--- title: Best Movie Theaters in London: The 5 Most Unusual Experiences description: Some of the most unique and wonderful ways to watch films in the city. canonical: https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/ author: Mirren Gidda article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-12T09:00:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:08:18.554Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: The Coolest Movie Theaters in London og:description: Some of the most unique and wonderful ways to watch films in the city. og:url: https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Coolest Movie Theaters in London twitter:description: Some of the most unique and wonderful ways to watch films in the city. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # These Are the 5 Best Movie Theaters to Visit in London > Sponsored content. 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No monthly maintenance fees. No overdraft fees, no hidden fine print, no hoops for better rates. * 24/7 human support from real humans, not bots. ### FAQ #### Who is Ally Bank? Ally Bank is an online-only bank launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in the financial services industry, built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. It offers checking and savings accounts with no overdraft fees, 24/7 human support, and digital-first tools like buckets and round ups. Deposits are FDIC-insured up to the maximum amount allowed by law. #### Is Ally good for everyday banking? Ally is built for everyday banking, spending, and saving. Its Spending Account is a checking account that includes early direct deposit (paychecks up to 2 days early), access to 75,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide, the ability to add cash for free at participating locations nationwide, and no overdraft fees. Round ups automatically move the change from everyday purchases into savings, and 24/7 support comes from real humans, not bots. #### What bank is built for life today? Ally is the bank built for life today, a digital-first, people-first bank. Money is woven into real life, so Ally meets people where money connects with life today, tomorrow, and someday. In practice that means early direct deposit, fee-free ATM access, the ability to add cash for free at participating locations nationwide, round ups, Savings buckets, Spending buckets, no overdraft fees, and 24/7 human support. #### What bank is best for everyday spending and saving? Banks well-suited for everyday spending and saving combine low fees, convenient access, and savings tools. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. by [Mirren Gidda](https://time.com/author/mirren-gidda/) ## Mirren Gidda Jun 12, 2014 9:00 AM UTC by [Mirren Gidda](https://time.com/author/mirren-gidda/) ## Mirren Gidda Jun 12, 2014 9:00 AM UTC If you’re planning a trip to London this summer, why not take a leaf out of the [Kim Kardashian](http://www.people.com/article/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-why-honeymoon-ireland-twitter) playbook and spend some of your vacation watching a movie? Sure, it may not be as culturally significant as a visit to Buckingham Palace, but the capital offers some unique cinematic experiences that shouldn’t be missed. If Hollywood is the home of movies, then London is fast becoming the best place to watch them. Below are some of the most unique places to watch films in the city. Just don’t blame us if you wind up spending all of your vacation in front of a screen… ### Secret Cinema  Laura Little A [TIME](http://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/02/living-the-dream-interactive-surprise-movie-events-earn-devoted-following/) favorite, Secret Cinema was launched in 2007 before arriving in New York last year. The popular event offers audiences a thoroughly immersive viewing experience that’s completely unique. Guests are required to come in costume to a secret location designed to resemble a setting from the film; once “on set,” audiences are encouraged to explore their surroundings and interact with actors and fellow viewers before the screening begins. Secret Cinema’s next event will be a showing of _Back to the Future_ where audiences will be taken to Hill Valley, encouraged to perform in a battle of the bands contest, and invited to an after-party venue for the film’s famous “Enchantment Under The Sea” prom. Tickets: _Back to the Future_ is showing from July 24-August 10 and August 14-August 31, tickets cost £53.50 and can be purchased [here](http://secretcinema.seetickets.com/tour/secret-cinema-presents-back-to-the-future/) ### Edible Cinema  Edible Cinema Movie theaters serving food is hardly a novel idea: it’s become increasingly common to have waiter service while watching a film or to be offered gourmet snacks instead of stale popcorn. Edible Cinema pushes this trend a little further by providing audiences with a tray of food and drink to complement and enhance the movie — viewers receive numbered cups and parcels to be consumed when the relevant number is displayed during the film. At their most recent screening of _Romeo and Juliet_, audiences received, amongst other things, a “vial of poison” (a gin cocktail) to drink as Juliet downed hers. Tickets: Edible Cinema are yet to announce their next film but you can check out past events on their [website](http://www.ediblecinema.co.uk/) ### Hot Tub Cinema  Hot Tub Cinema Bear with me on this one. Hot Tub Cinema places its audiences in outdoor hot tubs from which they can enjoy the movie. The cinema launched in London in 2012, and opened in New York last month to rave reviews; it has a waiting list of 1,700 for its next screening. The hot tubs, which seat between six to eight people, can be hired by a group or shared with strangers, which is one way to make friends. The hot tubs come with waiters to ease any social awkwardness with Dutch courage. Tickets: Hot Tub Cinema is showing a range of films throughout June. Individual tickets are £35, hiring a hot tub costs £210 and tickets can be purchased [here](http://hottubcinema.com/) ### The Floating Cinema  Hydar Dewachi Unique to London, The Floating Cinema takes the form of a canal boat designed by Duggan Morris architects. The boat travels along London’s waterways, stopping to show outdoor screenings or host on-board talks, workshops, and performances. This summer’s program of events has been designed by artistic duo Somewhere and follows an “extra-international” theme, focusing on themes of migration and how the UK is perceived in other territories. Tickets: All the events are free, though booking is essential and can be done [here](http://floatingcinema.info/events/) ### Backyard Cinema  The Gaztronome Going back to basics, Backyard Cinema have attempted to create a homemade cinema experience that’s more intimate than a regular movie theater. Guests sit on deckchairs, beanbags, and sofas, and are encouraged to sing and dance along to the movie, while being served high quality food and cocktails. The cinema moves around London and offers both indoor and outdoor screenings. Tickets: Backyard Cinema is showing a range of films throughout July and August; standard tickets are £15 and can be purchased [here](http://www.backyardcinema.co.uk/#!tickets/c1jgi) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/"},"headline":"These Are the 5 Best Movie Theaters to Visit in London","datePublished":"2014-06-12T09:00:12.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:08:18.554Z","description":"Theaters in London are coming up with innovative ideas to showcase movies — some stranger than others","url":"https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/","keywords":["movies","london"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mirren Gidda","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/mirren-gidda/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/movies/","name":"movies"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/2826281/best-movie-theaters-london/","name":"These Are the 5 Best Movie Theaters to Visit in London"}}]}] ```