Best Public Libraries for Remote Workers in London
Since March 2020, the world has changed. Companies can now adapt to the digital world faster than before. They let their employees work remotely. Somehow, the Covid-19 makes this adoption quicker.
Are you working home, by yourself? Yes, it has many benefits, now we can work at a healthy and steady pace. In many ways, this new working trend might sound good, but the reality is it causes another challenge for employees.
The biggest challenge is the improvement of the mental, emotional, and physical health of employees. We are social animals, need to interact with others, share, argue, or see other human beings. Working from home gives us the comfort & space to think better. Recent studies show that 91% of remote employees would like to continue their hybrid or remote working, and 76% say their employer will allow them to work remotely.
While the companies decide the working style they need, we can have some fun by changing our work environment. For example, libraries are great places to work remotely. Most of the public libraries in London have everything you need. For example, these public libraries provide; complimentary internet access to local residents and sometimes guests. Additionally, some of these public libraries in London also have tables, chairs, and rooms to work alone in it.
Being all day at home might kill our creativity and productivity, so that’s why we’ve curated this public libraries list for remote workers who are searching for new places to work in London. We hope you enjoy the list.
Public Libraries List
Westminster Business Library
Office Adress: Buckingham Palace Road, Westminster, SW1W 9UD, United Kingdom
Quick Information: Do you need a workspace for a freelancer, remote worker, or small business owner? Westminster Business Library offers affordable meeting rooms and co-working spaces. It’s the ideal location to begin a new chapter in your career with refreshments and staff available for support.
Opening hours:
The library is open:
Monday to Friday – 8:30 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday – Closed
Directions to Westminster Business Library:
By train; Nearest railway station: Victoria Station
By coach, Nearest coach station: Victoria Coach Station
By underground: Nearest tube station: Victoria (Circle and District lines and Victoria line)
By bus; Buses: 170, 185, 211, C10
Facilities and Services Include: Flexible co-working spaces, two large meeting rooms for hire, relaxing lounge, free Wi-Fi, business books and access to free online business resources.
Contact: For library enquiries, call 020 7641 4291 or email reception@londonlibrary.co.uk and bip@westminster.gov.uk.
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
London Library
Office Adress: 14 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LG
Quick Information: The London Library is one of the world’s great lending libraries, with a remarkable collection of over 1 million books and just as an amazing background. Behind its elegant facade overlooking St. James’s Square is a vast network of books, where since the mid-nineteenth century, seven buildings have been brought into one, and a great centre of learning and ideas has been created. The library is available to hire as an event space; find out more on our venue hire page. This magical building has atmospheric book stacks and beautiful spaces for members to work and relax in
Opening hours:
The library is open:
Mondays to Tuesdays – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Wednesdays to Fridays – 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Saturdays – 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Sundays – Closed
Bank Holidays: The Library building is closed on the Saturday and Monday of Bank Holiday weekends.
Become A Member: Members have access to over a million books and periodicals, an incredible online offering and an outstanding building in beautiful St. James’s Square. In addition, 7,500 members, including some of the most familiar names in the literary world, find the library’s resources invaluable. Click here to find out more about membership.
Facilities: Reading room, art room, Bookstacks, The Writers’ Room, The Issue Hall, The Times Room, The Lightwell Reading Room, The Sackler Study, 6th Floor Members’ Suite.
Contact: For library enquiries, call 020 7766 4700 or email reception@londonlibrary.co.uk.
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
The British Library
The British Library Adress: British Library,96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Quick Information: It’s the national library of the United Kingdom and has access to the world’s most comprehensive research collection. They provide information services to academic, business, research and scientific communities.
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday – 9:30 am to 8:00 pm
Friday – 9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday – 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sevices: They’re a bit different to your local library. They have 12 Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire where you can order and see any of our 170 million collection items. They’ve got comfy seats, free Wi-Fi and staff to help you find what you need—you just can’t take the collection home.
You’ll need a Reader Pass, and it’s free to get one.
Business & IP Centre
You no longer need to pre-book to visit the Reading Rooms, including the Business & IP Centre. They have a wide range of webinars, offering support to SMEs across the country through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. These are all available on the website alongside articles, blogs, and Industry Guides. We’re here for businesses and look forward to welcoming you back. They support small business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors like you. The library team is to help you take the right steps to start up, protect and grow your business. If you’re an ambitious business owner with plans to scale up, they offer £10,000 worth of free support through the Innovating for Growth programme. Or if you want specialised startup support, they have a programme for that too. For more information, click here.
Contact: For library enquiries call +44 (0) 20 7412 7901 or email them.
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
Hammersmith Library
Office Adress: Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith, W6 7ATUnited Kingdom
Quick Information: This is one of the six libraries in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday and Saturday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday – Closed
Sevices: Popular fiction including crime and science fiction, Popular non-fiction including health, business, biographies, travel and computer books, DVDs, children’s board books and picture books, children’s storybooks/information books and teenage fiction, selection of spoken word and large print, popular newspapers/magazines and quick choice reference books, homework club, reading groups, under-5s sessions, fully accessible public toilet with baby changing facilities, photocopying, and printing facilities are available (colour and black & white), card payments accepted card payments accepted at the Lending Customer Service Desk (Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, JCB, Contactless, Apple Pay and G Pay), food bin to collect donated tinned and dried goods for redistribution through the Hammersmith & Fulham foodbank, Amazon locker (Nutmeg), Photo-Me booth, small electrical recycling bin, small battery recycling bin, small light bulb recycling box, laptop recycling bin, unlimited Wi-Fi internet access, internet access and selected Microsoft Office applications, archives and local studies.
Directions to Hammersmith Library: Near Hammersmith underground station, opposite the police station.
Contact: For library enquiries, call 020 8753 3820 or email libraries@lbhf.gov.uk.
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
Charing Cross Library
Office Adress: 4-6 Charing Cross Road, Westminster, WC2H 0HF, United Kingdom
Quick Information: You can book a PC, and there are rooms for hire.
Opening hours:
Monday – 9:30 am to 8:00 pm
Tuesday – 9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Wednesday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Thursday – 9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Friday – 9:30 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday -10:30 am to 2:00 pm
Sunday – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sevices: Computers, Chinese Library, free Wi-Fi, music collection with a wide range of CDs, photocopying, printing, and scanning.
Directions to Charing Cross Library:
By train: Nearest railway station: Charing Cross Station
By underground: Nearest tube station: Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines)
By bus: Buses: 6, 12, 14, 24, 29, 38, 94, 176
Contact: For library enquiries, call 020 7641 6200 or email charingcrosslibrary@westminster.gov.uk.
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
Holborn Library
Office Adress: Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8PA – London
Quick Information: Holborn Library is open for anyone to browse and choose their own books, use their public computers and study space. You don’t need to book a computer in advance; PCs are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Access is limited to two hours per day. You can also scan, print and photocopy documents. The library has several measures in place to keep customers and staff safe.
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday – Closed
Services: Access to library computers, scanning, printing, and photocopying. Browsing and choosing books in the adult and children’s libraries, study space
Contact: For library enquiries, call 020 7974 4444 or email libraries@camden.gov.uk
Because of the current situation, their services may change at short notice. For the latest information, we strongly recommend you to check their official website here.
Find a desk and start working! You may be surprised to enjoy hunkering down for hours of work without dozens of people chatting around you. We all know that productivity skyrockets when working in an environment with decreased distractions.
Don’t forget to use the benefits of being privileged to work from anywhere in the city by choosing one of the best public libraries for remote workers in London. Libraries are great places to work remotely.
If you are looking for Public Libraries in London, we hope the list above will help you choose the best one for your needs. As a Startup of London team, we always wish you the best of luck during this journey. Furthermore, we hope you find success in a short time!
If you would like to suggest any other public libraries in London, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can add them to our list.
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