[video src="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ5sGSNj9gY/?taken-by=esquirescoffee_uk"]https://www.instagram.com/p/BVPlmongXNC/?taken-by=vennelsdurhamhttps://www.instagram.com/p/BVPlmongXNC/?taken-by=vennelsdurham{"id":120151,"date":"2026-04-05T14:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/?p=120151"},"modified":"2026-04-05T14:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T13:00:14","slug":"places-to-study-other-than-the-billy-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/places-to-study-other-than-the-billy-b\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Places To Study Other Than The Billy B"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s deadline season, and that means the Billy B becomes ten times as busy. It\u2019s dog eat dog- if you\u2019re not out of the study room in time for the next wide eyed, sleep deprived student, then be prepared for looks that kill. It is every man for himself; not a chair is spare, shelves are bare, book recall battles ensue. You leave the Billy B with a little piece of your soul behind. Not everyone enjoys the silence reminiscent of a police interrogation, or the crowded table, or the strict no eating policy, so, we\u2019ve compiled a few alternative study spaces that give you the chance to make your study sessions moderately enjoyable. Here are some good places to study other than the Billy B:<\/p>\n

1. Caf\u00e9s<\/h3>\n

This is probably the easiest and most accessible alternative option. Durham is full of caf\u00e9<\/u>s that offer an array of artisan hot chocolates and flat whites for these cold, harsh, summative-filled, winter days. Here are some of our highlights:<\/p>\n

Esquires\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n

Situated on the edge of Framwellgate Bridge, it has stunning views of the river and is the prime position for people watching as the steady traffic of Durham life flows past. There\u2019s also free WIFI, large tables perfect for group work, and, upstairs, there\u2019s a quieter and spacious area for students to work (as if it couldn\u2019t get any better, you can also inquire into booking this space for meetings\/large revision sessions!)<\/p>\n

Vennels\u00a0<\/a><\/h2>\n

Though small, it\u2019s a quaint and relaxing environment, and is home to (in my opinion) the best hot chocolate in Durham. Perhaps best for some light seminar reading, you can still procure an appropriately candid Instagram of you actively \u2018studying\u2019 whilst avoiding the queues of people outside Flat White who, I\u2019ve come to find, do not appreciate your thoughts on Freudian psychology or Russian literary criticism detaining their precious table.<\/p>\n

Costa\/ Starbucks<\/h2>\n

A cultural staple. Everyone\u2019s friend. The land of institutionalised coffee franchises provides reliable wifi, plug sockets, comfy chairs, and the promise of drinking something sweet enough to keep your teeth hurting more than your brain.<\/p>\n

\n<\/h6>\n

Honourable mentions<\/h2>\n

Despite not being a caf\u00e9, the university Waterstones has one or two tables. Also, Caf\u00e9dral (especially popular with English students), has some of the best scones, believe it or not, beyond Buckinghamshire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Departmental\/College study rooms<\/h3>\n

If you get easily distracted by the noise of the bustle of everyday life outside your stressed bubble of concentration, look into the alternative study rooms available in your college. Think reading room or JCR. Think dining room, college bar, or empty conference room. Additionally, some departments have alternative spaces specifically for studying, so make some inquiries and make use of the vast landscape of the science site (since you\u2019re paying for it).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Cathedral\/Churches\/Palace Green<\/h3>\n

Make the most of Durham\u2019s best aesthetic features: its beautiful historic buildings. The cathedral, the white-capped centre of our daily lives, has a serene and quiet atmosphere which is suitable for book reading. We’re not saying bring your 4 core textbooks, 3 binders, a laptop and set up camp in a church, but<\/em> if you’re an English Lit student with another Shakespeare play to get through, or a fascinating theorist to battle with, it might be productive to take a pew.<\/p>\n

Also, the summer is a great time to throw down a picnic blanket on Palace Green as you can make a start on the mountain of exam prep and still see the outside world, (as long as the cast of Thor aren\u2019t milling around). The opportunities are endless.<\/p>\n

\n<\/h6>\n

4. DSU<\/h3>\n

From a building with breath taking architecture and historic achievement, to the architecturally award-winning student union. Though it may not give off the same level of serenity as the cathedral or a cute caf\u00e9 in town, it\u2019s the only place where you can get a good meal deal, learn to pole dance, and an essay done without actually leaving. And if that doesn\u2019t convince you, you\u2019ll be forced to look at your laptop screen to avoid the aesthetic disappointment that is the concrete mass that surrounds you. Either way, you\u2019ll definitely have a productive session, and that\u2019s all that matters, right?<\/p>\n

5. Your room<\/h3>\n

Much like marmite, your opinion on studying in your own bedroom is a love\/ hate relationship. For those who can\u2019t quite resist the urge to begin a Netflix binge, here are a few ways you can make studying in your room more productive:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Make sure you\u2019re comfortable<\/strong>: work doesn\u2019t have to take place at your desk. Make your bed, gather your blankets and cushions, relax, and sink into chilled-out but effective work mode.<\/li>\n
  • Create the ambiance<\/strong>: hit up Spotify for some study playlists, classic soundtracks, or some obscure indie tracks (spotify is only \u00a34.99 for students).<\/li>\n
  • Have a bounty of snacks<\/strong>: TREAT YOURSELF. You\u2019re studying. You\u2019re trying. You\u2019ve opened a JStor tab. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TREAT YOURSELF. Crack open the poundland treat bags, the crackers and hummus, the 44p chocolate chip biscuits from Tesco, and embark on your journey into oblivion with a full stomach.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Can you think of any more good places to study other than the Billy B? Let us know down below!<\/h2>\n

    *This piece is a collaboration with\u00a0Rhiannon Morris.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Featured image source: weheartit.com<\/h6>\n
    \n<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It\u2019s deadline season, and that means the Billy B becomes ten times as busy. It\u2019s dog eat dog- if you\u2019re not out of the study room in time for the next wide eyed, sleep deprived student, then be prepared for looks that kill. It is every man for himself; not a chair is spare, shelves…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22758,"featured_media":120153,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8010],"tags":[10650,8011,8015],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-120151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-school","tag-billy-b","tag-durham","tag-university-of-durham"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Places To Study Other Than The Billy B - Society19 UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We\u2019ve compiled a few alternative study spaces at the University of Durham that give you the chance to make your study sessions moderately enjoyable. 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