London for Cinema Lovers
CECILE PIN LETS YOU IN ON SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH FILMS IN LONDON THIS YEAR
Summer is over, university is starting again soon and all UCL students are currently flocking back to grey London, or for some new students, about to discover it for the first time. No worries though, Pi is here to make sure all moviegoers are kept busy and entertained during the year.
UNUSUAL CINEMAS
For when going to a basic cinema is just not enough.
POP UP SCREENS
£: Varies (£10 for summer outdoor screenings)
You can always count on POP UP Screens to have entertaining outdoor cinema events punctuating London throughout the year. They have been screening classics loved by all (such as Beetlejuice, The Big Lebowski, The Shining) all over London this summer, with tasty snacks and food provided (although you can also bring your own). They also have themed screenings planned for Halloween and Christmas, with fitting animations to accompany the films.
SECRET CINEMA
£: Varies (£78 for The Empire Strikes Back)
Secret Cinema is the pioneer of “Live Cinema”, which provides the audience with an immersive and interactive film experience. This year for example, they have recreated the sets of The Empire Strikes Back in a location kept secret (Audiences are given clues on the days coming up to the screenings), and the spectators are invited to live the film: think walking around Tatooine next to R2D2 and C-3PO with armed Stormtroopers looking on. Last year, they recreated Back to the Future.
HOT TUB CINEMA
£: Varies
The name is pretty self explanatory: at Hot Tub Cinema’s pop up screenings, you will be able to watch a selection of timeless films while being comfortably lounged in a hot tub and a drink in your hand. Note that they only accept 18s+.
Also worth checking out: Pillow Cinema, The Other Cinema
LUXURY CINEMAS
For when you’re feeling a bit fancier than the usual Odeon outing.
ELECTRIC CINEMA
£: £8-£18 in Shoreditch, £18-£45 in Portobello
With two locations (the original being on Portobello Road, the other in Shoreditch), the well-known Electric Cinema is a great place to enjoy a glass of wine and tasty snacks served at your seat, while watching the latest films on cosy armchairs (supplied with cashmere blankets of course), or even beds for a higher price (in Portobello only).
EVERYMAN BELSIZE PARK
£: Between £10.20-£13.20 for students
With a few locations in London and some in the rest of the UK, Everyman’s (a luxury cinema chain) Belsize Park is one of their bests. It is equipped with only one room, which itself includes some premier seats with reclining backrests and footrests, as well as the standard leather armchairs and sofas. Their Hampstead cinema is not bad either.
ODEON’S THE LOUNGE
£: £19-£25
The Lounge’s screening rooms each have a capacity of no more than 50, so you can be sure to have an intimate cinema experience and to have good seats. With fully reclining armchairs and a wide-ranged drinks and dining menu (which solely has dishes you can easily eat with your hands), Odeon’s luxurious spin-off cinema is a bit pricy, but pretty darn enjoyable. Note that this cinema is for 18s + only.
Also worth checking out: Curzon Cinema, Studio 5-Genesis
INDY/WORLD CINEMA
For when the latest films don’t seem to excite you, and you need a blockbuster break.
BFI SOUTHBANK
£: £8.35-£11.75
The BFI always has a noteworthy programme worth checking out, including film seasons, and director/actor retrospective. Right now, among other themes, you can enjoy the complete work of John Waters, and films set in a London reimagined by the filmmakers. If you go there, make sure to also have a look at the BFI library and Mediatheque, which provide you with a rich collection of books, documents and the BFI’s National Archive, for free.
RIO CINEMA
£: £5-£8 for students
The Rio is comprised of a stunning and vast Art Deco screening room. With a mixture of Arthouse and more mainstream films, this cinema’s programme has something for everyone, for reasonable prices.
CINE LUMIERE
£: £6-£8 for students
Being part of l’Institut Français in London, Ciné Lumière specialises on screening French films. Their selection is both varied and noteworthy, and includes the latest French films but also some of the older classics. Some talks and film series are also regularly arranged.
Also worth checking out: Prince Charles Cinema, The Phoenix Cinema, The Arthouse