Outdoor cinemas are always a popular summer activity in London, offering a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience. From lush parks and rooftops to historic landmarks and even open-air screens on the canal, there are all sorts of venues, settings, and films to choose from. Whether you're looking to curl up with a blanket and a classic, want to catch up on a blockbuster you missed seeing in the regular cinema, or planning a fun family outing, our guide to the best outdoor cinemas in London will show you exactly where to spread your picnic blanket or pull up a deckchair. Starlight, camera, action!
The best outdoor cinemas in London
In this guide
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Outdoor cinemas in London
- Rooftop Film Club – Top of the top
- Everyman Screen on the Canal – Everyman Screen on the Canal
- Adventure Cinema – Multiple locations
- Cabot Square & Canada Square Park – Canary Wharf Summer Screens
- Hyde Park – Open House Outdoor Cinema
- Merchant Square – Summer Movie Nights
- The Luna Cinema – Multiple locations
- Dial Arch Square – Vision Cinema
- Paddington Street Gardens – Marylebone Summer Festival
- Lower Marsh Market – Lower Marsh Lates... at the Movies
- Pop Up Screens – Multiple locations
- Barbican Centre – Outdoor cinema
- Battersea Power Station – The Battersea Games
Outdoor cinemas in London
Top of the top
Rooftop Film Club operates from two stunning locations in London, offering a diverse selection of films ranging from timeless classics to the latest releases. As a special trailer, you can take in epic views of the city while you wait for the film to start. You can bring a variety of snacks and refreshing drinks to your cosy deckchair, with blankets and ponchos available if needed. Audio is broadcast to wireless headphones, so there's no need to worry about sound quality, either.
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Roof A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham Great Eastern Road, NewhamRooftop Film Club Bussey Building
Roof A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, PeckhamRooftop Film Club Roof East
Great Eastern Road, Newham -
Rooftop Film Club Roof East
rooftopfilmclub.com/london/venue/roof-eastRooftop Film Club Bussey Building
rooftopfilmclub.com/london/venue/bussey-building -
Rooftop Film Club Roof East Rooftop Film Club Bussey Building
Everyman Screen on the Canal
Come summer, the steps leading from Granary Square to Regent's Canal are carpeted in green and turned into comfy staggered seating, Everyman Cinemas sets up a big screen across the canal, and the most laidback cinema in King's Cross begins. The programme includes beloved family-friendly releases, action blockbusters, cult classics, and more, all available free of charge.
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Granary Square, King's Cross
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Multiple locations
Another nationwide outdoor cinema touring company, Adventure Cinema sets up shop at picturesque locations in the Greater London area. Their movie line-up includes everything from classics and blockbusters to musicals and family films. You can book one of their premium deckchairs for ultimate comfort, or bring your own blanket or camping chair.
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Jersey Road, Isleworth, Hounslow Ham St, Ham, Richmond, RichmondOsterley Park and House
Jersey Road, Isleworth, HounslowHam House and Gardens
Ham St, Ham, Richmond, Richmond -
Osterley Park and House
nationaltrust.org.uk/osterley-park-and-houseHam House and Gardens
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/ham-house-and-gardenOsterley Park and House
020-823 250 50Ham House and Gardens
020-894 019 50 -
Osterley Park and House Ham House and Gardens
Canary Wharf Summer Screens
Cabot Square and Canada Square Park in Canary Wharf are fitted with big screens during from June to late August. The programme is heavy on the sports action, showing major sports events such as the French Open, the British Grand Prix, and Wimbledon, but a smattering of films, including major blockbusters, is shown as well. Admission is free, and refreshments are available from The Grandstand Bar.
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Cabot Square, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf/Tower HamletsCabot Square
Cabot Square, Canary Wharf/Tower HamletsCanada Square Park
25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf/Tower Hamlets -
Cabot Square
canarywharf.com/open-spaces/cabot-squareCanada Square Park
canarywharf.com/open-spaces/canada-square-park -
Cabot Square Canada Square Park
Open House Outdoor Cinema
In summer, Hyde Park is taken over by the British Summer Time concert series and hordes of tourists, but it still finds time to host an array of activities for the general public. The Open House nights from 23 June to 5 July include an outdoor cinema programme screening beloved classics such as “The Karate Kid” and “Toy Story”, as well as newer releases such as “Pinocchio” and “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris”. Entry is free, just pull up a blanket and enjoy.
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Hyde Park
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Summer Movie Nights
The Merchant Square redevelopment in Paddington hosts a series of open-air cinema nights from the beginning of August to mid-September. Every Wednesday, you can grab one of the deckchairs or bring your own picnic blanket and relax by the canal as you watch a film. Pop-up vendors are on hand as well, serving cocktails and authentic Mexican street food.
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Merchant Square, Paddington
- Website • 020-729 824 55
- Read more on Thatsup
Multiple locations
Throughout the summer, the Luna Cinema team can be found all over London and the rest of the country, setting up their outdoor cinema experience at stunning locations such as Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, or Hampton Court Palace. The programme includes Oscar winners, action blockbusters, family films, beloved classics, and more. Dates and locations vary almost day to day, so make sure to keep up to date via their website.
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Chiswick House, Hounslow Hampstead Lane, Hampstead College Road Windmill Drive, Clapham Hampton Court Way, Moseley Kensington Palace Gardens, Kensington The Regent's Park, Inner Cir, Camden Town Kew Gardens Car Park, Richmond/Hounslow Wandsworth Park, Wandsworth/Putney Westminster Abbey, WestminsterChiswick House and Gardens
Chiswick House, HounslowKenwood House
Hampstead Lane, HampsteadDulwich Park
College RoadClapham Common
Windmill Drive, ClaphamHampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Way, MoseleyKensington Palace
Kensington Palace Gardens, KensingtonRegent's Park Open Air Theatre
The Regent's Park, Inner Cir, Camden TownRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew
Kew Gardens Car Park, Richmond/HounslowWandsworth Park
Wandsworth Park, Wandsworth/PutneyWestminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, Westminster -
Chiswick House and Gardens
chiswickhouseandgardens.org.ukKenwood House
english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenwoodDulwich Park
dulwichparkfriends.org.uk/the-park/map-of-the-parkClapham Common
claphamcommon.netHampton Court Palace
hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palaceKensington Palace
hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/#gs.9v6r6hRegent's Park Open Air Theatre
openairtheatre.comRoyal Botanic Gardens Kew
kew.orgWandsworth Park
wandsworth.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks/wandsworth-parkWestminster Abbey
westminster-abbey.orgChiswick House and Gardens
020-314 133 50Kenwood House
0370-333 11 81Dulwich Park
020-869 386 35Clapham Common
020-792 690 00Hampton Court Palace
020-316 660 00Kensington Palace
033-332 060 00Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
033-340 035 62Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
020-833 256 55Westminster Abbey
020-722 251 52 -
Chiswick House and Gardens Kenwood House Dulwich Park Clapham Common Hampton Court Palace Kensington Palace Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Wandsworth Park Westminster Abbey
Vision Cinema
Vision Cinema takes outdoor screenings to the next level. Their signature blow-up chairs provide extra comfort, the film audio is streamed to wireless headphones, their heated blankets keep the chills away, and you can order food and drinks straight to your seat via an app. This year's films include “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, “Cocaine Bear”, “John Wick: Chapter 4”, “Pretty Woman”, and more.
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Dial Arch Square
Marylebone Summer Festival
Every summer, Paddington Street Gardens host a weekend festival with concerts, food and drink stalls, and all sorts of other events and activities. Taking place on June 10–11, the 2023 Marylebone Summer Festival will show two films in its spectacular open-air cinema for the first time – an early afternoon showing of “Encanto” and an evening showing of “Elvis”. All profits are donated to charity.
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Paddington Street, Marylebone
- Website • 020-764 120 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Lower Marsh Lates... at the Movies
From May to September, every last Thursday of the month, the Lower Marsh Market space next to Waterloo hosts free open-air screenings of smash hit musicals such as “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, “Hairspray”, “Grease”, and, of course, “Mamma Mia”. Food and drinks are available from the market's vendors, and singalongs are highly encouraged.
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Lower Marsh, South Bank/Lambeth/Southwark
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Multiple locations
You'll find Pop Up Screens popping up in Hammersmith, Fulham, Crystal Palace, and other parts of London from July to September. Screened films include perennial favourites such as “Mamma Mia”, “Dirty Dancing” and “Pretty Woman”, as well as new hits such as “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Elvis” and “The Greatest Showman”. There's no seating provided, so make sure to bring a blanket.
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Paddenswick Road, Hammersmith and Fulham Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham Bourne Road, Bexley, Bexley Bishop's Avenue, Fulham/Hammersmith and Fulham Thicket Road, Bromley 12 Montague Avenue Taunton Road, LewishamRavenscourt Park
Paddenswick Road, Hammersmith and FulhamBeckenham Place Park
Beckenham Hill Road, BeckenhamHall Place & Gardens
Bourne Road, Bexley, BexleyBishops Park
Bishop's Avenue, Fulham/Hammersmith and FulhamCrystal Palace Park
Thicket Road, BromleyHilly Fields
12 Montague AvenueManor House Gardens
Taunton Road, Lewisham
Outdoor cinema
Surrounded by the breathtaking London cityscape, the Sculpture Court at the Barbican Centre turns into an open-air cinema in summer. Expect a less mainstream programme than at some of the other outdoor cinemas in the city, including films such as Tarkovsky's “Mirror”, Hitchcock's “Rear Window”, and Studio Ghibli's “Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind”. Food and drinks are provided as well.
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Silk St, Barbican, The City/City of London
- Website • 020-763 841 41
- Read more on Thatsup
The Battersea Games
During summer, Battersea Power Station will be hosting all sorts of sports and games events and activities, including setting up a big screen in its riverside park. When not showing major sports events such as Wimbledon or Tour de Force, the screen will be showing a programme of sports- and games-themed films in collaboration with The Cinema in the Power Station. The screenings are free and you can bring your blanket or try to snag one of the chairs provided.
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Circus Road West, Vauxhall/Battersea
- Website • 020-750 106 88
- Read more on Thatsup