London is a treasure trove of cinema; it seems going to see a film isn’t entertaining enough as we now have hot tub cinemas, secret cinemas and naked cinema- I may have made one of those up but you get the point.
With all these gimmicks competing to grab your attention where can you go to simply enjoy a film in relaxing surroundings? Here are my personal favourites:
Picturehouse, Greenwich
Picturehouse manages to pull off the amazing balancing act of having the intimate cosy surroundings of an indie cinema but then also showing slightly more mainstream pictures. The Picturehouse in Greenwich is by far their best theatre as it boasts 5 screens that are more intimate than a teenage couple on the back row, the comfortable seats recline so you can doze off if your film is dragging a bit and the basement screen is also a particular treat. It’s the little touches that make it stand out as the first floor café and en suite bar in the basement screen make it feel like you could happily live there. The staff are always friendlier than Ned Flanders, to the point where it feels like if you asked them if you could put your own film on they’d happily oblige and they don’t push sack-sized bags of popcorn on you at any chance. Click here to visit the website
Odeon, Leicester Square
From the indie to the infamous, you may not be able to have a quiet relaxing evening in the comfort of the Odeon in Leicester Square but if you want to see the latest blockbuster; it’s the only place to go. The main screen feels like you’re watching a film in a grand theatre and if you’re lucky enough to visit when it’s quiet you feel like you’ve got acres of land to yourself in there. It may be more corporate than a cartoon banker but still definitely worth a visit. Click here to visit the website.
Soho Screening Rooms
A bit of an elite one here but the Soho Screening Rooms is an absolute treat of a cinema. Mainly used for screenings of upcoming films if you can get an invite, it’s an amazing place to experience cinema. Click here to visit the website.Â
Prince Charles Cinema
Tucked away in a corner of Leicester Square the Prince Charles Cinema offers a more intimate and personal experience than its local rivals. The beauty of this indie cinema is its unique selection of films, nowhere else compares. It doesn’t pander to dumbed down audiences searching for a time killer on a bored afternoon, but instead picks genuinely interesting films both old and new. Its selection is refreshing to see as you’ll not only find classic films but also sings-a-longs, back-to-back trilogy showings and underrated picks that slip by the mainstream audience in multiplexes. Click here to visit the website.
