A pleasant enough place with a relaxed bar and a fairly laid back atmosphere generally. However, parts of it are in need of being refurbished and the seats in the cinema l used were incredibly uncomfortable.
Excellent spot for a riverside beer on London's energetic South Bank.
Well run and interesting events - comfortable seats - what s not to love
I wasn't impressed, sadly.
I know these are challenging /confusing times but it feel is of optimum importance that the human factor is kept intact. With everything being given over to technology making eating, drinking, socialising experience very clinical. I was most disappointed that the staff were on the whole unattainable. When we did have interaction when food was brought to the table, the attitude of the staff was a little dismissive bordering on arrogant, 1 female member.
Our pizza was delivered without cutlery. When we attempted it with our hands found it to be dry with very little topping. I managed to get attention of the said female staff member & asked firstly for some olive oil as it was dry. She suggested getting another pizza for us to which I agreed, then returned back with the olivd oil, & was quite short with us when I said I had agreed with her offer to bring a fresh one.
I am not happy having to do everything electronically. Especially for older folk there should be an alternative.
We don't always see/hear same as others & can't always get our heads round technology.
I visited the Reuben Library which has a great collection of books and journals about film and television.
Only gripe was late arrivals blocked the screen for the opening minute while the background to the story was scrolled on the screen. I missed all of it and I feel staff could have delayed these latecomers' entry till that part was over. Bar is nice and loungey and loos are spacious and clean.
Love this place. Great to go to for a non commercial cinema experience
Southbank ... My favorite place in London. There are theater entertainment museums, street musicians and many clubs
Love to watch an old movie here. Good screen and no annoying trailers.
Had a superb birthday treat at the Early Man pre-screening. Wish we had a place like this in my country
It's the West End so it's expensive. Nice seats but not comfortable enough for the length of a modern film. Despite the chain's Arthouse branding the audience here came mostly to eat and drink noisily. It used to be be the place to go to watch films in peace and quiet but that seems to be fading.
Best cinema I've ever been to. Amazing selection of films, from old classics to world cinema. It's the perfect cinema for film fans. Also, the atmosphere is great and the bar is really nice.
Good cinema that shows interesting films away from the mainstream commercial release circuit - nice but expensive bar (but, hey, it's London) always worth checking out the programme
Amazing locations for cinephiles. All events are worthy and they always take care of you in the case of an unexpected delay. Their shop could do with for merch though... Lots of books and posters, but I'd like more decorative and entertaining merch. Their venue however is great for Talks and to encounter amazing filmmakers. Don't miss their specials!
Fabulous facility but i think the food is quite expensive and cafes always madly busy. Many screens and not just like a normal cinema. Often seasons of style or an actor or a period. Often talks with no film. We saw 'Whatever happened to Baby Jane'. Utterly remarkably fantastic. Boy could Bette Davis act. Very interesting talk before the film well done the staff manager who did that. Interesting facts and amusing anecdotes about Bette and Joan Crawford.
One of the best places to catch festival programme films. Their events are great and the place has good atmosphere
It is an amazing place to see new or old movies, with excellent film festivals and their events around music and films are great. Love to have a drink by the river in the caffe
The BFI was a big drawing point for me when I was considering moving to London. I'm a huge film buff and it's one of the best film venues in the city. There's a bookshop, enlightened staff who really care about film and are happy to help if you want for something.
As a cinema, they do a good mix of classic films, modern blockbusters, and foreign films. It's worth checking their calendar on a regular basis as they often have free films or discounted prices, as well as one-off events with guest speakers and stars of the film.
Whilst there, do take the time to browse the bookshop, museum and enjoy a drink at the bar; it really adds to the experience, and there's no more informative cinema in the whole city.
Highly recommended!
Great position. Very attractive and attentive barman. He gets my vote.
Interesting place where you'll find a rich choice of international dvds , essai movies, and a confortable and nice place where to eat something
A great part of my education was conducted here. A wonderful oasis. I do wish they could find a way to make tickets cheaper for the unwaged.
Curated retrospective releases often bringing missed gem to the big screen again, keep an eye for films you may never have seen in a cinema otherwise
Very cool spot to catch the Man Booker Prize shortlist readings.
Yes, this is the cinema I've been looking for. Interesting programme, which gave ma a chance to reveal a few really precious film directors, good prices and nice location. Check out BFI's 25&Under!
Good venue with lots of space to work and play. Great meeting rooms and stuff to explore.
For cinema lovers and slackers tis a holy place. Great, place to relax whilst on south bank. Second hand funky book stalls outside are good browsing
Great place to relax, have coffee or tea or a meal. And of course to see a film!!
If you are a film fan this is the place for you. They show new and class films. comfortable seating in all the.screening rooms.
This was my first time at the BFI Southbank, a great venue to see world cinema/art house films that are not on a wider release. The theatre was vibrant and buzzing on the Friday night I went with a nice bar on site to relax before or afterwards with friends. Easy to get to with a number of tube stations close by and a great scenic setting on the Thames with lots to do and see elsewhere close by. Recommend if you like these genre of films.
Nice place if you're looking for more information on the history of film
I love the BFI, has a wondeful club-like feel. Welcoming. Great place to eat and drink too.
Film projection in NFT 3 well below par, with intrusive house/safety lighting
Unmissable intitution with regular programming, good bar, mediatheque, shop...
Lovely place and the staff were amazing.
Well mannered and just so polite. Also had a smile which goes a long way.
Love the BFI! Really chill and relaxing place for a coffee with friends or late night drinks. Great shop and library with really interesting reads. Great cinema screens with huge theatres and comfy seats, would well recommend for a visit, even for just a coffee.
A movie buffs heaven
A great facility for a great city
#darkcrystal exhibition was so good, had no tickets but waited only a few minutes to get in and it was fab. We had free gifts, a free palaroid photo, free voiceover to the film clip as well. Staff members were so friendly as well. We were so happy also to find the duck confit food stand outside as well. Lovely couple of hours.. free london
Love this space for everything art, music, theatre, cinema, culture, vibe, drinks.. Foisted is okay but plenty other spots close by. A must visit spot if you're not from here.. Great to use as a work space also if living and working remotely in London. Great place to meet up with friends, to go on a date, to hang out with family. Wonderful during the day. Awesome at night, as great walks also. Many fun things to be explored and experienced here by all.
Get a membership And you'll get discounts, Q&A showings and first dubs at the film festival.
London's purposed 'home' of cinema is a worthwhile destination for film buffs and cognoscenti with a widely encompassing and frequently changing variety of movies and collateral events.
Restaurants, bars and a shop (hardly definitive, randomly curated and expensive) complete the closing credits. Access from the Thames front is via a seemingly endless corridor meander.
Love this cinema so much. Host of the London Film Festival, many retrospectives (this year highlight was definitely Kubrick) and interesting events around the 7th art (free Dark Crystal exhibition, panels...). A must go in London for anybody who likes film
The city's majestic movie temple under Waterloo Bridge.
Equal parts gallery, theater, restaurant, cinema and museum w/ gift shop.
Explore British cinema history at this venue and check their website for their latest series of programmes.
Such a hidden gem that I'm not sure if I should be giving it away. Spacious screening room, comfortable plush seats and no overcrowded snack bar. Every cinema lover should see a screening here. Great atmosphere.
Fantastic media library but not exactly top environment
The films are terrific. The staff are friendly. The seats are comfy. The projection and sound are great. But note: There are never enough bar staff during film festivals and the waiting time to be served is often a total mood killer. The queue for the ladies' WC is known to be ridiculous, too. Atmospheric, but knowing locals spend their money on refreshments elsewhere.
This is the centre of film in London. This gorgeous building is a shrine to Cinema, showing classic films on three beautiful screens. The shop, library and of course the mediateque make this an essential destination for all movie lovers.
Really good! Nice seats! Slight downside, screen room 1 at the very back of the cinema got very stuffy after the 2 hour mark
Restaurant - grubby seats and sticky table. Main course not particularly well cooked - didn't bother with dessert. Would not eat there again.
The series focuses on Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a woman who wakes up in the afterlife and is introduced by Michael (Ted Danson) to "The Good Place", a Heaven-like utopia he designed, in reward for her righteous life. She realizes that she was sent there by mistake and must hide her morally imperfect behavior and try to become a better person. William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto co-star as other residents of "The Good Place", together with D'Arcy Carden as Janet, an artificial being helping the inhabitants.
The Good Place has received positive reviews since its premiere, with many praising its performances, writing, originality, setting and tone, as well as its first-season finale's twist ending. On January 30, 2017, NBC renewed the series for a second season of 13 episodes, which premiered on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, with an hour-long premiere, before moving to its normal time slot Thursday at 8:30 pm, beginning September 28, 2017.[2] On November 21, 2017, NBC renewed the series for a 13-episode third season.[3]
Great place for film lovers. Watch archive films for free, or enjoy the standard programme of films. A lot of people visit the restaurant, so food must be good. I know they have coffee and croissants in the morning, which I've enjoyed, but more than a couple of pounds.
The BFI is my favourite place for film. Not only a place where you watch films but also a place of learning. Their programming features a few Q&A's and there is always something to learn from it. There is a Library and a Mediatheque where you can watch films and TV shows for free. Also a very tempting shop with books, DVDs, postcards etc.
Such a great place to come and watch film have a drink and just chill out. Ambience and decor really nice was there for HER cuts event.. really nice
Truly run by the heart of film making industry. Excellent, honest and attentive staff host a range of modern small and large screens with a broad and interesting programme of films.
More than just a cinema the venue also has several events, media, and dining spaces with a cavernous bar.
The venue hosts the London Film Festival and the LGBT festival.
Tip: join as a member for advanced booking, and priority ticketing.
If you love films, join. They have seasons of talented directors, old and new, LGBTQ+ films, kids hand-on activities. They can be first with British releases, usually with a Q&A with the director and/or the stars.
bfi.org.uk