THE CINEMA.
get out the red carpet with the 6 best film experiences in london from independent movie theatres to stellar outdoor cinemas
● BFI IMAX
TOTAL, UNADULTERATED CINEMATIC IMMERSION
It’s getting tougher and tougher for cinemas to pry us away from our amazing home setups, with surround sound, crisp massive screens with more colours than real life, and a distinct lack of prats disturbing you with their phones. But sometimes the spectacle demands that you head down to the cinema, whether that is for the latest Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve extravaganza. And when spectacle is what’s needed then the IMAX is London’s very much no-nonsense answer. With its absurdly large screens and state-of-the-art sounds systems, cinema doesn’t get much better than this.
Waterloo
bfi.org.uk
photos from @britishfilminstitute
● SECRET CINEMA
DON’T JUST WATCH IT, LIVE IT
The first rule of Secret Cinema is that you do not talk about Secret Cinema. The second rule about… wait, that’s not quite right. Secret Cinema truly is something special, bringing your favourite movies to real life across multiple experiences every year. Whether it be the futuristic Asian food markets of Blade Runner or the zombie apocalypse of 28 Days Later, you won’t believe it until you live it. And it’s all about getting involved so get your costumes ready, watch the movies to prepare & binge listen to the soundtracks in advance. But shhhh we can’t tell you any more right now - this is a secret cinema after all…
Across London
secretcinema.com
photos from @secret_cinema
● THE CASTLE CINEMA
ART DECO GLAMOUR, LOCAL SOUL
Cinema at its core is about entertainment. And sometimes that means heading over to the multiplex for the latest dumb superhero move. But sometimes its about going to a smaller cinema for something a bit more interesting. London has tons of independent cinemas that will put most cities to shame. We love them. Nowhere more so than The Castle, which brings old school cinema to the modern day. And the community that surrounds this place is in fact what makes it special. Join some avid cinephiles, watch a quirky little something special, and become a small part of somewhere with a big heart.
Hackney
thecastlecinema.com
photos from @thecastlecinema
THE LONDON 100 WINNER / BEST CINEMA
● THE PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA
THE CULT FAVOURITE CLUBHOUSE
The PCC has taken the art of cinema and super-sized it. Not only do they show all the latest releases but they are also have a constantly changing list of cult movies on their screens. Across just one week you can have movies covering Italian classics, James Bond, romance, blaxploitation, the Vietnam war, aliens, Indiana Jones, surrealist horror, anime, dystopian societies, anime, B movies and sci-fi. Ooof good job. Wanna watch the extended Lord of the Rings back-to-back? You got it. Singalong to The Sound of Music? Sure thing. There’s so much choice here you will always find something you love.
Soho
princecharlescinema.com
photos from @princecharlescinema
● ROOFTOP FILM CLUB
THE SKY IS YOUR THEATRE
Rooftop Film Club atop the Bussey Building in Peckham is one of our very favourite summertime experiences. Head on up the four or five flights of steps, stock up on all the food & drinks your heart desires, grab yourself a deckchair of your choosing, whack on your personal headphones, and watch an amazing cult movie with beautiful views all around as the sun sets and you wrap up in a blanket under the city stars. Oppenheimer, Jurassic Park, The Grand Budapest Hotel, this place has such an amazing selection of movies that you’ll never get bored of what’s playing. An absolute winner.
Peckham
rooftopcinemaclub.com
photos from @rooftopfilmclub
● BACKYARD CINEMA
MOVIES YOU CAN WALK INTO
Cinema doesn’t get much more fun than this. With an amazingly curated list of both the classics and the latest blockbusters there's absolutely something for everyone here. You could be boarding your flight with Backyard Airlines for some in-flight entertainment, or checking into your hotel at Miami Beach, prop yourself up at the beach bar, taking your place on the sandy shores for your movie of choice. It’s a bit silly, but incredibly fun, and no better way of enjoying some of the best movies out there.
Bermondsey
backyardcinema.co.uk
photos from @backyardcinema