10 of the best places for students to study in Manchester

When the library stacks are getting less than inspiring and you need a change of scenery, there’s nothing quite like the corner of a coffee shop to get those creative juices flowing. Each place boasts top notch coffee, a selection of snacks and the icing on the cake – free wi-fi.

Leaf

This hotspot for brew lovers opened last year on Portland Street. The independent teashop boasts enviable decor and an intellectually arty ambiance to enjoy with your choice of brew. Known for its stellar collection of teas and plenty of home baked goods to keep you fuelled throughout the day, all that’s left for you to do is dig out your notes.

113–115 Portland St, Manchester M1 6DW

North Tea Power

North Tea Power has quickly become a favourite with bloggers and students alike. Its two person tables are ideal for solo caffeine-filled cram sessions and they also boast plenty of communal benches for those days when two brains are better than one.

36 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA

The Art of Tea

The Art of Tea is a couple of stops on the bus from Fallowfield. It’s quiet and offers few distractions but the space is much more inviting than library cubicles. The homey cafe serves up top notch coffee and a plush selection of loose leaf teas. If you need more than a beverage to fuel your learning, this spot has you covered with a hearty selection of homemade eats and treats – everything from toast and jam to rustic ratatouille. They also boast a bookshop in the back room, so there’s really no excuse not to write that essay.

47 Barlow Moor Rd, Manchester M20 6TW

Fig and Sparrow

The window seat at Fig and Sparrow is bright and cosy and makes for the perfect essay-writing spot. The coffee here is expertly crafted and masterfully brewed and the homemade tray bakes are gooey and delicious. If you spend much time at Fig and Sparrow, we can’t guarantee you won’t pack on the fresher fifteen.

20 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JA

Ziferblat

It’s hard to imagine how Ziferblat’s business model works until you’ve been in and seen for yourself. All the eats and treats are free as long as you pay for your time at 8 pence per minute. The day rate is capped at 4 hours and there are plenty of places to plug in. The quirky interior and book-shelved walls give off some serious Hogwarts vibes but you’ll probably be studying for your Economics resits rather than Defence Against The Dark Arts.

23 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW

Second Cup Coffee

Second Cup Coffee is Canada’s largest specialty coffee retailer and their flagship and first store in the UK is situated at Manchester Arndale. Get in the zone with a whole-bean Arabica coffee.

15 A Corporation Street, 98 Lower Mall, Manchester Arndale

Pita Pit

As well as fresh & healthy pittas & salad boxes, Pita Pit have a fantastic work space with super-fast wi-fi. The Deansgate venue has a first floor area perfect for working remotely. Their coffee is excellent and what’s more everything is recyclable.

3 Piccadilly Place, Ground Floor, Manchester M1 3BN
45 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2AY

Central Library

One of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, the Central Library is an obvious choice for remote working or studying. It is a library by name and by nature, and as such is a much quieter alternative to a coffee shop or café bar. Offering plenty of space to set up camp and with easily accessible, lightning fast wi-fi, the library attracts book-readers, researchers and freelancers alike. The on site café is one of the better public library cafes that I’ve come across. With a good range of coffees, teas and soft drinks and sandwiches, cakes and snacks galore, there’s something here that is guaranteed to get you through the day.

St Peters Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Chapter One Books

This is no ordinary bookshop. Defying the odds, and opening in a time when no bookshops were opening anywhere in the UK, Chapter One Books and café has quickly become my favourite place to visit. It’s quiet, like a book shop should be, but isn’t so quiet that it’s an eerie place to work. Its lovely set up offers outstanding coffee at amicable prices and has food and light bites served throughout the day.

19 Lever Street, Manchester M1 1BY