Cinema In London | The Ultimate Guide

When you’re choosing which cinema to visit, you’re going to want to look at the big picture…

Sure, the location comes into it. As does which films are on, where. But what about the seats, the snacks, the booze – the experience? Because these days that experience has moved up a few notches from the stale popcorn and sticky floors of your childhood multiplex – we’re talking plush velvet sofas, cashmere blankets and Champagne for two.

To ensure you make the right choice at the right time, here’s our list of the finest cinemas in London, as well as what makes them so…

JUMP TO: NORTH LONDON | EAST LONDON | CENTRAL LONDON | SOUTH LONDON | WEST LONDON

NORTH LONDON CINEMAS

Everyman Hampstead | Hampstead
Best for: seat-service

It’s the original Everyman – a beautiful two-screener boasting both comfy chairs and sofas, as well as fancy food and drink delivered straight to your seat. Programming wise they show a mix of mainstream films and smaller independents, with a few live broadcasts (theatre, ballet, opera etc.) thrown into the mix.

Also check out: Everyman Belsize Park and Everyman King’s Cross.

Address: 5 Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead, NW3 6TX | Adult ticket price: £15+ | Ticket promos: none (apart from membership) | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Lexi Cinema | Kensal Rise
Best for: supporting the local community 

Zute Lightfoot

We like the Lexi because it gives back. It’s staffed predominantly by local volunteers and gives 100% of profits to charity. Boutique in size, there are a couple of rows of regular cinema seats, as well as two rows of slightly comfier velvet tub chairs at the front. For drinks, they have a small bar with some great craft beers, and there’s options like Joe & Seph’s popcorn for snacks.

Address: 194B Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green, NW10 3JU | Adult ticket price: £8-13.50 | Ticket promos: Matinees on 2nd Tuesdays of the month: £7 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Screen On The Green | Islington
Best for: retro lovers

It’s a one screen wonder offering both seats and sofas. As a member of the Everyman family, it also offers the same seat-service as Hampstead, meaning you can order a ‘Build Your Own Sundae’ with any two ice-cream scoops and your choice of three scrumptious toppings, before heading to the screen, where someone will hand-deliver it to you.

Address: 83 Upper St, London N1 0NP | Adult ticket price: £13.95+ | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Arthouse Crouch End | Crouch End
Best for: programming beyond cinema

As the name suggests, this handsome former Salvation Army Hall offers cinema, live music, comedy, and theatre. Cinema-wise they’re definitely in favour of more independent, arthouse stuff, although they do occasionally screen some of the bigger blockbusters. We’re particularly fond of them for their ‘baby-safe’ screenings at Tuesday lunchtimes, offering mums and dads the chance to catch a film worry-free and instead, openly ooh and ah along with their little’uns.

Address: 159A Tottenham Lane, London, N8 9BT | Adult ticket price: £12+ | Ticket promos: 20% off alcoholic drinks daily 6-9pm | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Everyman | Muswell Hill
Best for: seeing new films in style

A Grade II* listed art deco gem offering pizza, snacks, and build-your-own sundaes. Besides new releases, they also screen recorded theatre, opera and ballet shows, as well as the occasional documentary and gig flick. And on top of that, there’s even special premiere-style screenings with Champagne receptions and a black tie dress code.

Address: Fortis Green Road, London N10 3HP | Adult ticket price: £13.95+ | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Finsbury Park Picturehouse | Finsbury Park
Best for: reclining seats & legroom

The newest of the Picturehouse clan, this behemoth has seven screens with which to show all manner of blockbusters, classic flicks, documentaries, and arthouse specials. And very importantly, the seats ALL recline. But it’s most eye-opening feature? Is the mural in its lobby by British painter Dale Lewis. It’s a mad, slightly surreal, vibrantly colourful jumble of distorted faces, warped bodies, bizarre animals, and serene flowers. It’ll probably make more sense after a visit to the Members Bar.

Address: Unit 1 Cinema LS, 17 City North Place, N4 3FU | Adult ticket price: £11.80+ | Ticket promos: Mondays all day (not bank hols) £7.90 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Phoenix | Finchley
Best for: a touch of history 

Basil Jradeh/Wikimedia Commons

Open since 1912, it’s one of the oldest cinemas in the UK, built when cinema first became a thing. It’s also loved for being independent which, despite recent money troubles, it’s proudly managed to remain. Admittedly the lobby and cafe could probably do with a touch of modernising, but the stripped-back, mismatched thing they have going on definitely has its own sort of charm. Either way the single screen is beautiful – art-deco in style with red seats and a thick gold curtain – screening mostly arthouse and independent films.

Address: 52 High Road, East Finchley, N2 9PJ | Adult ticket price: £8.50+ | Ticket promos: Mondays (not bank hols) £7 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Stow Film Lounge | Walthamstow
Best for: unusual settings

Stow Film Lounge describe themselves as the “antithesis of the multiplex”, and it’s true – so radical are they, they don’t even have a permanent home. Instead, they pop up in unusual and spectacular venues across North London, from churches to forest clearings. The roster tends to be populated with classic films, and often features a little something extra, like the ‘Cabaraoke’ that followed their recent screening of Cabaret.

Address: Ever-changing | Adult ticket price: £10| Ticket promos: None | Membership? No | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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EAST LONDON CINEMAS

Barbican Cinema | Barbican
Best for: making a day of it

As well as two art galleries, two theatres, a concert hall and a tropical conservatory, The Barbican offers a three-screen cinema, one of which holds a mighty 280 seats. As well as most of the mainstream stuff, they’re notably good at programming interesting festival screenings, as well as some older stuff, documentaries and foreign language films, often accompanied by Q&As.

Address: Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS | Adult ticket price: £12 | Ticket promos: Mon £6 | Membership? No | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Hackney Picturehouse | Hackney
Best for: pre or post hot food and fancy snacks

It’s a pretty big, modern, glass-fronted cinema in the middle of Mare Street – opposite Hackney Empire. There are four screens in total, showing everything from big blockbusters to smaller arthouse pieces; foreign language films; documentaries; and live arts broadcasts. On the ground floor you’ll find a relaxed, all-day restaurant and bar, ideal for freelancers, or bite to eat  – burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and salads – before or after the film. On the top floor is Hackney Attic – a multi-purpose arts space offering up poetry readings, sketch nights, and comedy.

Address: 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE | Adult ticket price: £14.40 | Ticket promos: Mondays (not bank hols) £7.90 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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TT Cinema | Shoreditch
Best for: surprising a date

Aside from housing a cellar bar, a bottle shop, a cocktail workshop, and a rooftop terrace, TT Liquor somehow found space to squeeze in an intimate 52-seater screening room, too. They show classic flicks Tuesday – Friday, and apart from being one of the most unusual cinemas in town, they’re also one of the cheapest: your £15 ticket will net you a bespoke cocktail (designed to match with the film in some way), and half a pizza to boot.

Address: TT Liquor, 17B Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA | Adult ticket price: £15 | Ticket promos: None | Membership? No | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Close-Up Cinema | Shoreditch
Best for: true cinephiles

Close-Up Cinema is a film-lovers paradise. The intimate 40 seater screening room shows experimental, arthouse and pioneering films only, and is connected to a mediatheque with over 20,000 titles to explore, including some indie films that aren’t available anywhere else. They often host events with filmmakers and directors here, and the library lounge up front is a lovely place to pass the time, whether you’re planning on watching something or not.

Address: 97 Sclater Street, London E1 6HR | Adult ticket price: £12 | Ticket promos: None | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Genesis | Stepney
Best for: group al fresco drinks post-film

As the name suggests, Genesis was set up with the hope of revitalising Tower Hamlets’ then non-existent cinema scene. It’s not that cinemas never existed there – in fact, at one point there were 33. However, as the industry struggled, more and more doors closed until there was nothing left. In 1999 however, Genesis was born, offering up five beautifully designed screens (the guy who designed them works most of his time designing film-sets), a café, and bar with live events from poetry slams to swing dancing (and a sprawling, up-cycled outdoor space for big groups). Plus two of the screens have sofas, and bars, meaning minimum effort and maximum drunk, comfortable, enjoyment.

Address: 93-95 Mile End Road, Bethnal Green, E1 4UJ | Adult ticket price: £5.50 – £10.50 | Ticket promos: None | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Rich Mix | Bethnal Green
Best for: diverse programming

Craig Gibson

It’s an independent cross-arts centre and cinema, housed in an old leather factory in Shoreditch. There are three screens, showcasing everything from mainstream blockbusters to international film festivals. Beyond the cinema there’s live music, theatre, dance, and more. They’re particularly great at giving under-represented minority groups a platform; plus, they’re a charity, whose profits all go to supporting arts and education in the local community, so 100% worth parting with your money for.

Address: 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA | Adult ticket price: £11.90 | Ticket promos: Mon & Tues £6 for locals; £7 Mondays for everyone | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Castle Cinema | Hackney
Best for: day-to-night mode

A 1913 picture palace that was recently lovingly restored by a couple of locals. Now it’s a beautiful, welcoming and unpretentious spot to catch the latest releases, as well as a home for the deeply special 16mm film night Ciné Real. Beyond the screening room there’s a glitzy cocktail bar with Chesterfield sofas – open all day if you want to get some work done before kicking back.

Address: First floor, 64-66 Brooksby’s Walk, London E9 6DA | Adult ticket price: £15.50 | Ticket promos: None, but young members get even better discounts | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.

CENTRAL LONDON CINEMAS

Picturehouse Central | Soho
Best for: beautiful design and exceptional pick’n’mix

Tickets here don’t come cheap, although the Central London location, beautiful design, all-day cafe, first floor bar, and pick’n’mix served by the cup (meaning you can really squash things in to get the most for your money) almost make up for it. Plus, members can access (and bring 3 friends to) the stylish rooftop bar. They also have a dedicated documentary screen which means – beyond big blockbusters, indie, arthouse, and foreign language films – they screen daily documentaries from around the world.

Address: Corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7DH | Adult ticket price: £17.20 | Ticket promos: Mondays & matinees £14.20 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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BFI Southbank | Waterloo
Best for: film festivals and celebrity spotting

It’s kind of the epicentre of film in London – a melting-pot of actors, producers, directors, and film-buffs, working, hanging-out, or there to catch a film. It’s well-known for big film previews and star-filled Q&As, plus it’s the flagship venue for the BFI London Film Festival, as well as BFI Flare (the LGBTQ+ equivalent). It’s also home to the world’s largest film archive with 50,000 fiction films, over 100,000 non-fiction films, and around 625,000 TV programmes available to screen for free. Plus they have a library stacked with film and television-related books, and a film store selling movies and TV boxsets from around the world. In case you get hungry, they have two all-day restaurant-bars, one with a terrace over-looking the river, ideal for a romantic post film night-cap.

Address: Belvedere Road, Lambeth, SE1 8XT| Adult ticket price: varies | Ticket promos: £3 tickets on the day, every day for 16-25 year olds, and £5 for film festivals | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Garden Cinema | Covent Garden
Best for: arthouse gems in a date-worthy setting

Covent Garden’s got a new indie cinema. It’s a subterranean art deco jewel-box, with two screens (and another to join in 2023). As an arthouse cinema, they incorporate new releases alongside foreign language films and cult seasons, like the films of Marlon Brando; women recording the mafia; and a dive into the golden age of French cinema.

Address: 39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ | Adult ticket price: £12 | Ticket promos: Lifetime membership (£20) gives you £10 tickets and special £2 member screenings | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Prince Charles Cinema | Soho
Best for: interactive screenings and all-night marathons

It’s the only independent cinema left in London’s West End, which is both sad and exciting, as it speaks to the quality of its programming. The only criteria they have is that a film is good, which means you’ll find a mix of both blockbusters and more arthouse stuff. They also programme a whole load of great, older classics screened over fun events – everything from Jurassic Park all-nighters to evenings dedicated entirely to 35mm film.

Address: 7 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BY | Adult ticket price: £10.50-20 | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Cinema at Selfridges | Oxford Street
Best for: ice cream.

It might seem odd, but cinemas used to be a pretty common fixture at department stores in the 20s and 30s. Reviving this grand tradition are the people behind Olympic Studios in Barnes (see below), who now operate three plush screening rooms in the basement of Selfridges. They’re boutique in scale, serve the finest ice creams known to humanity, and are kitted out with reclining Norwegian seats. Whatever they are.

Address: 40 Duke Street, London, W1U 1AT | Adult ticket price: £20 | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Curzon Bloomsbury | Bloomsbury
Best for: documentaries, baby

It’s a six screen cinema, with reclining seats. It’s also home to Bertha Dochouse – the UK’s first dedicated documentary screen, meaning docs, docs, docs; all week long.

Address: The Brunswick Centre, WC1N 1AW | Adult ticket price: £16.50 or £9 for docs | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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BFI Imax | Waterloo
Best for: big blockbusters 

It’s the biggest cinema screen in the UK, nearly as tall as five double-decker buses stacked which – alongside a 12,000 Watt, state-of-the-art surround sound system, and a wapping 500-seat capacity – makes it the ideal place to lose yourself in big blockbuster films.

Address: 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank, SE1 8XR | Adult ticket price: £14+ | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Curzon Soho | Soho
Best for: a laid-back, Central London escape

If you fancy something a little more low-key than Picturehouse Central, then Curzon Soho might be your bag. It’s still got the same winning Central London location, but it’s smaller, and a little more laid-back. You enter to a ground floor cafe-bar where you can get yourself some cinema snacks, and a soft drink, beer, or glass of wine, before heading to one of three screens. Here you’ll find a mixed bag of stuff, with highlights including previews of smaller art films; festival screenings; and a regular Docdays documentary strand.

Address: 99 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 5DY | Adult ticket price: £12.50+ | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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ICA | St James’s
Best for: feeling like a radical

Founded in 1946 – moving to its current location in the Spring of ’68 – the ICA was set up with the hope of showcasing, and leading discussions around contemporary art of all forms. It’s not just a gallery or a cinema – or at least its directors don’t see it that way. Instead they see it as ‘a free space, in which the deepest questions that concern us as individuals and society can be explored’. It’s a place that prides itself in pushing boundaries, and being first: the birthplace of pop art; the first place to stage major institutional exhibitions by Pablo Picasso, Damien Hirst, and Steve McQueen; and concerts by The Clash, The Smiths, and David Bowie. Cinema-wise it’s well-known for its support of independent film, which still continues to this day. You’ll find independent releases; arthouse films; foreign language films; retrospective collections; documentaries; festival screenings; and 35mm screenings; all within their two simple, stripped-back screens.

Address: The Mall, St. James’s, SW1Y 5AH | Adult ticket price: £13 | Ticket promos: Tuesday matinees £6, daily matinees £8 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Regent Street Cinema | Oxford Circus
Best for: a touch of history

Built in 1848, it’s considered the birthplace of British cinema, as it was here that they screened the first ever moving picture. It actually closed down in 1980 to be used as a university lecture hall, however, come 2015 it reopened its doors to London’s cinema folk, offering a mixture of all of the latest movies; as well as repertory screenings; retrospectives; documentaries; animation; experimental cinema; and both 16mm and 35mm film.

Address: 307 Regent St, Marylebone, W1B 2HW | Adult ticket price: £15+ | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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SOUTH LONDON CINEMAS

Everyman Borough Yards | London Bridge
Best for: nearby restaurants

The newest member of the Everyman clan is also the first opening in the all-new, gigantic Borough Yards development. Presumably knowing that they have to compete with the dozens of world-class bars & restaurants surrounding the venue itself, they’ve wisely elected to create a stellar menu all delivered to your seat – you’ll find tempura prawns, buffalo mozzarella & salami, a list of brioche-burned ‘Spielburgers’, a build-your-own sundae menu, batches of freshly baked cookie dough, and a full cocktail bar too.

Address: 3 Dirty Lane, SE1 9PA | Adult ticket price: £16.90 | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Backyard Cinema: Capital Studios | Wandsworth
Best for: total immersion

Backyard Cinema literally began life as a pop up in a back garden. A few years on, it’s now made a permanent home in former TV studios in Wandsworth, which it fills with two seasonally-changing, properly immersive screening rooms, with pre-show actors, amazing sets and themed food & drink.

Address: 13 Wandsworth Plain, SW18 1ET | Adult ticket price: £20+ | Ticket promos: None | Membership? No | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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PeckhamPlex | Peckham
Best for: £4.99 screenings

PeckhamPlex is not fancy, but it’s cheap: £4.99 cheap, all day, every day.

Address: 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST | Adult ticket price: £4.99 | Ticket promos: Occasional deals when you sign up to their newsletter | Membership? No | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Cinema in the Arches | Battersea
Best for: quality screenings in an intimate space

Another hit from the Olympic Studios team, The Cinema in the Arches is set under the railway tracks by Battersea Power Station. The three pocket-sized screening rooms are kitted out with state of the art tech, including Dolby 3D surround sound, laser projections, and all kinds of other wizardry you didn’t know you needed, but will definitely appreciate. Fancy bottled cocktails, drinks and gourmet snacks are all available to take in with you, or to enjoy on the terrace seating outside. Speaking of which, in the warmer months they tend to host pop-up screenings outside, right by the river – and if you prefer to stay inside, but want a bit more space, you can also check out their cinema within the power station itself.

Address: The Cinema in the Arches, 22 Arches Lane, London, SW11 8AB | Adult ticket price: £17.50 | Ticket promos: None | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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East Dulwich Picturehouse | East Dulwich
Best for: an all-day hangout

It’s a higher-end affair, located on East Dulwich’s family-friendly Lordship Lane, with fancy snacks, crafts beers, nice wines, semi-reclining seats, and a little courtyard out back, ideal for sun.

Address: 116a Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, SE22 8HD | Adult ticket price: £14.40 | Ticket promos: Mon £7.70-9.90 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Greenwich Picturehouse | Greenwich
Best for: live performance to boot

It’s a nice finishing point after a long stroll in Greenwich Park, either to curl up in one of their five cinema screens and watch a film; or to grab a drink and some food in either of their two restaurants. Some days, mostly later in the week or weekends, you might be lucky enough to stumble across some live music, or comedy, hosted for the most part in their basement lounge bar.

Address: 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich, SE10 8NN | Adult ticket price: £14.80 | Ticket promos: £7.90 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Ritzy | Brixton
Best for: location

This five-screen cinema is something of a Brixton institution, fitted with two bars – one of which spills out onto Windrush Square. As well as cinema, they offer a variety of other cultural goings-on, including live music, open mic nights, board game nights, and more. One thing to note, however, is their ongoing refusal to pay their staff London living wage, which admittedly makes it currently a difficult place to support.

Address: Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW2 1JG | Adult ticket price: £14.40+ | Ticket promos: £7.90 on Mondays (not bank hols) | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.

WEST LONDON CINEMAS

Electric Cinema | Notting Hill
Best for: the wow factor 

Over 100 years old, The Electric on Portobello Road has survived not one but two world wars. More recently it’s been taken over by the team behind members club Soho House, who – at the same time as preserving many of its rather beautiful original features – have fitted it out with a cocktail bar; big comfy chairs, sofas, and beds; individual side tables for snacks; making it undeniably one of London’s most luxurious cinemas.

Address: 191 Portobello Road, W11 2ED | Adult ticket price: Armchairs: £15-25; back-row sofa for 2 £50 (£25pp); front-row bed for 2 £40 (£20pp) | Ticket promos: Electric Sundays £15, 50% off your meal at Electric Diner on weekdays 6-9pm | Membership? Soho House members get discounts | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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The Gate Picturehouse | Notting Hill
Best for: vintage flicks in a vintage setting 

One year younger than The Electric, The Gate is a relative whippersnapper when it comes to beautiful old Edwardian cinemas. With just one screen, it’s a proper boutique experience, with fancy popcorn and Jude’s ice cream available to take in with you. The programme’s as eclectic as the interior – new releases are screened all week, with Vintage Sundays putting classic films back on the big screen. It’s also a romantic spot to catch an NT Live or ballet production in high def.

Address: 87 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JZ | Adult ticket price: £11.80-14.40 | Ticket promos: Happy Mondays – £7.90 | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Olympic Studios | Barnes
Best for: luxury inside and out

The Olympic’s a beautifully designed two-screen cinema in Barnes, boasting big, comfortable seats and sofas, all with individual bespoke brass tables specifically designed to hold a tea, coffee, or bottle of wine, alongside a bag of popcorn or sweets. Beyond the cinema they have a really lovely all-day cafe-restaurant serving seasonal produce, sourced from local suppliers, as well as freshly baked cakes. They also have a terrace, where guests are able to dine al fresco, under huge pink blossom trees.

Address: 117-123 Church Road, Barnes, SW13 9HL | Adult ticket price: £17.50 | Ticket promos: none | Membership? Yes | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Ciné Lumière
Best for: programming you can’t get anywhere else

Ciné Lumière is refined, stylish, and effortlessly cool – then again, we’d expect nothing less from the French Institute, where it’s housed. As a result, it’s the home of French cinema in London: catch classic flicks by the likes of Truffaut and Deray, or brand new releases from across the channel. Programmes are often arranged by theme, and there’s frequent special screenings too, with Q&As or post-screening discussions.

Address: Institut Français, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT | Adult ticket price: £10 | Ticket promos: £5 tickets for U25s | Membership? Oui | For exact screenings and/or to book tickets visit their website here.
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Looking for some non-moving pictures? Check out what’s on at London’s art galleries.