Are these London's coolest collaborative workspaces?
The best coworking spaces in the capital offer you much more than just wi-fi and a desk...
Written by Hayley Joyes
5 min readPublished on
If you're a freelancer, small business or entrepreneur, chances are you need a choice of coworking spaces that fit around your work pattern. Fortunately, there are hundreds of places to choose from in the capital.
What's more, the best coworking spaces in London are about far more than borrowed wi-fi and a comfy chair. A serious amount of effort goes into looking at ergonomics, often with dedicated interior architects analysing the space to make it more sensorial and calm.
Alongside bold and spacious design, collaborative offices are also offering their members special extras like free coffee, beer, yoga classes and guestlist to events. But the biggest pull for freelancers is being part of a specific coworking community where individuals can share ideas, work together and further their knowledge.
Here are eight of the coolest ones in London…
1) Peckham Levels – The Ramp coworking space
The Ramp is situated in what used to be a car park, believe it or not
What they say: The Ramp is a fully integrated creative workspace in Peckham Levels, a former car park next door to Frank’s Campari bar and Peckham Plex cinema in south east London.
How much does it cost? £199 + VAT per month
What are the perks? Levels is one of Peckham’s premiere cultural hubs with an art gallery, nightclub, food shacks and a pottery studio (including kiln). You needn’t leave Levels to get a great cocktail or cruise a great art installation.
What they say: A building with a great story; Canova Hall was built in 1906 as a workers' hall for Britain’s first ever department store Bon Marché. Boasting a stunning Edwardian glass front, the building works as both a chic coworking space, pizzeria, cafe and cocktail bar.
What are the perks? A stunning backdrop to do your business deals, bottomless coffee, plus entry to check out DJs and bands in the evening.
How much does it cost? Drop in at £10 per day or £50 for a full month
What they say: LABS has four London locations – Hogarth House in High Holborn and Lockside, Atrium and Triangle in Camden. Of those, Atrium may be the most impressive to look at; it's athoroughly modern space in the heart of Camden’s Lock market with killer views across London. This is where online mattress startup Eve bounced their first deals before launching on the stock market. Eve attribute LAB’s creative energy as part of their success.
What are the perks? Free breakfast on a Wednesday, stunning roof terraces for working and networking, access to investment opportunities and talks.
How much does it cost? Membership starts at £50 per month
Transport links:Camden – Camden tube, Holborn – Holborn tube, Chancery Lane tube
What they say: A bold and colourful space for London’s tech, finance and creative start-ups on the edge of the Square Mile. Some of Huckletree’s members include Australian tech task app Airtasker (who have a private studio here), vegan condom inventors Hanx and finger-prick blood testing team Thriva, who outgrew the space after their postable blood testing kits took off!
How much does it cost? Prices start at £250 per month
What are the perks? Weekly learning breakfasts, yoga and meditation, bike storage, showers, lockers, basketball and squash courts
Transport links: Moorgate and Old Street tube and overground
5) Oval Office, Hackney
Don't expect to find clichéd motivational posters at Oval Office
What they say: Oval Office is a shared workspace for creative professionals and is the brainchild of East London’s Oval Space. The office space is the vision of award-winning architect Tom Noonan and attracts a rich and vibrant mix of workers.
What are the perks? Exclusive access to Oval Space, The Pickle Factory events and hire space, subsidised rates for the café, plus free organic fruit and 24/7 access.
How much does it cost? £199 + VAT per month
Transport links: Bethnal Green tube, Cambridge Heath and Hackney Central overground stations
6) TechHub, Shoreditch
TechHub is situated in the centre of London's tech community
What they say: TechHub is situated in the heart of London’s tech city, at Old Street's 'silicon roundabout'. Taking a desk at this coworking space offers individuals the opportunity to plug in to an ongoing accelerator programme that helps with funding, development and exposure.
What are the perks? Entrepreneurs are able to use their membership to TechHub offices all over the world. There’s also free tea and coffee and extra curricular activities.
What they say: Canvas is a coworking space that's aiming to make a difference to more than just local businesses. It was set up by social enterprise Connection Crew and all the profits go into helping people out of homelessness. The setting is a Victorian former print works that has been transformed into a minimalist, open plan space with multiple work stations.
What are the perks? As well as unlimited tea and coffee and access to a private meeting room, you will be helping support homeless people to get back into training and employment.
How much does it cost? £195 + VAT per month
Transport links: Clapham North or Brixton tube
8) Uncommon, Borough
Freelancers, small businesses and entrepreneurs all congregate at Uncommon
What they say: Uncommon has hubs in Highbury & Islington, Fulham and Borough. Each office space puts its users' wellbeing first; the spaces are ergonomically designed, including plant walls and Scandi influenced décor and soft furnishings.
What are the perks? Members can enjoy use of showers, bike storage, yoga classes and coffee lounges. The Borough location also benefits from being really close to foodie hub Borough Market and Bermondsey Street.
How much does it cost? £299 + VAT per month
Transport links: Borough –Borough tube, London Bridge overground, Highbury & Islington – Highbury & Islington tube/rail, Drayton Park rail, Holloway Road tube, Fulham – Parsons Green tube, Putney Bridge tube
