Warm Banks in London: Find your nearest warm space to help with the cost of living crisis this winter

In the depths of winter and the cost-of-living crisis, all London councils and numerous organisations have opened warm banks or spaces where people can come during the cold season.

Warm banks can be anything from a church to a library and are free to use for anyone who is unable to heat their home throughout the winter days and nights.

Be sure to check the opening hours of warm spaces over the festive period.

So, where is my nearest warm bank?

Barking and Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham Council has opened a number of warm banks with local partners, such as Becontree Community Hub, open on weekdays.

Find out more here.

Barnet

Barnet Council have a variety of local libraries that are doubling as warm spaces.

Chipping Barnet Library, Colindale Library and Finchley Church End Library are among the many on the list.

Find out more here.

Bexley

The borough of Bexley is providing warm spaces with useful services on offer such as free tea and coffee, energy saving advice, use of charging points and advice about the cost of living at Peabody - Cosy Corners.

Find out more here.

Brent

Brent Council welcomes local residents to their nearest library, such as Kilburn Library or Wembley Library, to find warmth during cold spells.

There are also six Brent Hubs across the borough offering food and fuel vouchers for people in serious need.

Find out more here.

Bromley

Bromley Well has set up a broad network of warm banks with partner organisations including libraries, churches, community centres and charities.

Find out more here.

Camden

Camden has opened its doors to those living in the borough struggling through the winter cold.

Warm spaces include leisure centres, gyms, libraries and children’s centres. The latter will host story time and rhyme workshops for kids.

Find out more here.

City of London

Stay warm in the Square Mile this winter at spaces including the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre, which offers free wifi, toilets and charging facilities, and All Hallows by the Tower Church.

Find out more here.

Croydon

Croydon has a range of warm spaces to choose from. Ashburton Hall & Park – Café is offering free tea, coffee and biscuits and free hot shower facilities.

Find out more here.

Ealing

Ealing are helping those in need with warm spaces over the coming months.

Churches, libraries, cafés and hubs such as West Ealing Community Library and Pitshanger Methodist Church are on the list of places open to residents.

The borough is also providing a free service called Healthy Homes Ealing offering all residents advice on how to make your home more energy efficient.

Find out more here.

Enfield

Enfield Council is providing warm food over Christmas to those nearby at various locations.

There will also be free wifi, public PCs, over 100 online learning courses, e-services such as Press Reader giving free access to all newspapers and magazines, and community space available over the cold winter period.

Find out more here.

Greenwich

Royal Greenwich is welcoming people to three different types of warm banks: community locations, retail venues and community activities.

Services include comfy seating, hot drinks, and access to wifi depending on timings.

Meals may be available at a discount, and some warm banks in the borough are the National Maritime Museum, Bromley Reform Synagogue and Mycenae House.

Find out more here.

Hackney

Hackney libraries are free to visit and open to everyone all year round. You can use them to read books, charge your phone and access free wifi.

There is also a ‘Kind Coat’ scheme where you can collect a free warm coat, or donate a warm coat to someone that needs one, at libraries in Stoke Newington, Homerton, Shoreditch, Stamford Hill, Dalston CLR James, Hackney Central and Clapton.

Find out more here.

Hammersmith and Fulham

Hammersmith and Fulham are providing warm welcome locations in partnership with local organisations such as Our Lady of Fatima Church, Sands End Arts & Community Centre (SEACC) and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

All locations are accessible and have free access to toilets. Some provide free food and drink.

Find out more here.

Haringey

The Haringey Warm Welcome scheme features ‘Your Local Living Rooms’ run by local businesses, organisations, and places of worship.

The scheme also includes ‘Wall of Kindness’ which means you can pay ahead for anyone who needs coffee or a sandwich in participating cafés.

Find out more here.

Harrow

Harrow Giving is organising a collection of Warm Hubs in the borough. The charity is appealing for donations and volunteers to keep spaces running.

The 29 warm spaces offer different services, so be sure to check the list.

Find out more here.

Havering

Havering have opened a number of warm banks for anyone in the area to use including at Havering Road Methodist Church, The Hope Café and YMCA Romford.

Some venues also offer hot drinks, activities, and other services such as free wifi.

Find out more here.

Hillingdon

Hillingdon is providing free, warm and welcoming places for residents to visit during the colder winter days.

The libraries - such as Charville Library, Hayes and Christ Church, Uxbridge - will provide free wifi and access to computers to all visitors.

There will be mental health support sessions in the centres, and drop-in sessions giving advice on how to better insulate your home.

Find out more here.

Hounslow

All 11 libraries and four leisure centres in Hounslow are doubling as warm spaces until March 2023. These include Bedfont Lane Community Centre and Gunnersbury Park & Museum.

Available services are hot drinks, wifi, a seating area, tables for working or recreation, books and games, while activities will be offered, as well as cooked or prepared food.

Find out more here.

Islington

Warm community centres such as Finsbury Library and Elizabeth House Community Centre are open in Islington to help residents cope with rising energy costs.

Find out more here.

Kensington and Chelsea

Kensington and Chelsea have warm spaces providing a stop for a cup of tea, or a drop-in activity for the kids.

Participating locations are Dalgarno Trust, Bay 20, Brompton Library and The Tabernacle.

Find out more here.

Kingston

Kingston Council has foodbanks, warm spaces and citizens’ advice centres open to residents for use.

The Hook Centre offers adult colouring and puzzles, story times, memory sharing, rhyme times for children, lego workshops, working spaces, and computer and internet access.

Find out more here.

Lambeth

Lambeth Council has partnered with the voluntary sector to open warm spaces for people to visit for free, relax, stay warm and meet others in the community.

Aspire Care Services provides tea and coffee, free wifi and access to computers, and free workshops on C.V. writing and basic IT skills.

Find out more here.

Lewisham

Lewisham’s libraries are the main providers of warm spaces throughout the borough over the winter months.

Lewisham Library is temporarily closed, so Manor House and Glassmill are the closest Warm Welcome spaces.

Find out more here.

Merton

All of the Merton libraries will double as warm spaces to help people struggling with the cost-of-living.

Services include debt advice, help with benefits, energy saving, and assistance getting online and with computer skills.

Find out more here.

Newham

Newham Council have several Warm Havens open across the borough including Applecart Arts, Newham Muslim Forum and Custom House Library.

Services provided are access to books, wifi, PCs, information, hot drinks and activities.

There is also a small grants programme offering £500 to eligible residents.

Find out more here.

Redbridge

Redbridge Council is offering Community Living Rooms, their warm spaces initiative. Community halls and libraries are partnering with the council to help deliver different services to those living there.

Cost of living events are on offer on a drop-in basis to help people cope with financial challenges.

Find out more here.

Richmond

Across Richmond are a variety of warm spaces and council facilities helping people get through the cold winter.

Castelnau Library is offering charging facilities, wheelchair access, baby changing facilities, a free hot drink, free wifi, comfy seating areas, activities and board games

Find out more here.

Southwark

Southwark has opened warm banks where visitors can keep warm, have a cup of tea, or take part in an activity this winter.

In some spaces there is also food available and advice about the cost of living.

The Tate Modern, Canada Water Library and Haddon Hall Baptist Church are on the list of hubs.

Find out more here.

Sutton

All libraries in Sutton will serve as warm spaces throughout the winter. Volunteers will be on hand at certain times to help people with advice.

Services include free access to wifi, computers and assistance with using them if needed.

Find out more here.

Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets are using libraries at Cubitt Town and Bethnal Green as well as Idea Stores at Whitechapel, Bow and Chrisp Street as their warm spaces this winter.

There will be hot drinks, squash and biscuits available for service users. The warm hubs will also host board games sessions to keep residents entertained.

Find out more here.

Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest council launched a Winter Spaces Network of Community Living Rooms, Community Kitchens, and Libraries for residents to visit over the coming months.

Benefits include the ability to relax or socialise in a cosy warm place, have a free hot snack, and have a comfortable place to study or work.

Find out more here.

Wandsworth

Wandsworth will welcome residents to warm spaces across the borough this winter. Libraries, churches, community centres and children’s centres are available for use with a number of services.

York Gardens Children’s Centre offers free hot meals, activities and charging facilities to families with schoolchildren only. Earlsfield Baptist Church offers newspapers and free hot meals to all.

Find out more here.

Westminster

Winter in Westminster will involve warm spaces around the borough to help with the cold weather.

The council has a directory of all of the options available to residents, from Pimlico Library to Maida Vale Library and Fitzrovia Community Centre to The Portman Family Hub, Marylebone.

Find out more here.