London Best Cinemas
Across the UK we have countless modern and old-fashioned cinemas. We’ve grown fond of watching movies in large auditoriums, on modern screens, eating popcorn in between. Some people, on the other hand, like the intimate atmosphere of a small room, where a film is being watched in full concentration by a dozen of people or so. Niche cinemas, but also the biggest blockbusters can be seen in several famous London cinemas. Many of them have a history going back several generations. Check out our list of the best cinemas in London, then check the repertoire and head to the cinema!
The Odeon ( 24-26 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LQ)
The Odeon is an iconic venue and well known even outside the UK. Tourists associate it with glitzy premieres and the red carpet. Inside it seats a record number of people for a cinema – 1,683! If such a huge hall overwhelms you, you can go to the Odeon Mini Studios – a real Mini version of the Odeon. It is located right next to the big Odeon and is a much more intimate place with only 60 people. One thing’s for sure – films are really great to watch in such legendary venues!
BFI IMAX (1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, London, SE1 8XR)
This is said to be the largest IMAX screen in the UK and even one of the largest in Europe. At 540 square metres, this screen is one of the main reasons to visit. Watching one of the most expensive blockbusters with a great sound system and such a huge screen is like being part of a movie! Although tickets are not the cheapest, no one is forcing you to come here every day. Choose one premiere film and enjoy an exciting experience you will never forget!
BFI Southbank (Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XT)
The BFI Southbank is also one of the best cinemas in London. And one of the most popular – it has held its place on the list of popular venues since 2007, the year it opened. Interestingly, it is one of the main cinemas of the British Film Institute network, which is why it is often the venue for meetings with famous directors, actors – film people known for their best film works. Thanks to this, this spot remains one of the most favourite among tourists, as well as Londoners. You can often find an inspiring event here, or spend some time in one room with a movie star.
Cineworld (Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX)
London’s O2 Arena has already hosted many concerts and matches, and is visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. It’s more than just an arena, as there’s also enough room for other entertainments such as… a cinema. Cineworld at the O2 Arena is a huge cinema. It has the widest screen in Europe, called Sky Superscreen. Soon it will be the biggest cinema in London, with the largest number of seats. The cinema is especially known for the Sundance Festival London, which takes place every year. This is when the biggest cinema stars from all over the world come to London. A must-see for all movie buffs.
The Barbican Cinema (Silk Street, City of London, EC2Y 8DS, https://www.barbican.org.uk/)
The Barbican is a unique interior, the likes of which would make any New York opera house proud. The beautifully landscaped space and great design is an invitation to visit this enormous cinema. One of the three auditoriums has a total of 280 seats. Here you can watch comedies, niche dramas, but also big and expensive productions full of explosions and action. All of this on extremely comfortable seats with a variety of delicacies – you choose what you fancy tonight. Beautiful décor, good quality sound and picture together with delicious food. With something for everyone, we 100% recommend this one of the best cinemas in London.
Empire on Leicester Square (Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7NA)
One of the oldest cinemas in London. Opened in 1884 as a theatre, it has seen famous film premieres. At the end of the Second World War it was transformed into a cinema, combining modernity with tradition. Within its walls, steeped in history and tradition, you will find the largest “non-Imax” screen in London. However, the repertoire tends to focus on big Hollywood and British films. If you’re a fan of independent cinema, you’ll have to choose somewhere other than the iconic The Empire.
Vue Westfield (Westfield Shopping Centre, London, W12 7GF)
You probably know Westfield as a shopping mall, but it’s also a giant cinema. There’s more at Westfield than just shopping, as cinema goers will also find cinema halls with 17 screens here. Although some of the halls are standard cinemas, nothing out of the ordinary, a few luxurious halls certainly deserve your attention.
…and now a few, really old cinemas!
Screen on the Green (83 Upper Street, London, N1 0NU)
The Screen on the Green is one of the oldest cinemas in the whole England. It first opened its doors to film lovers in 1913. Here we have a choice of standard and luxury seating. There’s certainly a whiff of the over traditional, century old cinema in the air. This makes it stand out from the rest. Famous actors, directors and producers are frequent guests of this place. Everyone seems to love this unique aura!
Rio Cinema Dalston (107 Kingsland High St, London, E8 2PY)
The first cinema goers entered its room in 1915, the place was then called The Kingsland Empire. It went through many changes over its first 60 years, until 1976. Then it changed its name to the Rio and… that’s how it stayed. This is a really rare place on the city map, because here you will find access to independent cinema and various niche productions from around the world. Especially interesting are screenings of art films and small, low-budget productions. Definitely, one of the best cinemas in London!
The Electric (64-66 Redchurch St, London, E2 7DP)
And last but not the least, The Electric in Shoreditch! It was also once known as the Aubin. The owners go to great lengths to make the Electric a luxurious and spectator-friendly venue. Hence the comfortable leather armchairs or blankets that each audience member can use. Additionally, to make them feel at home, they also have a table for their treats. Definitely a cinema worth recommending, which will give us a homely atmosphere, but will also allow us to drift away from problems for a while. With a modern screen and its friendly atmosphere the venue definitely gets our recommendation!
Briefly, if you fancy going to the cinema tonight you surely have a vast choice of the facilities.