Life in London can sometimes seem like one continuous, eventful film, but if you like your plots to take place on screen then the city has a lot to offer. Going to catch a flick in London can often unravel like some kind of Indiana Jones-esque adventure—the Holy Grail being a reasonably-priced ticket in a clean, comfortable theatre, that can only be sought after battling hundreds of tourists and fellow Londoners all with the same thought. Every year 164 million people visit London’s cinemas; now that’s a fair few ticket stubs.Thankfully, by leaving The Twilight Zone (a.k.a. the tourist trap of the West End) there are plenty of cinematic treasures to be plundered. Whatever genre of film takes your fancy, whatever time of night and whether you want a velour seat and popcorn or a leather chair and glass of champagne, you are sure to find it in the nation’s capital.
For those who are desperate to catch Spielberg’s latest offering, and are crazy enough to stick it out in the West End, chain cinemas abound. You’ll find Odeon (Maps 1, 4, 23, 30, 35, 61, 66, 71, 111 & 136), Vue (Maps 12, 33, 43, 66 & 80) and Cineworld (Maps 11, 23, 40, 43, 45, 100 & 138) theatres all over London. If you’re brave, or just fancy seeing a star or two at one of the regular premiers, Odeon Leicester Square (Map 23) (made up of two separate theatres) could be for you. Another monster on the square is the historic Empire (Map 11), seating an impressive 1,300 patrons is a landmark in itself, although she is a slightly faded leading lady these days. Beware though. While the price of a cinema ticket in the big smoke is normally enough to make you choke on your Butterkist, wandering into any of the theatres in Leicester Square may force you to re-mortgage with prices as high as £22.50 a ticket at peak times. Apollo West End Multiplex (Map 23) on Lower Regent Street was formerly the home of Paramount Pictures in the UK but now houses five small, luxurious theatres showing the latest flicks on general release.
It’s not hard to find cinemas offering art house and independent films in London. Finding a good one, however, can be more of a challenge. The Barbican (Map 7) is always a good bet, and you can take in an exhibition before your film to really beef up your grey matter. We highly recommend the Curzon Soho (Map 11) offering not only a wide range of cinematic gems but also a plush bar to loosen you up for that three hour Kurasawa number. Remember if the queue is snaking along the pavement, tickets can be bought at the bar downstairs too. Check out the cinema’s cousin in Mayfair (Map 9) as well as the slightly shabby Renoir (Map 5) in Brunswick Square. Cineworld Chelsea (Map 45) on the lustrous King’s Road is one of London’s premier art houses with two-seaters available for the perfect smooching experience. The Gate (Map 29) in Notting Hill was created from a restaurant in 1911 and now offers independent releases in a luxurious setting. BFI Southbank (Map 104) specializes in film through the ages as well as hosting frequent events. Who would have thought old Charlie would help us save our pennies? The Prince Charles Cinema (Map 11) off Leicester Square sits in a perfect location and offers revivals, cult and foreign language films for as low as £1.50. Now that’s a bloody bargain. For those with a penchant for ‘le cine’ courtesy of our French neighbours visit Cine Lumiere (Map 36) in South Kensington. Uber-cool Clapham has an equally trendy art house cinema, the Clapham Picturehouse (Map 143), Dalston’s Art Deco gem the Rio Cinema (Map 86) is worth a look, while Bloomsbury offers up The Horse Hospital (Map 4)—the name’s almost as avant-garde as the films they show. Just leave Dobbin behind.
There are some wonderful cinematic experiences to be had too. BFI IMAX (Map 104) is housed in a curious circular building, south of Waterloo Bridge, with the biggest screen in the UK—the size of five double-decker buses. Then there are those three magic words—The Electric Cinema (Map 29) on Portobello Road. Grab a Pinot Grigio, rest your derriere on a soft leather seat and munch away at home-made ice cream all the way from sunny Hampshire while catching the latest Polish release. We now have the first British cinema to be opened in the 21st century: Shortwave (Map 107), popped up in 2009 in the stylish Bermondsey Square, and among its 50 seats are some which were shrewdly rehoused from the Electric Cinema. And treat your mates to another round and a packet of crisps, because there are increasing numbers of mini-cinemas in pubs and bars such as The Garrison (Map 107) and The Roxy (Map 106).