BFI Southbank Review

One of the reasons the whole Southbank is so culturally rich and a jewel in the crown of the capital. The film seasons are impressive, thoughtful and culturally aware without ramming it down your throat. The architecture, both within and without, is stunning and it will be interesting to see how the new restaurant will turn out following current renovations. (Oct 2018)

100% covid sorted but still manage to run a great bar.

Am a regular at Bfi and disabled, just the way you're staff discuss me how you reccent treated that Autistic women watching and laughing at film The Good bad and Ugly and was called a retard, that's not on, sort it out management.

The media tech and the library are well worth a visit

Boasting the largest screen in the UK, you'll be overwhelmed when you walk into this IMAX.

If you get the right seats (middle middle) and watch the right movie - it's an experience worth the somewhat extortionate ticket prices.

Its worth noting a mini-bottle or wine can be purchased from the upstairs food and drink stand. 3D glasses are also included.

Downstairs there is a Costa coffee if you've arrived too early, or want to stop and chat about the film.

Took friends here for dinner that were over from abroad. Great food and fantastic wine. Georg was brilliant, can't thank him enough for making our evening so special for a well needed catch up.

Very amazing to visit if you are into film and television. There is a cafe in the venue that serves most appetites and drinks too. It is also surrounded by some of the South Walks best restaurants. It's got seats outside which is great in summer. It's situated under the Waterloo bridge so don't worry if it rains you'll still be dry. Some famous people have been seen around this area as lots of stuff happen here. Contact BFI or visit their website before setting off, who knows you might just bump into Emma Thompson or Douglas Henshall. It's got a real urban feel to it as there is also a skate park along the walk close to BFI, lots of vibe and tourists. There is a book stall under the shelter of the bridge too which have some lovely titles from all over the world. A must for avid readers. The films here are played at top quality and it supports British Cinema as well as International Cinema productions. Is it a must see? Yes. Well if you doing a tour of the city it will make up part of the attractions depending on your interest.

Very busy bar on a lovely sunny evening by the river. Good service. Didn't have to wait too long to be served. Friendly and engaging bar staff

Comfy seats and great view of screen plus the audience as a general rule actually watch the film and don't chat and use their phones during the screening, unlike many other cinemas I've been to.

Sat at the bar and had a few drinks and food. Delicious pizzas with good value for money. Drinks are generously poured and there is a fair selection. The staff are lovely.

A cinema that is still a cinema playing great old and new films.
Love the red curtains and the comforterable chairs. There is also a great library and a small book shop for film buffs.

Great bar on the South Bank, quieter than most but a great ambience

Full of culture and there is always something or do or see.

The BFI has two bars, one on the riverside and one inside, both of which offer great cocktails and decent wine and beer too. The food is pretty good and at a fair(ish) price given the location. Though they have a huge archive of cinema and support local film makers, the quality of events can vary somewhat.

Fantastic, great atmosphere- varied crowd. Good selection of wines. My only criticism would be that it needs to stay open for much later at the weekend. Once it's 11 o' clock sadly there's a big push for you to leave the premises.

A mammoth cinema and a place where you can stop to read, have a drink, relax or have a snack or just lunch / dinner! Very clean and above all welcoming place (as well as many London clubs), with soft lighting, bar corner, dining area. Highly recommended.

Great bar for laid back south bank vibe but service is indifferent and food below par.

Really good quality cinema, awesome choice of movies :) and very comfy seats

Had tea and chips and a small salad. Nice clean efficient

Would have given five star if not for the toilets that were dirty

Nice to be here for the reopening of BFI South Bank. Staff were great, explained the new distancing procedures without being over officious. Went to see Australian docu The Tall Man part of the Injustice season. Great film, smaller audience, its good to be back.

Brilliant films and talks, good bar but needs cask beers, good shop for films and more.

Great films, friendly staff, and the benugo bar is a great spot for a chilled drink on the Southbank. New balcony bar is also worth checking out

Simply love the place. Good food served at the restaurant.

Attended a Film Africa a collection of short films focused on Nollywood "Story for the Gods"

If you like films this is a great place to visit. They have showings of interesting films on every day, so always something to see. I went to see Paris, Texas, a great film. The cinema is comfortable and the building is a good place to hang out for a while. We are in the restaurant there. The food is good quality and reasonably priced with various options available for different budgets. I would go back again when I am down in London.

The Bar/Cafe is a great place to work, read or meet people. Friendly environment with good background music playing. Staff are very helpful and very professional.

I really enjoyed the coffee, the relaxing vibe and the hot chocolate!
It is a nice place to chill, out of the main stream coffee shops and chains.

I didn't go into any of the studios, so I can't comment on that.

You can't get a ticket for a movie that started even if you're five minutes late.

Wonderful cinematic facility which really helps to provide a reminder that it's not always about going to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster and that there are plenty of thought-provoking films out there.

Have been to the BFI a few times over the years. There is always a huge choice to be had and the actual cinema is pretty comfortable. If it's happened in film, then the bfi are all over it. They have single showings, seasons dedicated to specific genres, directors and writers. They have a modern bar and restaurant in the front which is always packed, so they must be pretty good. After you've seen your film, had a drink and something to eat, you can get something to remember your day in the gift shop. They sell dvds of classic films, documentaries and animation. Even anime. A lot of the gifts are memorabilia based and not your run of the mill pencils and paperweights. I love visiting here, and its worth having a look.

It was amazing!
They have many theatres inside, cool bar and restaurant, unique gifts to be bought, and also education space.
Free to look around! You wont regret it!

Fantastic institute of cinema. Festivals and retrospectives. Sadly a little expensive but worth it. The main screen is magnificent! And the cafes and bars (and especially the cocktail bar) are amazing.

Really modern place with nice cinemas for independent and mainstream films and documentaries. Very convenient location as well as it is surrounded by various restaurants and other places of interest.

It's great place to go and relax. There is lovely restaurant you can have a meal before going to the cinema.

Great location and facilities. Very good selection of classics and new movies.

In need of a film fix then pop on in. Check out there website for the latest film theme or just go in for a coffee /drink / food

Perfect spot for movie buffs. No commercials before screening.

We ate at the restaurant. The food was OK but staff weren't the happiest. Good menu for a quick bite on South Bank and the bar looked very comfortable (we only ate)

The BFI is extremely interesting and houses a cornucopia of film history and information in it's library. There are places to work, relax or even grab a bite to eat.

BFI Southbank is my happy place. I love the screens, I love the bars, I love the location and the whole film-buff atmosphere. It was also a safe haven for me when I used to study Film, so I have a lot of positive associations with the place. My only criticism is that it can be a bit expensive, it would be great if it were more accessible (more cheap screenings etc.). That being said, it still gets five stars because it's a great organisation.

This used to be my favourite bar in London, but more recently not so, they removed the fires outside (due I'm told to them blowing up) which leaves it looking quite barren, plus the menu has took a turn for the worst, cold nachos and decentish burgers (they used to be great)

Of course to just watch a movie this place is fine

Nice coffee and ambiance but the furnishings are looking scruffy now

Beautiful cinema with a great bar to have a relaxed drink in pre-film. A place for film lovers.

Amazing selection of movies and friendly professional service

If you are a cinema lover, this is your place!! Wide range of films new and old! There is a mediotheque where you can enjoy for free thousands of films. There is also a events to discover o get deeper in differents directors or actors. You can enjoy also in the shop where you can get whatever you want in relation with film history.

Good selection of films new and old with great offers for young people

BFI Southbank really are great. Not on do they screen shows, but also educate too. As a teacher I have taken students on study day trips here for 3 years running and it has been really helpful every time.

Had an excellent conference on Intellectual Property. Lovely location and very interesting.

This is the place to be as a young filmmaker in London. Great space for connecting, great location, drinks a little pricey but runs great events !

Cinema is excellent, screens are smaller but staff handle interruptions unlike most other cinemas and they often get films in advance of their release.

As for the bar: I asked what tequilas they have and they pulled out a single bottle of Cuervo. No.

This was the first time that I had been to the Theatre here and I have to say it was lovely. It had a lovely area with a bar and sofas and comfy seating to have a pre-show drink. You are also allowed to take drinks into the auditorium comma which we really liked as we came to a Christmas screening of It's a Wonderful Life. The Theatre itself is reminiscent of an old-fashioned Theatre. Red velvet seating reminded me of being at the Opera. The seats himself one amazingly comfortable however because of the age of them they clearly weren't economically tested! Is all added to the charm of what I would say was a wonderful day out. I would definitely come here again next year

Explore British cinema history at this venue and check their website for their latest series of programmes.

Great vibe, the drinks are good and the hot-dogs are delicious. Large outdoors area too.

This is a good little cinema with a nice bar and cafe. They have some really interesting screenings and the BFI film festival is not to be missed!

My Vatican. There are 3 screens, NFT1 is the single best cinema in London. Over the last few months I ve been on the guest list for movies such as The Shout (1977) and Through the Eyes of Orsen Welles with Q&A s sessions afterwards with More

Love it here. A bar, an eclectic selection of films. talks and events. A library too.

Wonderful headquarters of the BFI. One half for all cinema fans. The bar is also really nice.

I came here with my college class and it's safe to say I was impressed. So much information about film & media, inspiring. The building is situated next to the Thames, which adds inspiration.

Well worth a visiting an enjoyable and informative experience.

Some great film festivals and seasons for the true cinephile

Please give running times in hours and minutes. Giving length in minutes only means a bit of mental arithmetic and it's difficult to see what case can be made for this way being preferable. Thanks

Pleasant bar with good bar food at a reasonable price. Great sound track as well.

As a film venue, it's fantastic, but the missing star represents how disgustingly awful the Benugo Cafe inside is (which would get zero stars independently).

Service is slow and never with a smile. Whilst a 2/3 deep queue is at the bar, you'll frequently have one member of staff serving and three uploading the glasswasher, whilst the manager observes from a distance. When I'm there I frequently go to the riverfront to order drinks, then bring them back to the cafe to sit, because that works out quicker, even when the riverfront is busier. Go figure...

Went to see Mark Kermode, had a fantastic evening and saw some amazing people from actors to directors. The seats are definitely worth a mention and the staff there are top guys.