Hounslow 'Nation's Second Best' for Late-night Workers

Library opening hours boosts borough's ranking in survey

Brentford Library is open until 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays

August 23, 2024

The borough of Hounslow has been ranked second in a national survey of the best local authority areas for late night remote workers.

The study looked at the proportion of libraries and cafes that remained open after 5pm to provide a place to set up for work or study. Westminster came out top but Hounslow was positioned second just ahead of Edinburgh with 54.9% of venues open.

The local borough’s ranking was boosted by all of its libraries being open late at lease one night in the week. Chiswick Library is open until at least 5.30pm every day except Sunday when it is closed and stays open until 8pm on Mondays and Thursdays. Brentford Library has the same operating hours except it closes Wednesdays.

QR Code Generator calculated the percentage of libraries and cafes open late to determine where was best for students and employees who didn’t work normal office hours.

Hounslow finished ahead of cities such as Glasgow, Coventry and Belfast as well as the neighbouring borough of Richmond upon Thames

Blackpool is named as the worst location for late-night workers in the UK, with only 16.90% of the area’s cafes and libraries opening past 5pm. The study found that none of the city’s nine libraries are open beyond the typical nine to five working day.  

The study was conducted by sourcing data on libraries from the Library Campaign and a random sample of cafes from Bing Maps.

Marc Porcar, the CEO of QR Code Generator said, “While some people find themselves at their most productive during the start of a new day, others may find that they get more work done once the sun goes down. To make the most out of your working day, it’s hugely significant to recognise the time of day in which you’re at your peak level of productivity.  

“The evenings are often a fantastic time to get work done, as they provide a quieter environment with fewer distractions. Late-night libraries and cafes offer an excellent atmosphere for those looking to escape distractions, making them hugely beneficial for productivity. They are essential for individuals who, for whatever reason, cannot work at home.  

“Because of this, it’s important for cities to accommodate late-night workers, particularly during the ongoing rise of remote and freelance working. It’s particularly significant for students to be given the option of working into the night because their working days are often bombarded with lectures and seminars.  

“This being said, it’s important to look after your mental well-being when working at night and set limits for yourself. Continuously pulling all-nighters and working into the early hours can often result in burnout, so it’s important to be conscious of this when you start making late-night work sessions a regular habit.”