10 Independent London Cinemas You Need To Visit
We all love films, and seeing them on the big screen with a crowd is the best way to do so. Sometimes, though big, chain multiplexes get a bit exhausting- especially when the popcorn price stuns you into silence for the rest of the evening. That’s why popping into a smaller indie cinema, with more comfortable, stylish seating and theatres, can be so inviting.
With so many highly-anticipated blockbusters hitting the big screen in the coming months, we’ve put together a list of some of London’s best independent cinemas for a more intimate film affair.
1. Electric Cinema
A way to really spark up your evening, the Electric Cinema is a pair of cinemas in Portobello and White City and will make your cinema trip feel truly stylish. Again, the theme here is a retro throwback to a different time in film history, with the main Portobello building dating back to the 190s as one of the first purpose-built picture houses.
The auditorium is nice and roomy, with luxury chairs, sofas and even a few beds at the front if you prefer to watch films horizontally. There are ample refreshments and treats available to grab before settling down too. The White City cinema meanwhile is a little more modern and state of the art, with 4K picture and Dolby Atmos sound to really take things to the next immersive level. Don’t worry, the seating is still lavish, so either option is a good one.
Watching a film at Electric Cinema feels like an ‘occasion’ – I took my film buff friend there when she was visiting from overseas and it was the perfect spot. Top tip: book from the second row onwards.
Natasha, Digital Editor
Where: portobello and white city
Website: www.electriccinema.co.uk
2. The Prince Charles
The Prince Charles has grown into something of a cult phenomenon: if you’re a fan of films, then the Prince Charles is a must-visit. Tucked away from the Odeons and Vues towering over Leicester Square, the Charles specialises in showing the best of cinema, from any era or country, all year round.
Unlike some other independent cinemas which tend to show indie films, the Charles is where you can see blockbusters, modern Oscar nominees and Golden Age classics all on a big screen, usually in their original film format. There are also sing-a-long events for musicals like Mamma Mia, quote-a-longs for comedies like Ghostbusters, and all kinds of movie marathons. It looks and feels like a cinema time machine, and Tarantino himself called it “everything an independent movie theatre should be.”
Where: 7 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BY
Website: www.princecharlescinema.com
3. The Cinema at Selfridges
Selfridges isn’t what immediately comes to mind when you think of a place to catch a film, but since opening in 2019, The Cinema at Selfridges has established itself as a great place to lose yourself on the big screen.
Like the rest of Selfridges, it prides itself on being “luxury”, and it certainly has the goods to back that label up: the seats are serenely inviting, with an actual small table to put drinks rather than just a cup holder. Footrests are available at the front of one of the auditoriums, and everything is designed for maximum comfort and indulgence. The staircase by itself is luxurious enough. It tends to show one big current film at a time and also hosts movie trivia night if you’re feeling on the competitive side.
Where: 40 Duke St, London W1U 1AT
Website: www.thecinemaatSelfridges.com
4. BFI at Southbank
The BFI is in many ways the heart of cinema in Britain and keeps the largest archive of films in the whole world. It’s no wonder then that the BFI complex at Southbank is one of the best places for film lovers in the country. There are three separate cinemas with a total of four screens running daily, as well as a bar area and studio space.
The BFI Film Festival is held here annually, and you can visit the shop here and find DVDs, books, film soundtracks and more. You can catch modern blockbusters and indie films here, and re-releases of cinema classics, often with live or recorded introductions and Q&As to make things extra illuminating. There are all sorts of seasons of films around various themes, and plenty more to make it a film buff’s paradise. The BFI IMAX is located around the corner near Waterloo Station, for a truly big screen experience.
BFI Southbank is an oasis in the middle of the chaos of central London. The bar alone is well worth writing home about but it’s the cinema that makes it. Attracting a pretty serious cinephile crowd, there is a sacred aura like that of a gallery to screenings. No rustling crisp bags here!
Flora, Senior Brand Partnerships Executive
Where: 0 Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT | 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, South Bank, SE1 8XR for the IMAX
Website: www.BFI.org.uk
5. The Barbican Cinema
The Barbican is known for being an amazing hub of art and creativity, so of course it has a fab cinema to get lost in. There are three different screens, including the huge Cinema 1 to choose from, all with comfortable seats, high-quality sound and screens, and a general feeling of movie bliss.
Films from the hottest releases to world cinema favourites are shown here, and there’s also a very convenient weekly parent and baby screening just after 11am if you want to take in a film with your young one. An outdoor cinema, which we also called one of the best in London, runs annually (and might be even more extravagant).
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
Website: www.Barbican.org.uk
6. Clapham Picturehouse
The much-loved Clapham Picturehouse is a big favourite of residents of South London. It isn’t as obviously fancy as some of our other picks on this list, but what it excels at is giving a truly streamlined experience that’s all about the films. The big retro sign on the exterior is a good sign of things to come, and inside you’ll find four screens to watch the biggest and best new films.
What’s also good about the Picturehouse is the bar/café that offers wine and beer but also their very own Picturehouse coffee, and even a selection of tasty sourdough pizzas if you feel particularly hungry after sitting through all three hours of Oppenheimer.
Where: 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT
Website: www.picturehouses.com
7. The Cinema in The Arches
This boutique, three-screen theatre is tucked away in the restored railway arches of Circus West Village, right next to the iconic Battersea Power Station. It is the more intimate “little sister” to The Cinema in the Power Station, which is situated inside the main building. If you are looking for a cosy, high-end experience that feels a bit like a private screening room, this is the one to choose. The venue boasts wide, plush, reclining seats, each fitted with a side table for all your drinks and snacks. Rather than opting for a traditional popcorn counter, this cinema offers a “Grab and go” bar, complete with a sophisticated selection of fine wines, Champagnes and craft beers.
This secret cinema spot is hidden in plain site at Battersea Power Station. Sister to the cinema inside, this outpost sits in the old railway viaducts nearby and has a much cosier, need to know vibe. Perfect for an escape from the throngs.
Robyn, Managing Director
Where: 22 Arches Lane, Circus West Village, SW11 8AB
Website: www.batterseapowerstation.com
8. The Rio
Another cinema that feels like a real throwback, The Rio is an Art Deco-style cinema that feels particularly grand. It shows modern crowd-pleasers like Hamnet, as well as plenty of older films from classic Hollywood. There are also some of the best English and foreign language films, making it an ideal location for finding hidden gems of world cinema.
The Rio is also home to a much-loved bar that is consistently named one of the best cinema bars in the capital and has a big 400-seater Art Deco auditorium with a smaller, more intimate screen downstairs. Capturing both the feel of the 30s and keeping in touch with the present by playing host venue to a number of film festivals, it’s a great place for a night out.
Where: 107 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB
Website: www.Riocinema.org.uk
9. The Regent Street Cinema
The place where the very first full motion picture was shown in the UK, Regent Street is a proper place of grandeur. The exterior is fancy enough and the inside is no different, with a golden glow to the auditorium, and a fab bar to chill in before a film.
As well as the latest in digital projection, the Regent Street Cinema also keeps its old Super 8, 16mm and 35mm film projectors up and running for the truly cinephile experience. Indie fare and studio fare are both key parts of the programming, as well as limited-release films from streaming services, like Apple TV+’s The Beanie Bubble. Classic cinema fare like Mary Poppins is often on the schedule, sometimes even featuring a throwback organ fanfare before the lights dim.
Where: 307 Regent St., London W1B 2HW
Website: www.RegentStreetCinema.com
10. The Castle Cinema
The Castle Cinema is an entirely independent, crowd-funded community theatre that can be found on Chatsworth Road, Hackney. A major perk of this venue is that it opts not to show traditional ads at the beginning of its film screenings. Instead, it shows ten minutes of homemade slides & film trailers. The reasoning behind this is that the team want to have a say in which companies they choose to stand behind and advertise. Beyond this, they are passionate about making the viewing experience as enjoyable as possible.
Where: First Floor, 64 – 66 Brooksby’s Walk, London E9 6DA
Website: www.thecastlecinema.com
