Page 345 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

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Cinemas rare and restored films and
television programmes.
If you can’t find a movie you like in London, then you
don’t like movies. The huge choice of British, American, Foreign-Language Films
foreign-language, new, classic, popular and special-interest
films makes London a major international film centre, with These are screened at a num ber
about 250 different films showing at any one time. There of repertory and independent
are about 50 cinemas in the centre of London alone, cinemas, including the Prince
many of them ultramodern multiscreened complexes. Charles, the Curzon Soho in
Shaftesbury Avenue, the
The big commercial chains show current blockbusters and Curzon Bloomsbury and
a healthy number of independent cinemas throughout Ciné Lumière. Films are shown
the city offer some inventive programming drawing on in the original language, with
the whole history of film. English subtitles.
West End Cinemas Independent Cinemas Film Certificates
"West End" is a loose term for These cinemas often show Children are allowed to go
the main cinemas in the West foreign-language and slightly to a cinema unaccompanied
End of London, which show more offbeat art films and by an adult to films which
new releases, such as the sometimes change programmes have been awarded either a
Odeon Leicester Square, but daily or even several times each U (universal) or a PG (parental
it also includes the cinemas day. Some cinemas show two guidance advised) certificate
found in Chelsea, Fulham and or three films, often on the for viewing. Children must be
Notting Hill. Programmes same theme. accompanied by an adult to
begin around midday and The best of the "indies" view a film rated 12A.
are then repeated every two include the Prince Charles, With other films, the numbers
or three hours, with the last just by Leicester Square, the 12, 15 or 18 quite simply denote
show around 9pm; there are Everyman in locations across the minimum ages allowed for
often late-night screenings north London, the ICA in the admission to the cinema.
on Fridays and Saturdays. Mall, the Picturehouse chain,
Tickets tend to be expensive, with cinemas across London, London Film Festival
but admission is often cheaper and the BFI Southbank.
for afternoon performances In summer, outdoor screenings The most important cinema
or on Mondays. Reservations take place in parks, up on event in Britain is held every
are recommended. rooftops and in other inspired autumn, when hundreds of
locations, such as Somerset films – some of which will
House (see p121). have already won awards
BFI London IMAX abroad – from a number of
Boasting the largest cinema BFI Southbank countries are screened. The
screen in Britain, the BFI IMAX BFI Southbank, several of
regularly shows the latest Formerly known as the the repertory cinemas and
Hollywood blockbusters National Film Theatre, BFI some of the big West End
alongside more alternative Southbank is located in the cinemas take part in the festival.
films and documentaries. It also Southbank Centre. It has four Details are published in listings
has a programme of educa- cinemas of its own, which magazines. Tickets are quite
tional films that benefit from together offer a huge and hard to come by but some
appearing on the big screen, diverse selection of films, both standby tickets may be available
including trips under the sea British and international. It also to the public 30 minutes before
and into space. holds regular screenings of a screening.
Cinema Ciné Lumière Map 13 B2. Prince Charles
Addresses Institut Français, 17 Tel 0330 500 1331. Leicester Pl, WC2.
Queensberry Pl SW7. Map 13 B2.
BFI London IMAX Map 18 F2. Everyman Tel 020 7494 3654.
Waterloo Rd SE1. Tel 020 7871 3515. Hollybush Vale NW3. Picturehouse
Map 14 D4. Curzon Bloomsbury Map 1 A5. Locations across London.
Tel 0871 906 9060.
Tel 0330 333 7878. Brunswick Sq WC1. ∑ picturehouses.com
Map 5 C4. Odeon Leicester
BFI Southbank Tel 0330 500 1331. Square
Southbank Centre SE1. Curzon Soho Leicester Sq, WC2.
Map 14 D3. 93–107 Shaftesbury Map 13 B2.
Tel 020 7928 3232. Ave W1. Tel 0333 006 7777.

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