I love the BFI, could spend all day curled un the library bar with coffee or the actual library working without distractions. Add that to the diverse programme, riverside location and amazing talks and I'm glad I'm a member!
Cultural jewel of London! Excellent film programming, reasonable ticket prices and the Benugo restaurant has a fine innovative menu. Their bar is very relaxed too.
Great place for high quality films.
No popcorn :(
It's the BFI, what's not to love, films, lots of great films including obscure gems you'll rarely get to see
Only visited the cafe/bar. Pricey but decent selection of food and drink.
Nice ambiance if a little pricy for food and drink.
I go here every year. Cinema tickets are not too expensive.
One of the Southbank's shining stars - a must for any film fan. BFI manages to combine three big cinemas showing the best of modern indie and proper classics (recent seasons include Screwball comedy, Polanski and Ealing films), a great cocktail bar, a cafe serving up both craft beer and surprisingly good food and a shop where you can find even the nerdiest director-type a really unusual present. Fabulous place to come, any time of year.
Stay tuned for the festival schedule that takes place here. It has precious movies. It is worth becoming a member to get a ticket discount, otherwise you will have to shell out many pounds. Visit the shop at the entrance, has very interesting books and DVDs for the collection.
A great place to enjoy all things film. Be it the library, the mediateque or one of their great Q&As, even to just enjoy a new film. Friendly staff, great environment, and just a great place all round.
Excellent cinema with nice bars. Good bars inside. Dress to impress but very friendly atmosphere
National film museum, always something interesting on, bar and film library inside
Comfortable cinema with plenty of restaurants around for good time out and view over London and Themes
My uncle described this place as a "supermarket for film". Think it's a pretty good description tbh. Whilst I think it's not the same place for film purists that the NFT was, it *is* a lot nicer to go to (in terms of facilities) and is relaxed. The quality of guests for Q&A's/talks is superb, however.
Great to see classics up on the big screen again, in a venue designed for maximum enjoyment.
Cinema central. Must visit (obviously) if you love the movies.
One of my favourite cinemas in London. Great place to watch a classic movie on Cinema screen
Excellent cinema showing classic and contemporary films
My girlfriend told me to call the BFI "a cosmopolitan pot of culture". Very nice drinks. Staff are quite stringent about asking for your ID even if you offer your email address which you're registered with for an under 25 discount which I suppose I can appreciate in order to weed out the 26 - 30 year olds trying to take advantage of discounts in one of the most expensive cities in the world. They can't get away with it. Also an alarming amount of crunchies on the building? Very unclear. Good films too.
Great venue and films you won't find anywhere else. Seating very comfortable and good view from every seat.
Brilliant bar with a great view and outside heaters
Nice cinema, seats very comfortable, and a nice bar for drinks before the movie
Four screens and good range of films over the year. I eat at Pizza Express across the road.
Lovely cinema. Great bars. Fantastic to catch things you just won't see elsewhere.
The place to learn film history. Attend classic revivals, cycles, interviews, and other events. I spent hours and hours there.
I love BFI Southbank. They always show great movies both recent and old ones. The atmosphere is very vibrant and you feel connected to the people around as they share similar interests with you. The chairs in the theatres are very comfortable and there is minimum of adverts before screenings. The only area the BFI Southbank is not great is the availability of places to eat. Thier main restaurant, Riverfront, has reduced the offering down to burgers and fish and chips. There is another place but it's more expensive. The area around is also a bit tricky to get a dinner.
Trendy retro 60s bar with very poor service but great music. Nice place for a drink when you eventually get served and if you can get a seat. Don't recommend the food though.
So many great events here! The venue is huge, the seats are comfortable, the bar is cool. One of the treasures of London.
Great bar for laid back south bank vibe but service is indifferent and food below par.
Still one of the best places to see a film. Audiences turn off their phones, they don't chat or munch popcorn. I have been a member here for over 25 years.
Food & drinks ridiculously expensive and then also charge "service costs". Small portions and a gelato bar that has no ice cream ?!
Fantastic to see Cary Grant on the big screen. An underrated actor. Go and see Notorious.
Scruffy in parts, but a great cinematographic resource
Girlfriend & I decided to stop by for drinks as the outside seating area looked appealing to sit at, only to find the better part was reserved & we had to cram up with other guests on the long tables.
Great shop, many books and dvds you won't find elsewhere. Fantastic archive
To all cinephiles, you should visit th giftshop alone. They have DVD's ad Blu-ray's, film soundtrack vinyls, books and other film themed gifts and knickknacks. Also their cinemas provide quality world cinema films with a reasonable price. We'll worth a visit.
Great cinema with an always interesting selection of movies. Movie events are also held here, like director talks and previews, recommend to keep your eyes on the website.
While the film choice does leave something to be desired, the bars and restaurants here are great.
I love it. My favourite cinema in the world. I travel a distance to get to here and watch multiple films at a time.great for finding hidden gems. Great for a good intimate experience. Also director q and a will get you great insight when its on. Become a member, its worth it.
Great place to watch movies, very elegant and restful.
There also is a special large room full of computer/video stations for two people ea to examine and view archive movies!
My daughter with disabilities loves this flexible area... Which is free but may require reservation.
The bar has excellent sofas and VG wi-fi.
Favorite cinema for the unique showings and great atmosphere. Nice to see some older movies on the big screen!
Considering the location, and what it provides, it's undoubtedly one of the best cinemas in London and one of the best priced too (not counting all the wonderful small independent joints). That massive screen, comfortable seats, and some of the best films that don't show in many other places, it's one of the more enjoyable cinema experiences (which sadly are fewer and far between with the big names nowadays). Just don't get the popcorn, it's so bland.
You can watch all latest blockbusters there. You can easily find even some free shows and events. They have very good sceen and sound quality. It is worth checking if you are in the area.
Great venue. Saw Hans Solo .... private viewing for crew
One of the best places to catch festival programme films. Their events are great and the place has good atmosphere
This is a really great place to go for proper film lovers. Really great theatres, always showing really good material from classics to contemporary to independent films. Really good value compared to the big cinema chains too.
Nice space to meet friends, drink, eat and enjoy film exhibitions
Nice venue with various facilities in great condition.
Cinema, amenities, and various adaptable rooms available for hire. Great mood and ambience.
Great venue and films you won't find anywhere else. Seating very comfortable and good view from every seat.
A real treat for film buffs and those looking to deepen their cinema experience. They cinemas are surrounded by various snack and drink areas which are all great. There's great, more chilled food and a bar round the river entrance and fancier fare round the side. Both have Benugo coffee to offer and its well made. The staff have all been super friendly and i've never seen someone so happy to make me a coffee before. The films are great too - such a varied selection of modern hits, classics and gems waiting for you to discover them. A place to fall in love with the experience of cinema rather than settling on the sofa. Oh, but there's no popcorn! #icecreamexperiment
Wonderful selection of films with no adverts and a surprisingly lovely, quiet bar
Great place with affordable access to movie classics
Love it, wish they had better discounts for members but great venue. Great varieties of films
Great movies, from arthouse to classics and a couple of really good bars
Amazing place for film lovers and for people wanting to have a good time. Very chill atmosphere.
The best place ever I have seen near to Waterloo and London eye
Beautiful location just by the river, definitely worth a stroll day or night
bfi.org.uk