Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Culture

5 Cheap Coffee Places in London

With the student loan dwindling and submissions looming, there’s only one thing that can get students through this time of year, and that’s coffee.

We can’t all afford that venti, non-fat, no foam, no water, 6 pump, extra hot, chai tea latte from Starbucks, so where can a penniless student go?

1) Monmouth, London Bridge

Nestled south of the aromatic and not at all overpriced Borough Market, lies Monmouth café.

It’s said that people get wiser with age, and if this adage rings true, then Monmouth is an old pro when it comes to coffee.

With over 35 years of experience poured into each of their velvety lattes priced at just £2.50, you can certainly bet that the frothy foam and the earthy scents are all worth the money.

The food is minimal at the café and all focus is on the coffee. Espressos are a focused £1.50.

2) Wren, Mansion House

Upon entering Wren, you’re met with the grandeur and opulence of its converted church setting.

Thankfully, this apparent richness isn’t reflected in the prices. It’s flawlessly frothy and foamy Espressos and Lattes are so worth £1.60.

It’s a pretty relaxing place, it might just soothe the pain of that 3000 word final essay…

3) Prufrock, Farringdon

Think of the word ‘independent coffee shop’ and your mind goes to #Instacoffee snobs and overpriced brews. Prufrock’s different.

The first bricks-and-mortar coffee shop, the place is decked out with rustic pews and eclectic tables, it’s a spacious but welcoming café.

With its quirky, colourful counter, Prufrock is top of the list of many a coffee fanatics list, where you can pick up an Espresso for £2.20 and a Latte for £2.30.

4) The Espresso Room, Bloomsbury

It doesn’t get anymore indie than The Espresso Room, seriously.

In the snuggly, narrow store, you’re introduced to the meticulous domain of Square Mile espressos and its affable Australian owner, Ben Townsend.

It’s a shoebox of uplifting flavours and Australian accents, with the coffee price list starting at £3.10.

5) Milk Bar, Tottenham Court Road

When scuttling around the street of Tottenham Court Road, you’ll think you’ve stepped right in the middle of a Hairspray number; “Welcome to the 60’s”.

Its retro, American diner-themed aesthetic plays well when you open its doors to find a café that looks like a scene from Grease. Coffee starts at £2.50.

About the author

Related

Comment

In response to the presence of Turning Point UK on Strand Campus, staff writer Zoé Courty argues the only effective way to counter the...

Hand writing mathematical formulas on a blackboard with chalk Hand writing mathematical formulas on a blackboard with chalk

Science & Innovation

Sports Editor Abyan Memon discusses the alleged breakthroughs OpenAI has made in the maths world. Two separate announcements by OpenAI revealed a frontier AI...

Science & Innovation

New Scientist Live 2026 (NSLive 2026) featured talks and exhibitions from scientists who specialise in a wide range of fields, from brain health to...

Mathematical formulas and abstract wireframe structures in grayscale Mathematical formulas and abstract wireframe structures in grayscale

Comment

From a military and security point of view, funding quantum and AI makes sense. From every other point of view, defunding curiosity driven (blue...

Pink spherical cells attached to a textured green structure against a black background Pink spherical cells attached to a textured green structure against a black background

Science & Innovation

Staff writer Luca Read discusses the initially promising but increasingly nerve-wracking research into CAR T cells for cancer research at King’s. Chimeric Antigen Receptor...

Comment

In response to the presence of Turning Point UK on Strand Campus, staff writer Zoé Courty argues the only effective way to counter the...

Science & Innovation

Sports Editor Abyan Memon discusses the alleged breakthroughs OpenAI has made in the maths world. Two separate announcements by OpenAI revealed a frontier AI...

Science & Innovation

New Scientist Live 2026 (NSLive 2026) featured talks and exhibitions from scientists who specialise in a wide range of fields, from brain health to...

Science & Innovation

Staff writer Luca Read discusses the initially promising but increasingly nerve-wracking research into CAR T cells for cancer research at King’s. Chimeric Antigen Receptor...