Three places I like to work from near King's Cross: a library, a coworking space and a hotel lounge, all within a fifteen minute walk of the station. Here's what each is actually good for.
Opening hours, wifi, sockets and toilets are based on my own visits or the best information I could find at the time. Details can change, so please verify anything important before you go. And as with anywhere in London, arrive early to maximise your chances of finding a seat. Between 9am and 10am is my sweet spot.
For deep, quiet work
The Wellcome Collection Library
The Wellcome Collection is a free museum with two spaces you can work from. The reading room on the second floor is easy access, you can keep your bag, and quiet conversation is fine. It has a calm, slightly studious feeling.
For proper focus, head to the Library, also on the second floor. You get a free day pass, leave your bag and coat in a locker (no food allowed inside because of the rare books), and you’re given a small basket for your essentials. The lack of distractions makes it genuinely productive. Just don't come here if you need to take calls: they're not allowed in the Library at all, and only quietly in the reading room.
Wifi: yes
Sockets: yes
Toilets: yes
Opening times:
Monday to Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday: Closed
📍183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
For a bright space
The Samsung KX coworking space
I almost kept this one to myself because it's so convenient. It's hidden at the back of the Samsung KX store, free to walk into, and most people don't realise it's there. There's a café, and then the workspace itself: stable wifi, long tables with sockets, and a view over Coal Drops Yard. You can take calls without feeling like you're disturbing anyone.
Wifi: yes
Sockets: yes
Toilets: yes
Opening times:
Monday to Saturday : 11am - 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
📍1 Stable St, London N1C 4DQ
For a cosy work session
The Library Lounge at The Standard
This is the one for romanticising your work session in London. The Library Lounge is located on the ground floor of The Standard hotel, and you’ll find a fireplace, walls of books, deep sofas, and the kind of light that makes the day disappear. Keep in mind that proper tables with sockets are limited, so you may well end up working from a sofa.
Wifi: yes
Sockets: yes (sparse)
Toilets: yes
Opening times:
Sunday to Wednesday: 7am - 12am (no laptops after 6pm)
Thursday to Saturday: 7am - 2am (no laptops after 6pm)
📍The Library Lounge, The Standard, 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8EG
