Students often need a change of scenery from studying in the Library or in their rooms, and so seek different places to study. However, it is sometimes too time-consuming to find a quiet place which is not overcrowded. Therefore, I visited 3 cafes that can serve this purpose, and I am ready to share my opinion about them. Did you know that in Sociology, the concept of the ‘’third place’’ refers to the place which is used for relaxing and enjoying your time, so all of these cafes below can become your third place!
1. Café W – William Baker House, Oxford City Centre
Ranking – 8/10
First of all, the café itself is very peaceful in the mornings and, you could potentially see only 6-7 people. It is very comfortable to work there as Café W has chargers for phones, as well as tables in various sizes, so you could come with a big group of friends or alone! Also, the café has its own free Wi-Fi which you can take advantage of during the whole day, isn’t that amazing?!
As in every café, you can grab food such as cakes, porridge, soup and coffee, which is also really fresh and tasty, It definitely feels that you are somewhere in Italy rather than in the UK! The food is quite expensive though, I once spent around 8 pounds on porridge, which is undeniably expensive in my mind.
One more disadvantage of this café is that by the afternoon the place becomes really overcrowded and noisy, so I highly recommend going a bit earlier at around 10 or 11am, to make sure that you have enough time for studying.
2. Temptations – 231 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford
Ranking – 9/10
This café is for those who are keen on purple lights and a little bit of music. There are sockets next to their big tables, so you can bring your laptop and study. Additionally, the fact that the place is not too bright makes it unique and I personally enjoy such an atmosphere. The food is also really nice. You can order some pancakes or just drink different types of coffee (their latte is particularly tasty). Wi-Fi is also free, so you can study there as much as you want!
What I found special about Temptations is their closing hours, since they close at 11 pm which means you can stay there for hours before going home. It is also nice to invite your friends and just talk to each other, as I reckon that this place offers you more than just studying inspiration.
A few disadvantages of this café are that the service is sometimes slow, so you need to wait for around 5-6 minutes before being able to order drinks. Also, the music can be a distracting factor for some people while they study, but if that’s not the case for you, try this place!
3. Society Café – 12,16 St Michael’s Street, Oxford City Centre
Ranking – 9/10
When you enter this café, you will surely ask yourself this question: ‘’Was this café created just for studying?’’ You will find many people with laptops, as the place provides sockets next to some of the tables. The café also has a ground and lower ground floor, so you have the option of going downstairs if too busy! The café is very nice in itself and is really worth visiting.
The main disadvantage of this café is that it is very popular so usually you will find too many people and sometimes it is even impossible to find a nice place to sit. So again, I would encourage you to come earlier in the morning at around 10 am, otherwise if too busy, you still have plenty of time to go to the other cafes I suggested above.
Written by Elizaveta (IB24)