Finding a desk with an accessible plug socket in the Forum Library between 11:00 and 15:00 right now feels practically impossible.

Circling the stairs for 20 minutes just to squeeze onto an overcrowded bench kills your motivation before you’ve even opened your laptop. Different tasks demand completely different environments: drafting an assessed essay needs pinpoint silence, while knocking out weekly seminar readings or prepping a group presentation calls for a totally different setup.

If you wantto dodge the library rush, here are my tried and tested favourite study spots to head depending on what you need to get done:

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1. TheAmory Silent Space: The Absolute Best for Deep Focus

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My number one pick: if you have an assessed deadline looming and background chatter derails you, the Amory silent study space is the undisputed champion. It is genuinely quiet, far less claustrophobic than the upper library floors, and students in here actually take the silence rule seriously. When you need two, three or ten uninterrupted hours to power through heavy reading or draft an essay, make this your primary base. Bonus points for having the delicious Camper Coffee available there too.

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2. The Old Library: For Traditional, Distraction-Free Grinding

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Tucked on Prince of Wales Road, the Old Library gives you high ceilings, long wooden tables, and a classic, focused academic atmosphere. It avoids the frantic foot traffic of the main Forum, making it ideal if you want a reliable desk where people aren't constantly walking past your screen.

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3. The Loft (Devonshire House): For Quiet Working with Great Food Nearby

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Located right upstairs in Devonshire House, The Loft is a wonderfully quiet, airy space to sit down and power through your workload. It’s not a bustling café vibe - it’s calm, comfortable, and focused, with the massive added bonus of having plenty of food and snack options right downstairs when you need a well-earned break between tasks.

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4. The International Study Centre: For Light and Modern Study Nooks

The ISC (you might know it as the INTO building) is widely overlooked by undergraduate students, which makes it one of the best campus secrets for finding an empty desk during peak midday hours. It’s bright, clean, modern, and has brilliant quiet spaces tucked away on the upper levels. If Streatham’s central buildings feel overwhelming, walking over here is almost always worth the extra steps. Make sure to keep an eye on the cafe too – I’ve had some delicious meals for great prices from there over the past couple of years!

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5. Booking a Room in Harrison: For Group Projects and Presentation Prep

Trying to practice a group presentation or work through problem sheets in open study areas never works. You can book seminar and study rooms directly through the University room booking system, and Harrison is one of the most practical buildings for this. You get your own private space, screens, and whiteboards to get through work with friends without having to whisper.

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6. St Luke’s Library: Closer to Town & Well Worth the Trip

If you live down towards Mount Pleasant, Polsloe, or the bottom of town, remember you don't always have to hike up Forum Hill! St Luke’s Library is often significantly closer than Streatham depending on where your student house is located. It’s compact, well-equipped, and a brilliant alternative when you want to avoid the main campus trek. Just remember to bring your physical student ID card to tap in at the door, as you'll need it for access.

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