babies and toddlers will be welcome here, too, in what founders describe as the first tech co-working space to provide childcare.
Netil360, London Fields
As springtime awakens, so too do the cool-crowd-attracting credentials of this rooftop space. Sat above Netil House, Netil360’s pared-back bar, café, gallery and workspace – open daily May through September – are free to enter but any food and drink consumed here must be purchased on site. A fair deal when visitors are rewarded with unrivalled vistas – 360 degree vistas in fact – of this creative hub of a neighbourhood and far beyond. Well-behaved dogs are welcomed by Tres, the resident pooch, who boasts her very own hashtag: #TresTheRooftopDog. Once the to-do list is sufficiently ticked, treat yourself to the food, vintage garms and designer gear on offer at Netil Market on your way out.
Good to know: Stay late to enjoy the sunset, cocktails and obligatory fairy lights.
The Lido Café, Brockwell Park
Hugging the fringes of arguably one of London’s most beautiful parks stands Brockwell Lido – or "Brixton’s Beach" to locals – in all its art deco, Grade II-listed glory. Given the right conditions – and a touch of imagination – a stint at the palm-lined terrace of the poolside café can transport any freelancer from southeast London to French Riviera in no time. Tables overlooking the Olympic-sized pool provide ample sockets but it’s a popular spot, so avoid busy times or be prepared to pounce when space does become available. It’s a café, so no entry fee or internet charges apply – but it’s a café so, hey, buy some food and drink every now and then.
Good to know: Only limited lockers are available by the pool so if the lure of a few mind-rousing lengths is too tempting, you may have to wait.
Battersea Library, Wandsworth
The reference section at Battersea’s historic public library houses a heavy dark wood interior that could hamper any freelancer’s vibe. That is, if it weren’t for the ornate domed glass ceiling window – supported by three imposing cast iron columns – filling the small-but-perfectly-formed space with natural daylight. As you’d expect, the order of the day here is peace and quiet, perfect for when you really need to knuckle down. Make use of the impressive online resources covering everything from The Times newspaper digital archive and Encyclopaedia Britannica to Census records and free music downloads. It’s only a short walk to the peaceful environs of Battersea Park, too, so a leg-stretching lunch break is within easy reach.
Good to know: The original inkwells fitted to each oak desk have been lovingly preserved but today act as power points, not nib-dippers.
Sky Garden, The City
The benefits of greenery in one’s workplace are well known so where better to crack on than at the UK’s highest garden? Perched atop 20 Fenchurch Street – or the Walkie Talkie building – this top-heavy skyscraper is free to enter. However, free doesn’t mean easy and if you are lucky enough to bag one of the few entry tickets available each day, then arrive on time as your stay is limited to just one hour. But what an hour it will be. Make your way up 155 metres to the 35th floor to access the expansive three-floor atrium space, filled with colourful flowering blooms, fig trees and the fragrant scent of herbs. WiFi is only available in the eateries so an hour spent up here is best suited to offline tasks, catch-ups with a view or recapturing a bit of zen.
Good to know: Security is as tight as if you were crossing a border so be warned, any liquids over 100ml will be confiscated and you won’t be granted entry without ID.
Campus Café, Shoreditch
Perhaps more geek chic than out-and-out cool, Campus London is Google’s answer to the co-working boom. Plus, it’s a chance to pretend that you work at Google, as it fills the bottom four floors of the company's UK head office. While renting desks, meeting rooms or event space within this behemoth of technical wizardry will cost you, the Campus Café offers free WiFi and plenty of space to hunker down. You have to join up but membership is free and as fast as you’d expect. The workshops, talks and networking programmes are tailored to those starting out or early-stage startups, and parents and their babies are encouraged to come along for specific working-for-oneself guidance, too.
Good to know: Visit on a Friday morning for the weekly mentoring session to exchange ideas with fellow cyber surfers.
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank
With free WiFi throughout and myriad nooks and corners to base yourself, this riverside bastion of brutalist architecture attracts freelancers like an open can of Coke attracts wasps. Sessions here will sometimes provide a sneak peek at a rehearsal from one of the rest of the Southbank Centre’s venues and, given the right spot, stunning views of the Thames. Head up to the balcony on the fifth floor for the most mind-sharpening outlook but avoid popular times or arrive early to guarantee a seat. Memberships – which can be purchased for around £100 a year – allow access to otherwise private areas but the vast majority are free and open to all.
Good to know: The many seated spaces here double up as great informal meeting spots.
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