The best co-working spaces across the UK for *serious* productivity
Co-working is a bit of a buzz-word at the moment. And with many of us still working from home (or at least partly), thousands of start-ups being registered daily — according to Companies House — and a slew of burnt-out employees going freelance, it's hardly surprising that co-working spaces have been popping up all over the country. And these achingly-cool spaces aren't like the stagnant co-working office blocks of the past, oh, no, friends, they mark a new era for workers, one that mixes Instagrammable interiors, a relaxed atmosphere and a roster of events and social opportunities to rival Google (yes, some of them do even have sleep pods).
So, whether you want to be able to just drop by, best laptop backpack in tow, and pay per day when hunching over your computer at home feels all too much, or you're looking for a regular set-up that will take care of all your needs, we've picked out the best co-working spaces across the UK that will ensure procrastination takes a hike.
Park House, Leeds
Overlooking the leafy Park Square (hence the name), in the centre of Leeds, Park House is surrounded by shops and eateries, making it an attractive option for anyone looking to work hard and play harder. The space is made up of spacious private offices, meeting rooms, Zoom rooms, private work pods and a buzzy, open co-working space that sprawls across the ground floor and allows for easy flexible working. This is modern coworking at its chicest.
Plus, Spacemade are offering an exclusive discount for GLAMOUR readers to tie in with International Women's Day! Simply enter IWDGlamour10 for 10% off across Spacemade spaces for any coworking or office membership taken in March 2022.
LABS, London
Split between Holborn and Camden, Labs coworking spaces feel like a cross between a high-end office and a chic, minimalist loft space in Manhattan. Housed in dynamic, state-of-the-art buildings, the spaces have been designed to create flow and allow creativity, without compromising the ability to work in peace or collaborate with other team members easily. Think comfy leather armchairs, atmospheric hanging lights, industrial-looking, exposed-concrete walls and pops of green provided by interesting-looking plants everywhere. The Camden building also shares its space with STAY, which offers flexible, comfortable (read: pretty damn luxurious) living with a concierge service and, of course, access to all that Labs has to offer. Ideal if you're travelling for work or need to just get away for a night but can't really take time off work.
Bloc, Manchester
Nestled between King Street and Market Street in Manchester's bustling city centre, Bloc has a mixture of achingly-cool co-working spaces, cinema room, meeting rooms and an events auditorium, and offers some of the north's coolest creatives a flexible workspace solutions. There's also a state-of-the-art yoga studio, an independent coffee shop, a vast and varied social programme and plethora of workshops on offer, plus (and here's where things get really fancy), biophilia throughout to increase oxygen levels as well as a sleep pod and wellness room to power productivity.
The Office Group, London
The Office Group, affectionately referred to as ‘TOG’ by seasoned members, have buildings peppered across London's urban environment, meaning that you're never too far from a conveniently-located co-working space. Their buildings (of which there are a total of 50 between London and Germany) boast gyms, roof gardens and cafes, as well as a real focus on wellness, with all their spaces mindfully designed to future-proof mental health (hello, sun lamp room) and sustainability.
Plus, top tip, if you’re working from Liberty House (which sits right beside the iconic Liberty London store in Soho), clock off and head to Polpo for their Apertivo Time between 4-6pm. Sip on a Spritz and enjoy a range of bar snacks (black truffle crisps or Bella di Cerignola olives, anyone?) for just £5.
Spaces, Bristol
Spaces Castle Park offers the ultimate co-working experience inside an iconic building steeped in history. Once home to Fry’s Chocolate, the company that made the first mass-produced chocolate bar in 1866, it’s now a modern centre for commerce and culture, as well as being home to an impressive art gallery and a plethora of restaurants and shops. Spread across three top floors, Spaces Castle Park offers flexible, fully-equipped and designer workspaces that come with super fast Wifi (no, seriously, super fast), Manhattan loft-style furniture and unique breakout space for when you need to collaborate or take a break.
Photographer: Patrick JamesonThe Distillery, Glasgow
The Distillery in Glasgow is a co-working space for freelancers, start-ups and creatives who require a flexible and professional workspace. They play temporary home to a thriving community of artists, designers, photographers, cultural producers, software developers and other potential collaborators, and so you're never too far from a new friend or business partner. Membership to the space is all-inclusive and runs on a rolling monthly basis, allowing you to turn up, switch on and start working — which is brilliant for any financial commitment-phobes (we don't blame you).
Plus, they welcome dogs, which is great news whether you have a pup yourself or just want to be around some friendly fur balls while you work.
Allbright, London
Allbright is a women-only business club that encompasses the elements of co-working and community events. Across their two London locations, you can find London's hottest new businesswomxn gathering to discuss ideas, thoughts, processes, strategies and develop with each other’s support, and in a safe space. Whether you want to work from here, conduct meetings, conferences, attend events or just always be able to find a good coffee and a place to sit down in the city, Allbright is first and foremost a member's club that rivals in peers, and secondly, a focused place to work from. They also run all sorts of free skill-honing and mentoring courses that are completely free of charge.
The Hoxton, London
The Hoxton in Holborn is possibly the coolest kid on the block when it comes to co-working spaces that double as a hotel and lifestyle space. Full of stylish mid-century sofas and attentive waiters, and you easily forget you’re in the lobby of a hotel as it’s also packed with people using it as their office for the day. Have breakfast, lunch or dinner in a booth in Hubbard & Bell restaurant at the back or just hunker down in an armchair for a few hours and get those essential admin tasks done (boring, we know, but an essential part of working for yourself and made much better when you're munching on a fresh pastry). Seats by the window are in high-demand, not only due to the chic people watching opportunity, but all spaces here benefit from natural light, good service and high-speed Wifi.
Gloworks, Cardiff
Gloworks is a 5-storey building directly opposite BBC Roath Lock Studios, built with creatives and production in mind. Recording a podcast? Shooting a film? Or just looking to host a meeting or get some good-quality work done? Gloworks boasts two separate studio spaces with a central broadcast gallery, designed with both live and pre-recorded productions in mind, as well as recording booths and all sorts of breakaway spaces.
James JonesMinistry, London
The Ministry is a new workspace for the creative industries, and yes, it's part of the Ministry of Sound nightclub group in SE1. This time though, it's less about beats and more about seats, seats to get some good, hard work done in that is. They've taken over a Victorian printworks in Borough and created an environment for artistic and original thinkers. The space spans six floors, with a cafe, bar, sound studio and cinema space that sits below four floors of co-working offices and desks. Honestly, it doesn't get any cooler than this. Think greenery, hanging lights, exposed piping and warm wooden floors, topped off with a mixture of desks, tables and squishy sofas.
Oh, and by their own admission, they LOVE dogs.
