I found London’s best hotel lounge for remote workers — it’s stunning

I got so much work done here (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

I don’t know about you, but I hate working from home.

I’m never going to be at my most productive when I can log on from bed and there’s a pile of laundry looming over my workspace.

The idea of lugging my bulky laptop across London to go and sit in a café all day has never appealed to me either.

But a friend recently suggested I try working from a fancy hotel, and it sounded like it could be a real game-changer.

So, last Thursday, I packed my bag and headed into central London bright and early to see if I could find a bougie spot to work from.

And spoiler alert: I absolutely smashed the assignment, if I do say so myself.

Where’s the best place to work remotely in London?

It’s a five-star hotel (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

Tucked away behind Oxford Street is The London EDITION, a luxury five-star hotel that’ll set you back as much as £1,200 for a stay in the height of summer.

Dating back to 1835, the huge building was once five separate townhouses. These were combined in 1910 to form the Berners Hotel, which was an equally luxurious place to sleep.

It closed its doors in 2006, reopening in 2013 as part of the EDITIONS group, which is a collection of boutique hotels. And while I could never afford to spend the night, it turns out I can afford to spend the day there. 

The lobby area is open to the public, meaning you don’t have to be a guest to head inside and take a seat. It’s also laptop-friendly and has a fully stocked bar.

I arrived just after 8AM and there were already two other people busy typing away, which was reassuring. I’d felt a little nervous about the idea of getting my laptop out right away, but no one batted an eye.

So, I set myself up at a table by the door, somewhere comfortable, where I could do some people-watching between writing articles. 

And it ended up being a fantastic place to sit. 

There’s a selction of comfy seats, including leather sofas and plush suede chairs (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

What’s the vibe?

The space is stunning, with marble columns, huge windows topped with stained glass, and a Grade II-listed Edwardian ceiling with stucco ornamentation.

Sorry, Metro HQ, but the office has got nothing on this place.

There’s also free WiFi, a mixture of sofas and chairs, a pool table, and no strict rules about how long you can stay for, so long as you buy something.

The only issue you might encounter is with plug sockets. There were only a couple in the lobby, and some were tucked away in awkward places, but if you get there early enough, you can nab a spot near one quite easily.

The lobby is seriously pretty (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

For most of the morning, the bar area was pretty quiet, with hotel guests coming and going, and only one or two people actually sitting down for coffee or to work.

As lunchtime rolled around, the space naturally got busier, but it remained a genuinely pleasant place to be. It never felt overcrowded, and most crucially, I never needed to give up my table. Which was a major win! 

And if you’re wondering what the noise levels are like, my workday was soundtracked by smooth jazz music, which filtered through the room, mingling with the ambient buzz of chatter.

It was actually pretty relaxing, and I worked smoothly for hours, concentrating much better than I ever have at home.

A cup of tea cost £6.50 plus service (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

What’s the food and drink situation?

As mentioned, the only rule for working here is that you have to order something if you want to stay for a while. 

The bartender came over not long after I’d settled in to offer me a drink.

I opted for an English Breakfast tea, which wasn’t the cheapest at £6.50 (plus a 13.5 per cent service charge), but considering some drinks can cost as much as £8 at Starbucks, I felt the price was worth it, especially considering the setting.

As a tea connoisseur, it was a decent cuppa, served in a delicate china teapot, with a cup and saucer, plus a shortbread biscuit on the side.

The little treat melted in the mouth and was dusted with a generous amount of sugar. I could have easily demolished a whole pack of them given the chance.

There’s breakfast and all-day dining options (Picture: Courtney Pochin)

My goal for the day was to try and spend as little as possible, so I made sure to have breakfast before I left the house, but those who are hungry can order it at the hotel from 7AM to 11:30AM.

Options include croissants (£5), cereal (£7), porridge (from £11), scrambled eggs with salmon caviar and dill on sourdough (£22), a seasonal fruit salad (£12), plus pancakes with berries, agave syrup and chantilly cream (£17).

From midday, this switches to all-day dining, and if you’re coming for lunch, staff recommend trying the Club Sandwich (£23), which features toasted Borough Market sourdough bread, roasted chicken, bacon, Heritage breed egg, avocado, and is served with fries.

The prices were a little steep for me, so I decided to go elsewhere for lunch, but if you’ve got the money to spend the food did look good. And if you want more of a substantial meal, the hotel also has its own restaurant, Berners Tavern, which serves British cuisine by chef Jason Atherton.

After a cheap lunch I returned and ordered another drink to secure my spot, this time opting for a club soda (£5.50). This was served with ice and a lime wedge, and brought my total for a full day of work at the hotel to £13.62 including service.

Final verdict

While I was initially nervous about working remotely, all of my anxieties quickly vanished at The London EDITION.

The hotel staff were so helpful when it came to internet access, brought drink orders promptly, and were kind enough to watch my stuff whenever I needed to nip to the loo, which I really appreciated.

It was also a massive relief that I was never made to feel uncomfortable for taking up space despite not being a guest, and I wasn’t pressured to buy more than I already had. They left me to get on with work and didn’t interrupt my flow.

Overall, I’d say my work day was a huge success, I completed everything on my to-do list, and really enjoyed my surroundings. The change of scenery made a world of difference.

I can’t recommend a visit to the lobby bar at this hotel enough, and I’ll definitely be heading back next time I need to get out of the house.

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