If you are looking for a space to study, we’ve got you covered. Read our study space review put together by our Student Intern, Karenza Blenkinsop. 

“Here’s a list of places you can check out during your time in Manchester that are perfect study, social or relaxing activities. From museum cafes to independent coffee houses, this list can either help you find your new go-to spot or provide options for you to try something new each week. Opening times and addresses are all listed in one place for ease-of-access to refer back when you’re bored of your current place or want to escape the crowded library.”

Oxford Road

The University of Manchester has a variation of study spaces available on campus but there are loads of other study spaces along Oxford Road.

University study spaces and libraries:

Main Library: Monday to Friday 8am-12am, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 12am (term time); Monday to Friday 8am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm (out of term)

Alan Gilbert Learning Commons: 24/7 (term time); Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Weekends 9am-5pm (out of term)

For more study spaces around the university visit The University of Manchester Library web page.

Manchester Museum

Monday to Friday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-9pm @ University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL

Located at the top of the Manchester Museum, this space provides students an area to study amongst history. With a limited number of seats it is important to get yourself there for opening time during the exam season, however during term time it’s not too bad. Whilst still being connected to the University Wi-Fi, the museum welcomes students to study here and look around the exhibitions as a break from work.

Milk and Honey café

Monday to Friday 8am-3pm @ St Peter’s House, Precinct Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9GH

Perfect for an early-bird student who enjoys a delicious breakfast and an early finish to the day. Oxford Road’s Milk and Honey is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers that offers hot and cold drinks and lunches, including vegan and gluten free options. Service\assistance dogs are welcomed into the cafe as long as they’re wearing their harness\vest to show they’re “on duty”. Although the cafe is situated on the first floor of St Peter’s House and there’s a large set of steps at the front, there is an accessible entrance at the side of the building with a lift serving all floors of St Peter’s. There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor, in which access can be gained by asking in the cafe or at the front desk in St Peter’s.

Takk

Monday to Friday 7:30am-7pm @ Coffee House and Brunch Kitchen, University Green, 138 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9GP

Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm @ Espresso Bar, Hatch, Oxford Road, M1 7ED

Monday to Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-5pm @ Coffee House and Brunch Kitchen, 6 Tariff Street, Manchester, M1 2FF

Enjoy a productive atmosphere at one of Takk’s Manchester-based cafes. The recently-opened location at University Green is laid out perfectly for individual and combined study. Don’t forget your card, however, they operate on a cashless system!

Central Manchester

 

Central Manchester Library

Monday to Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday to Saturday 9am-5pm @ St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 5PD

Sitting under the dome surrounded by its original 20^th century pillars will keep you productive for hours. Whether you are taking notes on this week’s topics or researching for your next assignment, the reading room at the top of the library commands silent study and productivity.

John Ryland’s Library

Sunday to Monday 12pm-5pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm @ 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH

The John Ryland’s Library is a beautiful 19^th century building that houses 1.4 million items, from manuscripts to diaries, located on Deansgate. While the café offers refreshments and a space to study, the special collections reading room is available by request to have a look at items up close or in storage. With free entrance to the library and its collections, including the Peterloo Exhibition that doesn’t end up 29^th September 2019, the John Ryland’s library is a perfect study space for Manchester’s students.

Yes

Sunday to Wednesday 12pm–12am, Thursday 12pm–1am, Friday and Saturday 12pm–4am @ 38 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB

During the day you can enjoy the ground floor and rooftop areas of Yes, which offers 95p coffee or tea and half price pizza slices 12-6pm. Classic tunes and fresh remixes create up-beat atmosphere that motivates you to finish your work and enjoy your weekend. Lift access to all floors makes this venue fully accessible for everyone.

 

Northern Quarter

Manchester’s Northern Quarter homes a plethora of coffee houses and tea shops that provide its student and professional population with productive spaces. These are just a few examples of what the Northern Quarter has to offer:

 

 

Foundation Coffee House

Monday 7am-6pm, Tuesday to Thursday 7am-8pm, Friday 7am-10pm, Saturday 9am-10pm, Sunday 9am-10pm @ Northern Quarter, Sevendale House, Lever Street, Manchester M1 1JB

Sunday to Thursday 7am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 7am-9pm @ Whitworth Locke, 48-50 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6LS

This Manchester-based independent coffee house has two locations, one in the heart of the Northern Quarter and one located near the Principal Hotel and Palace Theatre. With friendly staff and relaxing yet motivating music, you can sit for hours with a refillable pot of loose-leaf tea to accompany lighten your workload. Also operating on a cashless system, there’s no excuse to reward your hard work. At the Northern Quarter branch the wheelchair access is through Sevendale House and through the Whitworth Locke Hotel for their second location.

 

Leaf

Sunday to Tuesday 8:30am–6pm, Wednesday to Friday 8:30am–8pm, Saturday 9am-8pm @ 113–115 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6DW

Leaf gives you the option to relax on a sofa or be productive at a table. Regardless, Leaf provides a great layout to sip on a cuppa after delicious food. With a working lift, Leaf is fully accessible.

 

North Tea Power

Monday to Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 9am–7pm, Sunday 10am–6pm@ 36 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LA

With low lighting and single desks, North Tea Power creates the perfect concentration atmosphere to get your head down.  

 

Fig and Sparrow

Monday to Friday 8am–7pm, Saturday 9am–7pm, Sunday 10am–7pm @ 20 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JA

Fig and Sparrow is a cosy coffee shop with friendly staff and lovely food. Located on the Northern Quarter’s busiest road, this coffee shop offers outdoor seating for you to enjoy the fresh air (when it’s not raining).

 

Chapter One Books

Everyday 10am-12am @ Chatsworth House, 19 Lever Street, Manchester, M1 1BY

Just down the road to Foundation NQ, Chapter One Books is a cosy bookshop-café hybrid that is great for a break from the busy city centre. With gluten free and non-dairy options, this coffee shop is a perfect location for a relaxed study session.

 

Soup Kitchen

Sunday to Wednesday 12–11pm, Thursday 12-11pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-4am @ Spear Street, Manchester, M1 1DF

Soup Kitchen is a canteen by day and music venue by night. The ground floor’s dining space is cosy with high ceiling sharing space to study with a brew and food, including vegan options.

 

 

On the bus route home

Whitworth Art Gallery

Monday to Sunday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-9pm @ Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER

Feel outdoors with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the seasonable changes of Whitworth Park. With a rich food and drink menu on offer, the café in the Whitworth Art Gallery renders a busy environment that encapsulates its visitors of all ages as well as a welcoming space for students to study.

 

Withington Library

Monday to Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm @ 410 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 3BD

Key words: computers free to use for library members, further space to sit at a desk with your own laptop or old-fashioned pen and paper, free wifi, accessible, bright and quiet space

 

The Anchor Coffee House

Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm @ 508 Moss Lane East, Manchester M14 4PA

The Anchor Coffee House is a cosy café at first glance, but offers a spacious seating area at the back of the café, including outdoor space, perfect for individual and collective work. They offer an optional ‘Suspended Coffee’ charity donation that provides coffee, food and more through community projects when you buy your hot and cold food and drink.

 

Fuel Café

Monday to Thursday 11am-12am, Friday 11am-2am, Saturday 10am-2am, Sunday 10am-2am @ 448 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 3BW

Fuel is another cosy independent café on Withington’s high street that offers hot and cold drinks food and drinks. With vegan and vegetarian options, including breakfast, Fuel provides a fun environment that is accompanied by free wifi, board games and newspapers for a study break.

 

Toast

Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 9am-5pm @ 446 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 3BW

Toast is on the smaller side of this list but this does not take away from its study-space opportunity! With some outdoor seating, Toast is an independent café located on Withington high street, which is a bright space perfect for high levels of productivity.

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