South London is full of libraries that are great to use as free working spaces if you are a remote worker or freelancer. As a South Londoner, I’ve worked at a few libraries around South East London.
Here are the best libraries to work in London: South London edition. As a driver, I have also taken note of the parking arrangements in each area. I’ve also included TikTok videos I’ve filmed of some of these library spaces to give a visual idea of the layout.
1. Canada Water Library
Canada Water Library overlooks a stunning, serene view of a riverbank in the heart of Surrey Quays. With accessible links to the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and a Sainsbury’s local, you have easy access to explore on your lunch break. The library also benefits from a small local cafe on the ground floor with a generous space for desks for you to work whilst you munch.
On the first floor is where you can indulge in the stunning scenery of the riverbank whilst reading or typing on your laptop.
The swans and ducks help give you a view you’re unlikely to experience whilst working from home, as large open windows flood the library with natural light.
The first floor also benefits from individual separate desk spaces if you want a sole individual space to work.
Lastly, the second final floor encompasses rows of desks adjacent to each other in a circle around the library.
The closest free parking for this library is in the Decathlon, which is within the eye-view of the library and offers a generous 4 hours of free parking.
2. Camberwell Library
Camberwell Library is my favourite library to work in for complete focus. They have an innovative design on the ground floor that allows you to work in a carved-out window space directly next to the outdoor light.
They also generously offer individual electric heaters that you can turn on just for your use alone – perfect for the harsh winter months.
Nearby parking here is free only on the weekends, as payment is required during the day on weekdays.
3. Deptford Library
Once a part of the neighbouring Wavelengths swimming pool, Deptford Library has since separated and has its separate building purely as a library space.
With a Lewisham Library card, you can take out books and use the internet at your leisure. It’s an open space library with lots of natural light flooding in.
They also have a heritage museum section, which helps you learn about the culture of Deptford and its locals. Some spots around Deptford High Street also offer free parking.
4. Pepys Resource Centre
Pepys Community Library resides next to the well-known Pepys estate in Deptford.
Run by volunteers, the community library has interchangeable opening and closing times but is still very active and welcomes visitors and volunteers alike.
If you are a business owner, they encourage people to hold events in the generous space and often hold community events.
Due to the centre’s nature, it may not always be as quiet as you would expect a library to be as they often have different events in the smaller size on the main floor. There is a generous amount of free parking around this library as it overlooks the Deptford Wharf riverbank.
5. Goldsmiths University Library
Did you know you don’t have to be a student to attend a university library?
If you’re a resident in the area near the university, you may be entitled to get a visitor university card to access a 24-hour library (usually).
Goldsmith’s University is an example of a university that offers this service to locals. However, as you can imagine, there are limits to access to the library – such as taking out books as students have priority over that for their studies.
However, free wifi and space are available once you get a card. To sign up for a visitor university card at Goldsmiths, visit this link to request approval. There are a few roads about. 5-minute walking distance that offers 24-hour free parking.
6. Blackheath Library
Blackheath Library is a small one-floor library. Because of its size, it can be quite noisy if they have children’s activities, so be wary of that.
However, it does have large windows, which consequently means it has a lot of natural light flooding in and allows you to have a nice street view of the high street whilst working on your laptop. It also has a fairly long road for free parking 24 hours a day.
I hope this list of the best libraries to work in in London, South London edition, has helped you. Do you have any other libraries in south London you would recommend? Please comment below if so.
To keep updated with more posts about remote work and freelancing, join the Remi Reports tribe and subscribe to the newsletter.
