Looking for more places to study? Here are my new favorites

Camera Museum Cafe

44 Museum St, London WC1A 1LY

Open Hours: 

• Mon-Fri 11 am -7 pm
• Saturday 12-6 pm
• Sunday — Closed

The Camera Museum (just two blocks from The British Museum) is part gallery, camera repair shop, and cafe. It’s been virtually empty the two times I've stopped in, making it a quiet study space with just enough white noise in the background to remind you that you're sitting in a cafe. There's free wifi available, and a large selection of fantastic coffee, freshly made fruit juices, and lunch options. I would highly recommend scheduling your study session at the Camera Museum Cafe when you’re looking to have lunch out in the city. 

Taking pictures through the lenses of their vintage camera collection, scattered among the tables, is an added bonus. It makes the Camera Museum Cafe a great spot to take your study buddies. 

Regent’s Parks

Inner Circle, London, NW1 4NR

Open Hours:

• Mon-Sun 5 am - 4:30 pm

Of course, some essay writing and exam prep requires access to wifi and electrical sockets. However, trust me when I tell you that you won’t regret printing your readings, downloading pdfs, charging up a battery pack, and hand writing your notes if it means you get to spend the day studying in one of London’s beautiful parks. A break from the LSE library and some fresh air will do you some good. 

My favorite park to study in is Regent’s Park. When I see that the weather is going to be particularly lovely, I pack everything I can work on without an internet connection, a picnic lunch, and a table cloth that is so soft it can double as a blanket. On the occasion that I took these pictures, I sat underneath a tree that was dropping flowers on me all afternoon. I also have lots of visitors wander over to check out my study guide— all of them birds (pictured below). London’s parks are great spaces for study dates. 

If you decide to study in Regent’s Park, here are my pro tips:

1. There are public toilets in the park, available for just 20p per use. You might want to check the park map in advance before you pick a study spot so you are never too far away from a toilet. 
2. If you are going to use the blue and white striped folding chairs by the boating lake, just know that someone may come by with a card reader to charge you £4.
3. Check the weather in advance, and don’t forget to pack a full water bottle, sun cream, and your shades.

Barbican Library

Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS

Open Hours:

• Mon, Wed & Fri 9:30 am–5:30 pm
• Tue & Thur 9:30 am–7:30 pm
• Saturday 9:30 am–4 pm 
• Sunday — Close

This library is located on the 2nd floor of the Barbican Centre, which is right off the Barbican stop on the Circle line. The Barbican Library is much quieter than the LSE library, making it a great space to study solo and lock in. However, the wifi isn’t reliable, so I would recommend heading to the Barbican only to work offline, use a cellphone hot spot (that’s how I managed), or use one of the library's computers with internet access if there's one available. There is a lift to the 2nd floor, and although there are stairs within the library, a wheelchair lift is available. Also available in the library: children's library, art library, music library, DVD and CD collection, audiobooks, special collections in finance and London, a silent piano that you can use with headphones.

The advantage of studying somewhere like the Barbican is that during your study breaks you can check out all kinds of things going on in the centre. The centre includes a cafe, shop, martini bar, two restaurants, art gallery, cinemas, sculpture court, conservatory (and conservatory terrace), and lakeside seating area outside (view from library window pictured below). Coming to the Barbican summer 2025: Feel the Sound immersive exhibit, virtual reality experience into a 1989 rave, celebrating pirate radio's enduring legacy, classical music in queer culture, outdoor cinema, dance to the sounds of Carnival, summer jazz series, Good Night Oscar, and more!

Pro tips:

• It can get very warm in the Barbican Library, so expect to be warm inside if it’s warm outside. 
• There are many areas with bright lighting, but if you keep perusing the different nooks and corners of the library you can find dimmer sections. 
• The Barbican Centre has water bottle filling stations in the building and free tap water refills in their catering outlets.

If you missed my previous blog on study spots on the city, you can find it here!