Working Remotely in Spitalfields, London, England
This is part of my remote work travel series where I review places I visit as a digital nomad. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Substack, and TikTok for more travel content!
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Working Remotely in Spitalfields, London: My Digital Nomad Travel Guide
When you wander through the streets of Spitalfields, you're immediately struck by the perfect blend of historic charm and modern urban energy. This vibrant neighborhood in East London, reborn from its dark “Jack The Ripper” past is nestled between the financial district and the trendy Shoreditch area and offers a unique experience for digital nomads looking for a dynamic place to work and explore.
From the bustling Spitalfields Market with its array of artisanal goods and diverse food options to the eclectic mix of vintage shops and street art along Brick Lane, there's always something new to discover. As a hub for creatives and entrepreneurs, Spitalfields provides an inspiring backdrop for remote work, with plenty of cafes, boba shops, and interesting things to do to keep you motivated and engaged.
During our stay, we indulged in some of the best cuisine London has to offer, from authentic Neapolitan pizza to mouthwatering Indian breakfast wraps. We explored the area's rich history, enjoyed its vibrant art scene, and even ventured out for a day trip to Cambridge. Whether you're looking for a quiet corner to work or a lively atmosphere to network, Spitalfields has it all.
Where to Stay in Spitalfields, London for Digital Nomads + Remote Workers
We stayed in an amazing Airbnb between Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market. It was well-designed, and our host Aneel was incredible. The apartment provided good spaces to work and was a cozy, quiet place to retreat after a day of exploring. It had all the amenities a digital nomad could need, including fast Wi-Fi and a fully equipped kitchen.
This location was perfect, putting us right in the heart of the action while still offering a peaceful environment for productive work sessions. The proximity to both Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market meant we had easy access to great food, shopping, and entertainment options.
What To Do in Spitalfields, London for Digital Nomads + Remote Workers
A snap from our day trip to Cambridge
While we spent most of our time working and exploring the local food scene, we did manage to experience some unique activities:
Viola's Room by Punchdrunk: This immersive sensory experience was truly one-of-a-kind. Without spoiling too much, it's a barefoot journey through a dreamlike space, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, exploring themes of growing up and life's aspirations. It was incredibly inspiring and a must-do for anyone interested in innovative theater experiences.
Day Trip to Cambridge: We took a train to Cambridge for a day trip with family. The punt tour along the River Cam was a delightful way to see the historic university town. Our guide was quick to assure us that Cambridge beats Oxford in every way — but you might want to visit both to judge for yourself!
Explore Brick Lane: Known for its vintage shops, street art, and Sunday market, Brick Lane is a feast for the senses. It's a great place to wander when you need a break from work and want to buy some vintage clothes or a bite to eat.
Spitalfields Market: This covered market is perfect for rainy days. You can browse unique crafts, vintage items, and enjoy a variety of food options.
What to Eat in Spitalfields, London for Digital Nomads + Remote Workers
Spitalfields and the surrounding area offer an incredible variety of dining options. Here are some of our favorites:
For Pizza: Suds Italia. This no-frills pizza place is inspired by the grab-and-go pizzerias of Naples. Their "wallet" pizza for £5 is an incredible deal and absolutely delicious.
For Breakfast: Dishoom. Their naan breakfast wraps are consistently amazing. A perfect way to start your day.
For Fresh Juice: We got our morning green juice fix at Juice Guys.
For a Nice Dinner: Bubala. This Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience, and has a great set menu at night with some inspiring eats.
For Boba: Hydor. Try their mango coconut drink made with real mango. Pro tip: get a large — it’s only a pound more for double the drink and ask for 30% sweetness.
For Chai: Chai Baba in the Brick Lane Market. Our favorite chai in the world!
For Vietnamese: Cay Tre in Shoreditch. Their tofu vermicelli bowl is amazing, and Kyle tried their famous garlic pho and was very impressed with it.
For Ethiopian: There is a wonderful man with a stall in Brick Lane Market that serves up some deliciously seasoned vegetables.
For Sugar Cane Drink: City Juice is another stall in Brick Lane Market that has fresh Sugar Cane drinks with different flavors. Go for the Ginger Sugar Cane :)
Can you tell we love Brick Lane Market?
My Biggest London Travel Tip: AVOID Stansted Airport
When booking flights, pick ANY of these airports that fly into London: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, and London Southend.
But whatever you do — don’t fly into Stansted! It is our least favorite airport in all of London, but if you have to go to it beware of the scam with the train to get to the airport from Liverpool station. You have to buy a separate ticket from a separate kiosk, even though it lets you tap in like every other public transportation in the city. If you fall into this trap, at the end there will be people on the other side set up to charge each person 70 pounds who failed to know of this. It’s a huge scam, and the Stansted airport itself is super dirty and unpleasant.
Overall Thoughts on Spitalfields, London as a Digital Nomad
Spitalfields offers a perfect blend of work-friendly environments and exciting cultural experiences. The area's diverse food scene, historic charm, and proximity to other interesting London neighborhoods make it an excellent base for digital nomads.
The easy access to public transportation, including the nearby Liverpool Street Station (love, love, love The Elizabeth Line!) This station means you can easily explore other parts of London or even take day trips to nearby cities.
While London can be expensive, Spitalfields offers a range of options to suit different budgets, from affordable street food to high-end dining experiences. The neighborhood's creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit make it an inspiring place to work remotely.
My Ratings of Spitalfields, London as a Digital Nomad
Affordability: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. London is generally expensive, but Spitalfields offers some affordable options, especially for food.
Food Quality: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. Even though this post has some great recommendations, I think the whole of English food leaves something to be desired.
Vegetarian Options: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars. From Bubala to the various market stalls, vegetarians and vegans are well-catered to here.
Adventures/Day Trips: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. There is an ease to access to the rest of London and quick train rides to places like Cambridge, but I wasn’t floored by the quality of the day trips in comparison to other cities we’ve been to.
Cafes/Co-Working Space Availability: ⭐️ 1/5 stars. There aren’t very many cafes in this neighborhood with good co-working setups, so it’s better to get an Airbnb where you can work from home. The few cafes in our neighborhood banned laptops (despite being empty!) so remote work culture is discouraged here.
Digital Nomad-Friendly City: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. London is very digital nomad-friendly, with excellent infrastructure and a large expat community. Plus, it’s easy to get around as an English speaker. The lack of great cafe culture and good public co-working spots and coffeeshops knocks two stars off of this rating, however.
Value of Accommodations for Remote Workers: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. While expensive compared to many cities, you can find good value if you look carefully.
General Weather (in SUMMER): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars. Previously, we had only been to London in the winter and that is an experience that makes you understand Charles Dickens a lot more, but summer in London is absolutely dreamy. There’s a slight breeze, low humidity, and the weather is always hovering around the perfect temperature with plenty of shade. So visit in August or early September if you can — but still be prepared for some rainy days!
Air Quality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. As with most of central London, air quality can be an issue, but there are several parks nearby with fresh air. While we were visiting, the air quality was generally pretty good.
Water Quality: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars. London claims the tap water is generally safe, but there were parasites found in the water not long ago and a lot of men claimed they lost their hair from something in the tap. So I wouldn’t worry about brushing your teeth with it, but it’s probably best to drink from bottled water.
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. Spitalfields offers a good balance of great food markets, cute shops, and plenty of great concerts and activities — making it an excellent choice for digital nomads looking to experience the best of London. However, I found the lack of good cafes and not-so-inspiring culinary culture to still be holding London back quite a bit.
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