Theatre, comedy and cinema
London has enjoyed a reputation for quality theatre since the time of Shakespeare and still provides platforms for innovation and new writing. The West End is the heart of London’s “Theatreland”, with Shaftesbury Avenue its main drag; the less mainstream, “Off-West End” theatres, and the smaller, edgier places on the fringe are often more interesting. The capital’s comedy scene remains lively, too, whether you want to keep things low-key in an intimate pub or pay top dollar for high-profile shows with huge audiences. As for film, the city abounds in offbeat little clubs screening obscure, classic and cult movies, along with scores of multiplexes and trendy chains where you can sip wine and snuggle up on velvet sofas in front of the silver screen.
Theatre
London’s answer to Broadway has had a stellar run in recent years with headline hits like Matilda and Aladdin playing alongside a constantly changing cast of new musicals. Les Misérables is the longest-running musical, on the go since 1985, closely followed by The Phantom of the Opera, which opened in 1986; both are mere babies, though, compared with The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, which began its West End run in 1952, and is the longest-running play in the world. The Royal Shakespeare Company (
rsc.org.uk), which tours in London each year, and the National Theatre (nationaltheatre.org.uk) stage challenging performances of mainstream masterpieces (the latter is pretty innovative with new plays too), and there is original, exciting work found in what have become known as the Off-West End theatres. At the fringe theatres, more often than not pub venues, quality is variable (and ticket prices are lower). There’s plenty of kids’ and youth theatre available too, like the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge.
Information For details and news about the West End shows, along with tickets and promotions, see officiallondontheatre.co.uk and londontheatre.co.uk. Also check Time Out (timeout.com/london/theatre) for listings.
Prices For West End shows the box-office average is around £25–40, with £50–110 the usual top price, but bargains can be found. If you want to buy from the theatre direct it’s best to go to the box office in person; you’ll probably be charged a booking fee if you book over the phone or online. Students, senior citizens and the unemployed can get concessionary rates on tickets, including standbys, for most shows. Ticket agencies such as Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.co.uk) get seats for West End shows well in advance, but can add hefty booking fees.
Discount tickets Whatever you do, avoid the touts and the ticket agencies that abound in the West End – there’s no guarantee that they are genuine. The not-for-profit Society of London Theatre (officiallondontheatre.co.uk) offers online discounts and special offers on West End shows and runs a very useful booth in Leicester Square called “tkts” (Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11am–4.30pm; tkts.co.uk), which sells on-the-day tickets for the West End shows at discounts of up to fifty percent. These tend to be in the top end of the price range and are limited to four per person, and prices include a service charge of £3 per ticket. Tkts also sells some tickets up to a week in advance, some of them discounted. Another option is the Theatre Passport, which costs from £32 and can be redeemed for seats at performances of some of the West End’s most popular shows. Buy the Theatre Passport as an e-voucher from the Visit Britain Shop website (visitbritainshop.com) and redeem it on the day of the show at one of two Encore Tickets collection points (11a Charing Cross Rd, opposite Garrick Theatre, open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–2.30pm & 17–19 Cockspur Street near Trafalgar Square, open Mon–Sat 9.30am–7pm, Sun 10am–5pm). Holders of the London Pass also qualify for discounted tickets. Cheap Monday, standby, “first look” and standing tickets are often very good value, and some major theatres keep some to sell on the door on the day; check the venue’s website, and be prepared to put up with a restricted view.
Live screenings Check out the capital’s cinema screenings, when you can watch performances from the NT (ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk) and other prestigious companies as they happen, or see recorded past productions from the likes of Shakespeare’s Globe (onscreen.shakespearesglobe.com) for a fraction of the cost of the real thing. The Barbican also screens “encore” recordings of popular recent theatre shows.
Festivals The Edinburgh Fringe-esque Vault festival brings theatre, comedy and performance together in the tunnels beneath Waterloo for six weeks at the start of the year, at cheap prices (vaultfestival.com). August’s Camden Fringe (camdenfringe.com) covers similar territory in a range of venues. Mimefest (mimelondon.com) covers mime, puppetry and cabaret in January. LIFT (liftfestival.com) is a biennial summer jamboree of innovative international productions, while the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival brings free theatre in June/July (festival.org).
Major theatres
Almeida Almeida St, N1 1TA 
020 7359 4404, almeida.co.uk; 
Highbury & Islington; map. Popular little Islington venue that premieres excellent new plays and excitingly reworked classics from around the world, and has attracted some big Hollywood names including Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes.
Barbican Silk St, EC2Y 8DS 020 7638 8891, barbican.org.uk; Barbican; map. The Barbican stages theatre, dance and performance by leading international companies and emerging artists. Particularly strong on access to performers and directors, with post-show talks a regular feature of their programming. Cut-price tickets for 16–25-year-olds through Young Barbican. Box office Mon–Sat 10am–9pm, Sun midday–9pm; phone bookings Mon–Sat 10am–8pm, Sun 11am–8pm.
Battersea Arts Centre 176 Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN 020 7223 2223, bac.org.uk; 
Clapham Junction from Victoria or Waterloo; map. It’s not the easiest theatre to get to, but it’s worth making the effort for its wide-ranging programme of contemporary productions, from radical drama and physical theatre to cabaret.
The Bridge Theatre One Tower Bridge, SE1 2SD 0333 320 0052, bridgetheatre.co.uk; London Bridge; map. This major new venue opened in 2017, masterminded by Nicholas Hytner, formerly director at the National (2003–2015). The innovative performance space can be moulded to suit the performance. Occasional National Theatre Live screenings.
Bush 7 Uxbridge Rd, W12 8LJ 020 8743 5050, bushtheatre.co.uk; Shepherd’s Bush Market; map. This lively local theatre, housed in an old library, is a reliable venue for experiencing new writing.
Donmar Warehouse 41 Earlham St, WC2H 9LX 0844 871 7624, donmarwarehouse.com; Covent Garden; map. Long home to excellent writing, the Donmar has in recent years garnered attention with big-name performers. Best bet for a decent – and decently priced – play in Covent Garden.
The Gate The Prince Albert, 11 Pembridge Rd, W11 3HQ 020 7229 0706, gatetheatre.co.uk; Notting Hill Gate; map. Seating around seventy, this pub-theatre has a huge reputation for its excellent new writing and innovative revivals of international classics.
Hampstead Theatre Eton Ave, NW3 3EU 020 7722 9301, hampsteadtheatre.com; Swiss Cottage; map. A prestigious, modern two-stage theatre with a reputation for successfully cultivating new playwrights. The programme has become more ambitious in recent years, with some transfers to the West End.
Lyric Theatre One Lyric Square, King St, W6 0QL 020 8741 6850, lyric.co.uk; Hammersmith; map. Refurbished in 2015 and revived by an influx of investment, the Lyric is an important producing theatre in west London, strong on new writers and plays.
Menier Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark St, SE1 1RU 020 7378 1713, menierchocolatefactory.com; London Bridge; map. Great name, great venue, with a decent bar (no pun intended) attached; the restaurant’s food is inconsistent. Plays tend towards showy casting but interesting works do appear here.
National Theatre Southbank Centre, South Bank, SE1 9PX 020 7452 3000, nationaltheatre.org.uk; Waterloo; map. The vast NT complex consists of three separate theatres: the raked, 1150-seat Olivier, the classic “proscenium” Lyttelton and the experimental Dorfman. The country’s top actors and directors come together in an ambitious programme ranging from Greek tragedies to Broadway musicals. Tickets needn’t break the bank – and on special “Travelex” performances seats go for as cheap as £15. Some productions sell out months in advance, but £15/18 day-tickets go on sale on the morning of each performance – get to the box office at least an hour early for the popular shows (two tickets per person). Cheap preview, standby, “Friday Rush” and Entry Pass (for those aged 16–25) tickets are also available. Box office Mon–Sat 9.30am–11pm; phone bookings Mon–Sat 9.30am–8pm.
Old Vic The Cut, SE1 8NB 0844 871 7628, oldvictheatre.com; Waterloo; map. Since 1818 the venerable Old Vic has brought a programme of classics and new works, often with big stars. There are £10 preview tickets and usual concessionary rates. Box office Mon–Sat 10am–7pm (6pm when no show); phone bookings Mon–Fri 9am–7.30pm, Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 9.30am–4pm.
Open Air Theatre Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU 0844 826 4242, openairtheatre.com; Baker Street; map. If the weather’s good, there’s nothing like a dose of alfresco theatre at this beautiful space in Regent’s Park. The tourist-friendly summer programme features Shakespeare and family favourites.
Royal Court Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS 020 7565 5000, royalcourttheatre.com; Sloane Square; map. The Royal Court’s programme includes arguably the most ambitious and radical new writing in town. Longstanding tradition of £12 tickets on Monday. Box office and phone bookings Mon–Sat 10am–6pm.
Shakespeare’s Globe 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT 020 7401 9919, shakespearesglobe.com; London Bridge, Blackfriars or Southwark; map. This open-roofed replica Elizabethan theatre stages superb Shakespearean shows as they were originally conceived, as well as works from the Bard’s contemporaries and new writing. Seats around £20–45, with 700 standing tickets around a fiver. The Globe Theatre season runs April–Oct, but the site’s indoor Jacobean theatre, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, hosts a candlelit winter theatre season Oct–April, as well as concerts and other events throughout the summer. Box office daily 10am–6pm.
Soho Theatre 21 Dean St, W1D 3NE 020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com; Tottenham Court Road; map. Great, central theatre with three spaces featuring new writing from around the globe at affordable prices. Alternative comedy and cabaret, plus the popular, starry bar, make this a veritable melting pot of artistic endeavour.
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN 020 8534 0310, stratfordeast.com; Stratford; map. Beautiful Victorian theatre in the East End, where the community-pleasing shows include excellent Christmas panto, comedy and new writing.
Tricycle Theatre 269 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 7JR 020 7328 1000, tricycle.co.uk; Kilburn; map. Dynamic venue with a great space to stage new plays, often focusing on political issues or analyzing multicultural Britain. Also houses a good programme of arthouse cinema.
Young Vic 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ 020 7922 2922, youngvic.org; Waterloo; map. Vibrant contemporary programme, concentrating on the work of young directors. There’s fierce competition for the venue’s many cheap tickets, so book ahead.
Fringe and occasional venues
Arcola Theatre 24 Ashwin St, E8 3DL 020 7503 1646, arcolatheatre.com; Dalston Junction; map. Exciting fringe theatre housed in an old Dalston factory and a pop-up tent space. The theatre includes politically charged, challenging plays – classics and modern works – with shows from young, international companies, and a wider performance remit including cabaret in the tent. Some “pay what you can” tickets on Tuesday nights.
King’s Head Theatre 115 Upper St, N1 1QN 020 7226 8561, kingsheadtheatre.com; Angel or Highbury & Islington; map. Between here, the Hen and Chickens and the Old Red Lion, Islington has London’s best pub theatres. This intimate space stages exciting contemporary productions and brand-new works from emerging writers.
Rich Mix 35–47 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA 020 7613 7498, richmix.org.uk; Shoreditch High Street; map. Offers a stimulating mix of new theatre, spoken word, comedy and dance, with emphasis on black and minority works.
Roundhouse Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8EH 0300 678 9222, roundhouse.org.uk; Chalk Farm; map. Camden’s Victorian engine repairs shed provides a stunning backdrop for ambitious stagings: cutting-edge theatre, performance art, contemporary circus and spoken word. Its annual spoken word festival in May is well worth a look.
Southwark Playhouse 77–85 Newington Causeway, SE1 8BD 020 7407 0234, southwarkplayhouse.co.uk; Elephant and Castle; map. A new home for the Playhouse has put rocket boosters on the theatre’s ambition. Two spaces concentrate on new and young writers, reinterpreting old classics and contemporary plays.
Wilton’s Music Hall Grace’s Alley, off Cable St, E1 8JB 020 7702 2789, wiltons.org.uk; Aldgate East; map. The world’s oldest surviving music hall, built in 1858, is a crumbling, hugely atmospheric space, with a stunning old bar. A wonderful venue for innovative theatre, comedy, poetry and variety as well as magic shows and cinema.
Yard Theatre Unit 2a, Queen’s Yard, White Post Lane, E9 5EN 020 3111 0570, theyardtheatre.co.uk; Hackney Wick; map. Socially engaged and unapologetically experimental community theatre in a former warehouse, the Yard is imbued with the dynamic spirit of the neighbourhood in which it is based. About as fringe as it gets, with a popular bar.
Comedy
From the big-name, big-theatre, big-ticket shows, to old favourites like the Comedy Store – at the heart of the alternative comedy movement of the 1980s – you’re never too far away from a chuckle in London. There are big-name TV stars at venues like the O2 and the Eventim Apollo (formerly the Hammersmith Apollo) but we’ve focused on the cheaper gigs around town – expect to pay £5–15 for most shows. Note that many venues only have gigs on Friday and Saturday nights, and that August can be a lean month, as much of London’s talent heads north for Edinburgh. (On the upside, that means July in London is full of cheap or often free comedy previews.) See also Rich Mix, Union Chapel, and Wilton’s Music Hall, all of which host excellent comedy nights. First among equals, though, is the Soho Theatre, with an unstoppable programme of the finest comedy shows. The blow of losing much-loved Kings Cross venue Invisible Dot in 2016, meanwhile, has been softened somewhat by the appearance of some of the club’s comedians in promoter Rabbit Rabbit’s events – see rabbitrabbitcomedy.com. For consistently good shows in south London, check out Always Be Comedy (alwaysbecomedy.com), while Amused Moose (amusedmoose.com) and Laugh Out London (laughoutlondoncomedyclub.co.uk) also offer tried-and-tested quality in venues around town, including central. Consult Time Out for weekly, citywide listings (timeout.com/london/comedy).
Aces & Eights 156–158 Fortess Rd, NW5 2HP 020 7485 4033, acesandeightssaloonbar.com; Tufnell Park; map. There are many pub comedy nights that draw big names at a fraction of the club prices, and the starrier members of leftfield comedy often wash up at Aces & Eights – check the well-named Shambles to see the seedy underbelly of comedy at its best/worst.
Angel Comedy The Camden Head, 2 Camden Passage, N1 8DY angelcomedy.co.uk; Angel; map. This would be a recommended venue for its great crowd, shepherded by organizer/comedian Barry Ferns, and excellent daily schedule of full shows and new material, even if it weren’t pay-what-you-want.
Banana Cabaret The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD 07467 027592, bananacabaret.co.uk; Balham; map. Friday and Saturday showcases of big names with an old-school comedy club vibe. Friendly crowd in an authentic south London boozer.
The Bill Murray 37 Queens Head St, N1 8NQ 020 7502 7151, angelcomedy.co.uk; Angel; map. Opened in 2016 by the people behind Angel Comedy and rapidly gained an appreciative following, with the pub’s two rooms creating a mini-festival feel, and entry by donation just like its sister club.
Boat Show Comedy Club Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment, SW1A 2HR 07932 658895, boatshowcomedy.co.uk; Embankment; map. The paddlesteamer venue opposite the London Eye isn’t just a novelty – big names try out new material here, although it isn’t the cheapest.
Camden Comedy Club The Camden Head, 100 Camden High St, NW1 0LU 020 7485 4019, camdencomedyclub.com; Camden Town; map. Consistently good nightly comedy, with up-and-coming acts on weekdays and bigger bills Saturday.
Canal Café Theatre The Bridge House, Delamere Terrace, W2 6ND 020 7289 6054, canalcafetheatre.com; Warwick Avenue; map. Home of the fast-paced NewsRevue (Thurs–Sun), delivering a reasonable hit rate of topical gags and sketches.
Comedy Store 1a Oxendon St, SW1Y 4EE 0844 871 7699, thecomedystore.co.uk; Piccadilly Circus; map. The jokes may not always be fresh, but the birthplace of alternative comedy still pulls in the crowds. Fridays and Saturdays are very busy with two shows, at 7.30pm and 11pm – book ahead.
Downstairs at the King’s Head 2 Crouch End Hill, N8 8AA 020 8340 1028, downstairsatthekingshead.com; bus #W7 from Finsbury Park; map. Friendly, long-running comedy night where stand-up, cabaret and new material from decent bills are played out in a cosy basement on Thurs, Sat & Sun.
Happy Mondays The Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd, SE14 6TY 020 8469 1499, facebook.com/happymondayscomedy; New Cross; map. Fortnightly comedy at one of southeast London’s most popular pubs. Very cheap and very, very cheerful.
Leicester Square Theatre 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX 020 7734 2222, leicestersquaretheatre.com; Leicester Square; map. Avoid the Leicester Square comedy touts and try this comedy theatre for big names – like Stewart Lee, Frankie Boyle, Richard Herring – performing new material.
Old Rope The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP facebook.com/oldropecomedy; Oxford Circus; map. Want to see new jokes first? Old hands try out new material at this bargain Monday night – check the Facebook page for the excellent, extensive line-ups.
Pleasance Theatre Carpenters Mews, North Rd, N7 9EF 020 7609 1800, pleasance.co.uk; Caledonian Road; map. Comedy and theatre hub that comes into its own during spring as acts trial shows and low-cost new material before August’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Cinema
The biggest cinemas are on and around Leicester Square, including the Empire Leicester Square (empirecinemas.co.uk), a former Victorian variety theatre whose 1330-seat main auditorium has a state-of-the-art soundsystem, and the 1700-seat Odeon Leicester Square (odeon.co.uk), a favourite for celeb-packed premieres. These concentrate on new releases, but will cost around £10–15; head to the outer zones for cheaper cinemas – tickets at a central Virgin Vue can be nearly £10 more than one in Zone 3. There are three chains that show more offbeat screenings – check out the Picturehouse (picturehouses.co.uk), Curzon (curzoncinemas.com) and Everyman (everymancinema.com) websites for a wide variety of locations right across the city. Many of London’s more cultish arthouse cinemas may have gone, but the gap has been filled somewhat by indie film clubs, which colonize pub basements, back rooms and pop-up spaces all over the city.
Tickets West End screens and multiplexes will charge at least £10 for a standard adult ticket; independent cinemas may be a little cheaper and arthouse shows can be a lot less. Concessionary rates are offered for some shows at virtually all cinemas, usually at off-peak times on weekdays.
independent and arthouse cinemas
ArtHouse Crouch End 159A Tottenham Lane, N8 9BT arthousecrouchend.co.uk; Hornsey; map. Cosy – some might say poky – conversion of a former Salvation Army hall that shows new and classic films, and live screenings of performing arts.
Barbican Silk St, EC2Y 8DS 020 7638 8891, barbican.org.uk; Barbican; map. Comfy seats, three screens and a terrific rota of obscure classics and world cinema plus silent movies with live music accompaniment and excellent festivals, talks, seasons and screenings of performing arts. Cut-price tickets for 16–25-year-olds through Young Barbican.
BFI Southbank Belvedere Rd, South Bank, SE1 8XT 020 7928 3232, bfi.org.uk; Waterloo; map. Eclectic programmes based around themed seasons, showing between seven and fourteen films daily on four screens. The BFI, in association with Odeon, also runs the IMAX (0330 333 7878, bfi.org.uk/imax), a huge glazed drum in the middle of Waterloo roundabout where the colossal screen (20m high by 26m wide) is not recommended for anyone with vertigo.
Cinema Museum 2 Dugard Way, SE11 4TH 020 7840 2200, cinemamuseum.org.uk; Elephant & Castle or Kennington; map. A lovingly assembled movie memorabilia collection is the backdrop for screenings – typically critical favourites and talking points – supported by discussions. Note that the collection is generally open only by appointment; tours £10.
Curzon Soho 99 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 5DY 0330 500 1331, curzoncinemas.co.uk, Leicester Square; map. Flagship of the arthouse chain, offering first looks at the best in specialist cinema. It has seven sister venues, including the world cinema specialist Bloomsbury site.
Electric 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED 020 7908 9696, Notting Hill Gate; map; 64–66 Redchurch St, E2 7DP 020 3350 3490, Old St; electriccinema.co.uk; map. The Notting Hill Electric is one of the oldest cinemas in the country (opened 1911). Its current incarnation offers stylishly eclectic seating that even includes a few double beds. The Shoreditch Electric (formerly the Aubin) opened in 2014. Comfort levels (and prices) are in the upper echelons.
ICA Cinema Nash House, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH 020 7930 3647, ica.org.uk; Charing Cross; map. Tastefully chosen avant-garde, world, underground movies and docs on two screens in the seriously hip HQ of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, some with talks. Closed Mon.
Lexi 194b Chamberlayne Rd, NW10 3JU 0871 704 2069, thelexicinema.co.uk; Kensal Green; map. This friendly little volunteer-run place has a film-club feel, screening the best contemporary and indie films and donating all profits to charity.
Peckhamplex 95 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST 0844 567 2742, peckhamplex.com; Peckham Rye; map. Threatened with closure at the time of writing, the Plex’s screens and soundsystems need a tune-up but you can’t beat the £5 tickets. Arrive early.
Phoenix Cinema 52 East Finchley High Rd, N2 9PJ 020 8444 6789, phoenixcinema.co.uk; East Finchley; map. Run by a charitable trust, this beautiful Art Deco cinema, open since 1912, is a neighbourhood favourite with an intelligent mix of indies and classics, themed seasons, screenings of performing arts and events.
Prince Charles 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY 020 7494 3654, princecharlescinema.com; Leicester Square; map. Two screens in the heart of the West End, with great prices (tickets start at £8.50) and a daily-changing programme of newish movies, classics and cult favourites, plus all-nighters and sing-a-long romps.
Rio 107 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB 020 7241 9410, riocinema.org.uk; Dalston Kingsland; map. This Art Deco beauty, with a cosy screening room, offers a good mix of the most interesting current US releases, world cinema, arthouse classics and documentaries. Frequent Q&As and special themed events and festivals, with excellent Sunday matinees.
Film festivals and alfresco screenings
East End Film Festival eastendfilmfestival.com. High-profile summer event bursting with international premieres, workshops and live happenings.
Film4 Summer Screen somersethouse.org.uk/film. For ten days or so in late July and early August, this magnificent setting is a venue for classic, indie and new movies. Tickets sell out fast.
Free Film Festivals freefilmfestivals.org. Seven festivals operating primarily across south London through spring and autumn.
Human Rights Watch Film Festival ff.hrw.org/london. A spring/summer festival includes many UK premieres.
London Film Festival bfi.org.uk/lff. A major international player, the LFF is held over a fortnight in late Oct, with movies shown across ten or so West End cinemas. Many sell out soon after publication of the programme in early Sept.
London International Animation Festival liaf.org.uk. An end-of-year festival focused on animated shorts, features and documentaries.
London Short Film Festival shortfilms.org.uk. January sees the finest shorts get an airing over ten days and 25 venues at this world-renowned festival.
Nomad Cinema whereisthenomad.com. Showing classics, arthouse movies and old favourites, this screen might turn up anywhere – often in the city’s parks.
Raindance Festival raindance.org. Major independent film festival, held over two weeks in late Sept/early Oct.
Rooftop Film Club rooftopfilmclub.com. Grab a cocktail and hook up to your own wireless headphones for cultish blockbusters in atmospheric rooftop spaces.
Secret Cinema secretcinema.org. A wildly popular annual run of immersive-cinema mini-festivals; the entire day is themed around a different film and culminates in a screening. Originally, you bought your ticket without knowing the identity of the film, but the policy has changed – not so “secret” anymore, but still a lot of fun.
Sundance London sundance.org. London’s branch of the international festival, featuring darlings of leftfield cinema and shorts.
Film clubs
Chapel Cinema 21 Old Ford Road, E2 9PL 020 8980 2092, stmargaretshouse.org.uk; Bethnal Green. This Tuesday evening club occupies a tiny chapel nestled in the back garden of a charitable organization. Tickets are free but reserve a spot through the website.
Duke Mitchell Film Club thedukemitchell.uk. Puts on occasional “weird film nights” as well as running summer festival DukeFest.
Sands Films Cinema Club 82 St Marychurch St, SE16 4HZ 020 7231 2209, sandsfilms.co.uk; Rotherhithe. Settle down to enjoy arthouse and rare world cinema films followed by discussion at this atmospheric warehouse conversion. Free ticket reservation via Eventbrite; suggested donation £5.
Science Fiction Theatre sciencefictiontheatre.co.uk. A monthly film club dedicated to classic sci-fi, held at venues from the Prince Charles cinema and Royal Academy of Arts to the Victoria pub in Dalston.