September has arrived, and past the haze of Freshers Week lies daunting deadlines. Forget which club to go to each night, or the pub crawl that seems never ending; time to haunt the library. Luckily, there are other options for those who can’t face the dark hallways and brutalist decor. Happy Studying!
- The Kitchen at Alcuin
Perhaps the only place on Campus that can transport a student to Central Perk. Almost as sweetly decorated as it is hard to find, this coffee spot lies across from the library, and comes with a few picnic tables on a sunny day. Try to get there early and nab a sofa, or a table to yourself, and you might catch a glimpse of your library crush leaving across the way. The ever flowing stream of pastries and coffee (which comes in actual china here) might come a long way in soothing the workload.
- The Piazza Building
For those in West, this building might be too luxurious to comprehend. Located on East, it is South of Langwith. This hotspot comes equipped with a Starbucks (the only one on Campus) and three floors of rooms, tables, chair desks and absolute silence. This place holds no tolerance for conversation, and is open 7:30am to 10pm. However, to catch the Starbucks, aim for a morning study session.
- Ron Cooke Hub
Well known to those on East, this building sits on the lake in the centre of the campus. More than its three-tiered levels with a multitude of study rooms, there are three floating lake pods which can be booked, and which make for a study session like no other. Crucially, this spot is open 24/7, which not even the library can rival other than in exam season.
- The Courtyard
Perhaps a controversial choice, York students can always be spotted with a laptop in this place. Whether it’s raining - which it probably will be - or the sun is shining - which it probably won’t be - this is the study hotspot that provides both caffeine and a strong drink. If you manage to grab a sofa with a plug, this is a spot that will serve you breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- JB Morrell
This is truly the study hotspot of York Campus. Not as deathly silent as Burton, and not as frustratingly chatty as Fairhurst, Morrell hits the spot during exam season. Unless you’re up at 7am, you will go to war for a spot here in exam season. The Library Cafe lies just beneath this for easy caffeine access, and the three floors of Morrell are where the majority of books are. If you’re an English, Philosophy, History or Politics student, this is where your holy grail is.
- Brew and Brownie
If you’re tired of campus and the pages of lecture notes are starting to merge into one, take the 66 to town and find some inspiration in the tiny cafe nestled across from York Library and York Museum. If you manage to get past the queue, which might be monumental on a weekend or an easy one on a Monday in Autumn, then park yourself on a table and soak up everything this gem has to offer. From mouth-watering pastries, fudge brownies, tarts, flapjacks to full breakfasts with towering pancakes, sausage sandwiches and eggs benedicts, there’s something here from 7am to 5pm. A full day can pass in a blur of perfectly made cappuccinos or locally sourced English Breakfast tea. I promise this is a place to calm those study blues.
- King’s Manor
This spot has a reputation across the country for being one of the most beautiful libraries in England. A Grade I listed property, and very close to Brew and Brownie, this place is the go to place to study outside of campus for most York students. A bit of history to enrich your visit; King’s Manor was the abbot’s house of St Mary’s Abbey. It was a seat of government to the Tudors - 1485 to 1603 - as well as the Stuarts from 1603 to 1714, making King’s Manor a crucial part of York history from the mediaeval to the present. Today, students go to King’s Manor, open 8am to 6pm for a full study day, to get lost inside one of the most charming buildings in the city. Go inside, take a look around, and you’ll find a part of the University that is slightly more appealing than 1960s brutalism.
- Fossgate Social
This one is for those who might need a cocktail - a seriously good one at that - in amongst the coffee and the brews. Fossgate Social is a gorgeous cafe and bar down a bustling street. With tables in the front and a hidden garden in the back, this place is the perfect place to sit for a few hours in the sun and grind out a formative, summative, or whatever it is you’re crying over. After you get it done, have a wander around Micklegate, which offers a multitude of small, independent shops for some much needed consolation shopping.
