Work Near Home: 5 Free Coworking Spots on Your Doorstep

With nearly half of office workers embracing flexible work schedules, hybrid has become more than just a trend—it's the new normal. But, while the office may require a costly and exhausting commute, and the home office can turn chaotic (especially during summer holidays), consider another option: third places.

A social space where people can work outside the traditional office or home environment, third places are often free or have minimal costs, making them more accessible for many people. Whether you're seeking a change of scenery or a quieter spot to boost your productivity, here are five free coworking spots that might be right on your doorstep.

1. Cowork from your local coffee shop

Featuring free WIFI, comfortable seating, and often a convenient, walkable distance from home, coffee shops have become so popular that 23% of UK office workers spend at least one working day a week working from a cafe, according to research conducted by Broadband Genie. 

What draws people in? According to the survey, 34% of respondents enjoy being around others, 16% appreciate the atmosphere, and 27% feel that working in a coffee shop brews their productivity, strengthening their work ethic.

The versatility of coffee shops makes them ideal spaces for meetings or extended coworking sessions with like-minded people. For example, many freelance groups organise coworking sessions in coffee shops, bringing solo workers together who would otherwise work alone from home. Just be mindful of cafe etiquette: order something every so often and be aware of peak times, like weekends, when cafes might be too busy to accommodate remote workers. In times gone by, this has caused friction between cafes and remote workers, but it seems that coffee shops are now more open to flex, with some even ‘creating designated coworking rooms that don't look like typical cafes,’ says Jane Sartin about the current UK flex trends.

There are many to choose from – your local coffee shop might be on your high street, but it could also be in your nearby park or favourite bookshop.

2. Participate in lobby culture

Hotel lobbies have always existed albeit they used to be empty, redundant spaces. However, post-pandemic, lobbies are largely transforming into inspiring workspaces complete with soft furnishings, a calming ambience, and plenty of plug sockets – a haven if you’re looking for a more relaxing workspace. Working from hotel lobbies has been popularised by the trend of ‘lobby culture,’ defined by hospitality expert, Ian Minor, as "a dynamic, multifunctional space where people can stay, work, eat, drink, and socialise all under one roof." This caters to two main types of customers: locals, who use the space as a convenient third place, and guests staying at the hotel.

Although many hotels have introduced dedicated desk spaces with ergonomic chairs, encouraging you to stay the entire working day, you’ll probably need to wrap up around 5 pm, when the lobby typically transitions into a space for evening guests. Subtle cues like the music getting louder, the lights dimming, or even the arrival of a DJ on busier nights (like Thursdays and Fridays), signal the shift from workspace to social space. So, make the most of the space's versatility – close your laptop and enjoy a beverage with coworking buddies before heading home.

3. Enjoy some art and culture

For the creative workers – what’s more enjoyable than pairing your work day with a visit to your local gallery or museum?

In the UK, we have the privilege that most of our major museums and galleries provide free admission, allowing anyone to pop in for a mooch around the exhibitions. These public spaces typically cater for chill time (or work time) in between gallery visits, in the form of an on-site cafe and, in the more established museums, a more exclusive Member’s Room that’s typically quieter than the cafe. Some galleries even have social spaces complete with soft furnishings, for example, the Tate Modern upper galleries feature a fantastic view of the Turbine Hall.

What’s more, some galleries are purpose-built to embrace coworking. For instance, The Handbag Gallery in Vauxhall doubles as a coworking space and gallery for the city’s creatives. But, art galleries aren’t the only public spaces to embrace flexible workers. Other options include libraries, university buildings, and shopping malls.

4. Embrace the wellness era

Like merging a gallery visit with work, you might look for the perfect work-life balance in other ways – combining your fitness regime with work. And, like many offices have workout amenities alongside workspaces, the same can be said for gyms, leisure centres, and even climbing walls – many of which have dedicated workspace areas, or cafes within their buildings, retaining customers for the day, rather than just for the duration of a workout.

Interestingly, research conducted by Pure Gym found that 16% of the UK population have gym membership, a statistic increasing by 2% year upon year. As more people embrace the benefits of keeping fit and healthy, they’ll look for ways to combine their daily needs in one space. So, take advantage of your membership and use your energy post-workout in a focus work session alongside your gym buddies. After all, 93% of workers believe that ‘wellbeing is as important as salary,’ according to research by Gympass.

5. Try out your local neighbourhood space

Perhaps the most sought-after work near home option of all – workspaces – aren’t technically third places, but they can be free or very accessible at the least. For instance, many global coworking spaces celebrated International Coworking Day 2024 only recently (9th August) by opening their doors to the wider community and giving away free passes. Some of these offerings are still up for grabs – swing by your local workspace and see what they can offer you.

Many people assume that coworking is reserved for tech startups, but the rise of independent spaces alongside the big chains gives people plenty of choices, making coworking for everyone. What’s more, many workspaces offer a trial day free of charge which, if you’re thinking of joining the coworking movement, this option invites you to try coworking out first before you settle on the right-fit coworking community for you.

Participating in the ‘work near home’ movement

Working from local third places not only makes for some fun coworking experiences, and visiting inspiring spaces that enhance your productivity. By embracing hybrid working from third places, you’re also supporting local businesses. Whether you’re working from your local gym, coffee shop, art gallery, coworking space, or hotel – you’re contributing to the vitality of your community. As the uptake in adopting hybrid work trends continues, making these local third places a regular part of your work routine will benefit both yourself and your thriving neighbourhood.

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