Film & TV
Top 7 Cinema Experiences Worth The Trip From Islington
From a century-old picture house on Upper Street to independent East London screens and the BFI’s film-lover haven on the South Bank, these are seven cinema experiences worth leaving the sofa for. This is about more than the film: think historic auditoriums, proper arthouse programming, sofa seats, big-screen spectacle and venues that turn an ordinary screening into a night out.
The quintessential Islington cinema experience. This single-screen picture house opened in 1913 and still makes a film night feel like an occasion, with its distinctive illuminated frontage, intimate auditorium and sofa-style seating. Its location opposite Islington Green also makes it easy to build a proper evening around the screening: dinner or a drink on Upper Street, then a film in a venue with genuine history. It is the atmospheric local benchmark against which the others are measured.
For blockbuster nights, Vue at Angel Central offers the big-screen, big-sound alternative to the neighbourhood’s more intimate venues. Its ten screens include an EPIC screen, with laser projection and premium reclining-seat options. It also shows more than conventional film releases, with selected live events, theatre and other big-screen programming. This is the practical choice when the film itself is the main event and you want a modern multiplex experience close to Angel station.
A cinema trip designed to feel like a treat rather than an errand. Everyman King’s Cross combines a boutique setting with sofa seating, a bar and food that can be ordered as part of the evening. It works particularly well for a date or a film followed by drinks around Coal Drops Yard. The premium approach is not for every budget, but it makes the whole outing feel more considered than simply arriving five minutes before the trailers.
The Rio in Dalston brings independent cinema culture into a striking historic setting. Its programme spans new releases, independent films, classics and special events, so the appeal is as much about discovering something unexpected as seeing the latest release. It is a little journey east from Islington, but the trip can be part of the fun: Dalston offers plenty of options for food and drinks before or after the screening. Choose the Rio when you want your cinema to have a distinct identity.
Set within the Brunswick Centre near Russell Square, Curzon Bloomsbury is a strong choice for viewers who want a more adventurous programme than a standard multiplex. Independent and international films sit alongside new releases, while the venue’s documentary offering adds another reason to visit. The surrounding modernist shopping centre gives the trip its own atmosphere, with cafés and places to eat nearby. It is especially appealing when you want the film to give you something to think about afterwards.
Genesis is an East London independent with a character all of its own. Its programme mixes mainstream releases with independent cinema and cultural events, while the venue’s broader arts identity gives it a more community-minded feel than a conventional chain. Screen 1 is known for its impressive scale, and the cinema has a reputation for offering a relatively accessible alternative to some of London’s pricier film outings. Make the journey when you want a cinema with personality as well as a screen.
For anyone who loves cinema as an art form, the BFI Southbank is worth the longer trip. Its programme ranges across classics, restorations, international cinema, themed seasons, festivals, previews and filmmaker Q&As. You can arrive early, browse film books, have a drink and spend an evening immersed in film culture rather than treating the screening as a standalone activity. It is less about the convenience of the nearest cinema and more about the chance to see something you might not find anywhere else.
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