When I set up my freelance business, Social etc., back in 2021, we were still in the depths of a COVID-19 lockdown. When things opened up again, I did try to work from different spaces for a change of scenery but it wasn’t always easy! Working from home most of the time is perfect for me, but I reached a point last year when I realised that my mental health was a lot better when I was seeing other human beings. There are lots of freelancers and business owners in Milton Keynes, many of which work remotely and probably openly admit to being a hermit as well. So to help you all find somewhere new to work, I thought I’d create this long awaited guide!
A quick disclaimer first: These are MY personal favourite spaces and the ones I find myself gravitating back to. There’s more on my list to try so I’ll keep this updated! I’ve worked in several spaces, but not every spot had a 100% suitable working environment. Some cafés attract parents and children more than others which is fantastic, but from experience, a soft play section isn’t ideal for focus. Other official workspaces aren’t my vibe, or too many people want to chat, not work. So bear in mind these are my go-to spaces and your vibe may differ.
So when the home office or dining room table doesn’t quite cut it, here is my guide to my favourite workspaces and cafés across the city.
Where to work remotely in Milton Keynes
Every effort has been taken to ensure the information in this blog post is correct, however, I advise referring directly to the vendor websites and social media pages for the most up to date information. If you see an error or something is incorrect, please email blog@sophieetc.com.
Bogota Coffee Company
Bogota makes my #1 favourite flat white in Milton Keynes. As far as ‘workspaces’ go, it’s quite petite so if you hit a busy lunch hour or coffee break mid-morning you might struggle to find a space, but it’s a great place to tuck yourself away with your laptop for a few hours. I wouldn’t recommend hosting calls or long meetings here, mainly because it does get busy but if you are looking for 10/10 coffee and a cosy environment, this is it. You can also park free in Sainsbury’s for 3 hours.
Website: www.bogotacoffee.co.uk
Location: 4 Rillaton Walk, Milton Keynes MK9 2FZ
Opening hours: 9am – 3pm daily.
Price range: Coffees are around £3. Food is also available.
Dietaries: Caters for vegan.
Good to know: Dog friendly.
Canal Street Coffee
Canal Street Coffee is now officially my most visited coffee shop in Milton Keynes – Just check my Monzo bank statement for proof! We conveniently live about 30 30-minute walk from here, so you will often find us here pre-Park Run on a Saturday morning (We don’t do the Park Run – We just get there before all the finishers do!) This is a really nice space to work from because it’s so light. If, like me, you experience SAD in the winter, this is going to be a godsend for you! There is upstairs space which is perfect for working, and you can also enjoy Doe & Fawn Coffee, T.Sweetmap cakes, Cinnamon Pantry cinnamon rolls and tasty lunches. There is a sister café in Leighton Buzzard, which has an official co-working space that has a small fee attached.
Location: 5 Campbell Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK9 4BG.
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 – 15:00, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 08:00 – 17:00.
Price Range: £
Good to know: VERY dog friendly. Lots of outdoor seating is available. Parking is limited nearby.
Fabrice Brasserie
An unusual one, right? Fabrice in The Hub is a great place for working because they have WiFi AND seats with plug sockets! The dream! This is a beautiful, light space which is ideal for working in and you can keep yourself fuelled with their all-day menu. (Honestly, try the French toast – it’s unreal!) They sell coffee too, although it’s a little pricier than your standard indie coffee shop but it does open until 6pm. Fabrice is a contender for client meetings because it’s spacious and you can easily have a conversation here. If it’s sunny and warm, you could sit outside on the terrace which makes for a very pleasant experience!
Website: www.fabricerestaurant.com
Location: The Hub, Unit 500B Dakota House, 30 Mortimer Square, Milton Keynes MK9 2FB
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm daily.
Price Range: Around £15 per head (average)
Good to know: WiFi, plug sockets and an all day breakfast menu. You can park in Sainsbury’s for 3 hours and walk across.
Read more: Best Brunches in Milton Keynes
Homeground Café
Homeground is a café inside the YMCA building and is a great space to work because it opens a little earlier (7am) and later (until 4pm!) The coffee here is great because it’s Wooden Hill, the vibes are relaxed and the food is fabulous too. All proceeds supporting young people in Milton Keynes, so there’s plenty of good reasons to visit (including the epic full English!!!)
Website: www.homegroundmk.com
Location: N Sixth St, Milton Keynes MK9
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 7am -4pm
Price range: Food under £10.
Good to know: Great WiFi and spot for working.
MK Gallery Café
MK Gallery is a great alternative space to work if you are after a spot of healthy lunch, coffee and an inspiring atmosphere. The coffee is by Milk & Beans so is naturally 10/10 and the food is cooked fresh every day. I have enjoyed working here recently, especially as there is free parking for 3 hours nearby. I usually combine it with an exhibition visit and then settle down for a few hours. It’s a perfect spot for meeting clients too!
Website: www.mkgallery.org
Location: 900 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3QA
Opening hours: Open from 10am. Last orders for food Tuesday, Friday Saturday is 6pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday is 3:30pm.
Dietaries: Please check with the café.
Good to know: Entry to MK Gallery is free. Exhibitions are extra, but there is a discount for MK Residents on tuesdays.
Out of Office Coffee
Out of Office has several locations in Milton Keynes and is a go-to if I need to meet a client or catch up with my team. The Witan Gate location is probably the best for working in because there are booths where you can tuck yourself away. I have hosted calls in here before and haven’t had an issue with the WiFi or noise levels (I always wear headphones anyway!) The coffee is great and if you add lunch, you can feed yourself for around £10. I also enjoy working at the Newport Pagnell and Stony Stratford locations, though these are a little smaller and therefore feel busier throughout the day.
Website: www.outofofficecoffee.co.uk
Location: Witan Studios, CMK | Newport Pagnell | Olney | Stony Stratford
Opening hours: 8am – 3pm daily.
Price range: Nearly everything is under £10.
Dietaries: Out of Office caters for vegetarian and vegan which are clearly marked on the menu. For other requirements please contact them directly.
Read more: Best independent coffee shops in Milton Keynes
Work Café, Unity Place
Unless you have been living under a rock, you must have seen the new Unity Place building in Central Milton Keynes. I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with the food offering here because it’s a little ‘chainy’ with a sprinkling of indies BUT the Santander Work Café downstairs is a very nice workspace and is free. The WiFi is pretty fast and there are also rooms where you can book yourself in for private calls if you need to. This is a great space for working that isn’t a coffee shop and with most coffee shops closing around 3pm, if you work a little bit later this stays open pretty much into the evening.
Location: Unity Place, Milton Keynes.
x+why, Unity Place
If you are after a more formal workspace and enjoy the office vibes without the actual office, x+why in Unity Place is a great shout. Full disclaimer: It is a paid-for workspace. It’s £25 a day or £149+VAT for 10 days a month. I did have a full flex membership but I wasn’t using it enough, so cancelled in favour of a David Lloyd Membership BUT if I have client meetings or need a space for a call, I like to use this space. There are private, soundproof phone booths that are perfect for private calls or when you need to shut yourself away from the world. There are a plethora of different spaces within the space, so if you are a sofa worker, desk worker, dining table or even breakfast bar worker, there’s something to suit.
I also enjoyed that you could take your own lunch in (although there is the Urban Food Market downstairs) there are microwaves and crockery you can use.
It’s also a great place for networking with other business owners so if networking is on your to-do list, then I do recommend signing up. Oh, and there’s free tea and coffee!
You can book a co-working pass on the x+why website.
Other workspaces to check out
In addition to these workspaces, I have worked at MK:U in Central Milton Keynes which has a free workspace (though it gets very busy and you have to sign up as a member first) and also Moxy Hotel (free), which I appreciate isn’t independent. Both spots are pretty good if you are after a space to work and are very central. You also have Fairspace by MK Community Foundation in Central Milton Keynes, though this is also a pre-paid workspace.
I hope you find this guide useful and inspiring for different places to work around Milton Keynes.
What are your favourite places to work from in Milton Keynes? Are there any I should try?
MK Food Map
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Hi Sophie, love your recommendations! Just read your work spots blog and to add I recommend visiting The Coal Hatch in Woburn Sands. I worked from there last week and never knew it existed until now, the coffee was epic, almond croissant out of this world, turns into a bar in the evening with frequent social events. Loved it.