Working Remotely in Sunderland: Libraries, Cafes and Coworking

If you work from home, or are visiting Sunderland with a laptop, there are more places to get out of the house than you might expect. The city centre has a new public library at Culture House, cafes around Keel Square and Sunniside, and dedicated coworking at the Sunderland Software Centre. Further out, serviced office operators run coworking spaces at Doxford International Business Park and on the city's business parks. This guide covers the main options, from a few hours with a coffee to a regular desk. Opening hours, Wi-Fi and desk prices change, so check with each place before you rely on it for an important call.

The City Library at Culture House

Culture House opened on Keel Square in September 2026 and is now home to Sunderland's City Library. The building is open every day from 10am to 6pm, with study space spread over several floors around a tall central atrium. It also has rooms that community groups and businesses can book, which is useful if you need somewhere to meet a client or hold a small workshop. The Fire Station, the Empire and the shops of High Street West are a short walk away for lunch.

There are also community libraries across the city, including in Washington and Houghton. Our guide to council services in Sunderland explains how to join the library service.

Best for: Best for: a quiet public place to work in the city centre, every day of the week.

Laptop-friendly cafes

Most cafes are happy for you to work over a coffee outside the lunchtime rush. A few city-centre and seafront options:

• The Fire Station on High Street West has a bar and restaurant in the old engine house, beside Keel Square and Culture House. It is quieter during the day than on show nights.
• Pop Recs on High Street West in Sunniside is a music and arts venue with a cafe, run as a community interest company. It has a relaxed atmosphere for a morning's work.
• Cafe Floriana on Burdon Road, near Mowbray Park, serves speciality coffee, brunch and lunch.
• Elephant Rock Cafe Bar at Roker is family and dog friendly and has Wi-Fi, with a view of the sea.
• Fausto Coffee on Marine Walk at Roker is better for a coffee break and a walk along the promenade than for a long session.

A little etiquette helps. Buy something every couple of hours, avoid taking a large table at lunchtime, use headphones for calls, and ask before plugging in if sockets are not obviously for customers. For more places to try, see our guide to the best coffee shops and cafes in Sunderland.

Best for: Best for: a change of scene for a few hours, with coffee and food on hand.

Sunderland Software Centre

The Sunderland Software Centre on Tavistock Place, at the eastern edge of the city centre near Sunniside, is a base for digital and technology businesses. As well as self-contained office suites, it offers hot-desking for freelancers and small teams, and Sunderland BID lists it among the city-centre places with coworking space. The building has a large central atrium and a garden. Contact the centre directly for current desk prices and membership terms, as these are agreed with the centre rather than published as fixed rates.

Best for: Best for: freelancers and start-ups in tech and digital who want to be around similar businesses.

Hotel lobbies and lounges

Sunderland BID's guide to city-centre coworking also names the Holiday Inn on Keel Square as a place to work, with Wi-Fi in its public areas. A hotel lounge is a practical option for a short meeting with someone visiting the city, and it is close to Culture House and the Fire Station. Buy a drink and check with staff before settling in for a long stretch.

If you are visiting for work and need somewhere to stay, our guide to the best hotels in Sunderland covers the city-centre options.

Serviced coworking at Doxford and the business parks

The international serviced office operators Regus and Spaces run several centres in Sunderland, mostly on the business parks rather than in the city centre. One is at Admiral Way on Doxford International Business Park (SR3 3XW), close to the A19, and Spaces has a coworking centre listed at New Silksworth. Others are on Sunderland Enterprise Park on the north side of the river. These centres sell day passes, hot desks, dedicated desks and private offices, usually through the operator's website or app, and membership often gives access to centres in other cities too.

These suit people who live in the south and west of the city, or who drive and want to avoid city-centre parking. Prices vary by centre and by plan, so compare the options on the operator's own website.

Best for: Best for: a regular desk with business facilities, meeting rooms and parking.

Choosing the right option

Getting there

The city-centre options are all within walking distance of Sunderland station and Park Lane Interchange. Doxford International Business Park is close to the A19, and bus routes connect it with the city centre. See our guides on getting around Sunderland without a car and where to park in Sunderland for the details. If you are thinking of relocating, our moving to Sunderland guide covers the practical first steps.

Know a place to work we have missed? Get in touch.