Cinemas in the UK
The new release on opening night, a Saturday morning kids' club for a pound or two, an independent cinema with a bar and a programme worth reading, a relaxed screening for a child who needs one, or the opera and the big match on the big screen: find a local cinema people love.
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Finding a good cinema in the UK
Cinema in Britain is the multiplexes on the retail parks, with a dozen screens, the latest releases in every format and the loyalty schemes that make a weekly visit affordable; the independents and picture houses in town centres, often in a listed building, with a curated programme of new films, classics, foreign-language and documentaries, a bar and a café and a membership that funds it; and the community cinemas, film societies and village halls that screen a film a month for a few pounds. Between them they show the same big films and very different everything else.
Prices vary more than people think: a peak-time ticket at a multiplex costs three times an off-peak one, memberships and subscription cards pay for themselves at two or three visits a month, the Saturday and Sunday morning kids' clubs are a pound or two, and independents often price mid-week and matinees low. Screenings now come in forms for everyone: subtitled and audio-described shows, relaxed screenings with the lights up and the sound down for autism and dementia, baby-friendly mornings, senior clubs with tea and cake, and the event cinema of opera, ballet, theatre and sport broadcast live.
The listings here show each cinema's reviews, screens and formats, programme and prices, accessibility and contact details, so you can see what is nearby, who shows what, and where people in your town go on a Friday night.
Kinds of cinema
Multiplexes: eight to twenty screens on retail parks, every new release, IMAX, 4DX and premium seats, loyalty and subscription schemes, and parking.
Independent cinemas and picture houses: one to five screens in town, a curated programme of new, classic, foreign and documentary films, a bar and café, memberships and festivals.
Community cinemas and film societies: monthly screenings in village halls, arts centres and libraries, run by volunteers for a few pounds a seat.
Special screenings: kids' clubs, baby-friendly, relaxed, subtitled and audio-described shows, senior screenings, and dementia-friendly afternoons.
Event cinema and hire: live opera, ballet, theatre, concerts and sport, and private hire of a screen for parties, schools and businesses.
Getting the best from a cinema
- Book online for popular films and opening weekends; the best seats go early.
- Compare off-peak, matinee and midweek prices; they are often half the Saturday night price.
- Look at memberships if you go twice a month or more; most pay for themselves quickly.
- Check the format: standard, IMAX, 4DX and premium seats are priced differently and not every film needs the big one.
- Ask about relaxed, subtitled and audio-described screenings if they help; every chain and most independents run them.
- Support the independent for the films the multiplex will not show, and the community cinema for the price.
What cinema tickets cost in the UK
As a rough guide, a standard adult ticket costs £6 to £10 off-peak and £10 to £16 at peak at multiplexes, more in London and for IMAX and premium formats at £15 to £25; independents £7 to £13 with cheaper matinees and members' prices; community cinemas £3 to £7; kids' clubs £1 to £3 at weekend mornings; unlimited subscription cards £12 to £20 a month; and independent memberships £30 to £80 a year with discounted tickets and previews. Event cinema runs £15 to £30. Children, students, seniors and families get concessions almost everywhere.
A Tuesday matinee at an independent costs less than the popcorn on a Saturday night at the multiplex, and the film is the same.
How do I find a cinema near me?+
Look at the cinemas listed for your town, which show the kind of cinema, screens and formats, what is on and the prices, plus reviews. The multiplex has the most screenings, the independent the wider programme and the bar, and the community cinema the cheapest seat in town.
How much are cinema tickets?+
Typically £6 to £10 off-peak and £10 to £16 at peak for a standard adult ticket at a multiplex, £15 to £25 for IMAX and premium formats, £7 to £13 at independents and £3 to £7 at community cinemas, with kids' clubs at £1 to £3 and concessions for children, students and seniors nearly everywhere.
Is a cinema membership worth it?+
If you go twice a month or more, yes: unlimited subscription cards at the chains cost £12 to £20 a month and pay for themselves at two visits, and independent memberships at £30 to £80 a year bring discounted tickets, previews, members' screenings and support the cinema. Check the terms on peak days and premium formats.
What is a relaxed screening?+
A screening with the lights partly up, the sound turned down, no trailers, free movement and no expectation of silence, for people with autism, sensory sensitivities, learning disabilities or dementia and their families. Most chains run them monthly and many independents weekly; the listing or the cinema's website says when.
Do cinemas show live opera and sport?+
Yes, event cinema brings live and recorded opera, ballet, theatre, concerts and major sport to most multiplexes and many independents, at £15 to £30 a ticket, often with a better view than the venue. Check the cinema's events programme; they sell out.
Can I hire a cinema screen?+
Most cinemas hire a screen for children's parties, private screenings, schools and businesses, from around £150 to £500 off-peak for a small screen with your choice of film, and more at peak or for a larger screen. Independents and community cinemas are often the most flexible; ask at the box office.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.49 a month to sit above the free listings.