The art of loitering in london

A library with a kids’ section and rotating exhibits, where even after being shushed, the author enjoys returning.

A friendly council library that is perfect for settling in with a novel or notebook, and which hosts book clubs, a DVD collection, and a reliable printer.

A stunning library at the V&A museum, only open Tuesday to Thursday, with giant shelves and an aesthetic that makes you feel like you’re inside a book.

A library on the sixth floor of the LSE old building, featuring creepy portraits, squashy armchairs, a terrace with a lovely view, and choir rehearsals on Tuesday evenings.

A cosy space with curiosities and odd medical objects, where quiet conversation is encouraged and the lighting is perfect for reading, sketching, or staring at strange objects.

A large community space with seating clusters, a martini bar, a lakeside terrace, and a gallery, where people do their thing, including TikTok dances and Zoom meetings.

A bar inside Barbican Centre, named after a 007 scene.

A seating area by the lake at the Barbican Centre.

An art gallery inside Barbican Centre with chairs to sit on.

A place in Barbican Centre with lush plants and running water, accessible on Sundays.

A spacious venue with good lighting where people do their dances, and where one can find couches and corners with tables and benches.

Part of the Southbank Centre, a spacious venue with good lighting.

A favorite spot with many squashy sofas to curl up on, and home to Forza, a wine bar with excellent cauliflower fritti and popcorn ice cream.

A big and quiet space that feels like another world, with reading rooms, foyers, cafés, an antique printing press, exhibitions, and chairs by the windows for people-watching.

A cosy café near Temple Station, where literature, art, and chess collide; it’s a bookshop, a bar, and a chess haven, hosting casual chess nights on Wednesday evenings.

A nearby station close to Reference.Point cafe.

London’s first consciously queer intersectional bookshop and events space, offering a welcoming environment with books from marginalised voices and a reading room for events.

A café where the author has never been pressured to buy anything, making it a great place to sit with a friend and devise plans.

A certified warm space in an old pub, offering a chill environment where you won’t be bugged, with perfect light for reading and a cosy atmosphere.

A beautiful community centre with places to hang out, including a dining hall with affordable meals and a chef named Maurizio, free coffee and tea, comfy couches, and free wifi.

A large bookstore with reading nooks, comfy seats, and a wine bar where one can settle in with a book or notebook for hours.

Location of the giant Waterstones bookstore.

A bookstore with endless shelves, harsher lighting, and less comfortable seating than Waterstones, where one can feel arty and independent.

A café in Bermondsey, recommended for afternoon visits, with a DIY space vibe, industrial but cosy, and cheap drinks.

The neighborhood where Avalon Café is located.

A brightly lit haven next to the Tate Modern where one can have a coffee, play a board game, read books, and potentially overlap with a crafting workshop.

Location near the LGBTQ+ Centre.

A café at the Phoenix Theatre that offers £2 coffee in Leicester Square and implies the possibility of using it as a coworking space.

Theater that is home to The Little Phoenix cafe.

Area where The Little Phoenix offers affordable coffee.

A building with library rooms and a cafe downstairs, known for providing a quiet atmosphere.

Location of the London University Senate House building.

A welcoming archive with free WiFi and free exhibitions.

The location of the London Archives.

Area near the London Archives.

A place to find some peace in Covent Garden.

Location of IKEA offering many sofas for sitting without spending money.

A place with many sofas to sit down without spending money on Oxford Street.

Area where the Royal Opera House is located.