You are here: Home > Things to do > What's on > Outdoor cinemas

Events

Search Events

7 best outdoor cinemas in London

Discover the best outdoor cinemas in London with these cool rooftop locations and open-air screenings.
A couple smile at the camera whilst sitting on comfy chairs as the sun goes down behind them and they hold a pizza box on their laps surrounded by other revellers at an outdoor cinema screen
Grab a good spot, get comfy and prepare for a cinema experience you wont forget at one of these outdoor cinemas in London. Credit: Adventure Cinema. Image courtesy of Adventure Cinema.

From outdoor cinemas and rooftop screenings to top independent cinemas, London has a lot to offer to movie buffs. 

Discover where to watch all-time classics, family flicks and new movies outdoors, and remember that outdoor cinemas are seasonal so viewing opportunities vary!

Best open-air cinemas in London

1. Barbican Outdoor Cinema

Make the most of the warm nights in the City of London and head to the Sculpture Court at the Barbican, where you can see a wide range of films on the big screen in summer.

2. Adventure Cinema

Four girls sit on deck chairs on grass in a park surrounded by other revellers with blankets over them ready to watch a film at an outdoor cinema screen 

Watch classic films, blockbuster hits and fun musicals to get the whole family singing at Adventure Cinema, which sets up at a number of historic country estates around London.

Free open-air film screenings in London

3. Summer Screens

See free sport, documentaries and films on a big screen among skyscrapers at Summer Screens at Canary Wharf. Head to Canada Square Park to find out what's on.

4. Screen on the Canal 

Crowds watching a film on the canal banks at night in King's Cross, London.

See blockbuster bangers, family classics and cult favourites for free all summer, on a floating Screen on the Canal at Granary Square in King's Cross. 

5. BST Hyde Park

As well as show-stopping music performances, the annual BST music festival in Hyde Park also puts on several free outdoor film screenings, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis, and headphones provided.

6. Summer by the River

Crowds watch a performance during the Summer by the River festival at The Scoop.

Catch free outdoor film screenings at Summer by the River in The Scoop, a dramatic concrete amphitheatre in the shadow of Tower Bridge, also featuring live music, sport screenings, food stalls and pop-up bars.

Best London rooftop cinemas

7. Rooftop Film Club

Enjoy a memorable cinema experience filled with sunsets and skylines at one of Rooftop Film Club's two locations in Peckham and Stratford. Expect handpicked iconic and newly released films, comfy sunchairs with a selection of drinks and street food.

For more outdoor activities in London, check out the top outdoor entertainment, picnic spots, rooftop bars and alfresco restaurants across the city.

Explore by category