The cheapest cinema tickets in London – some even cost five dollars
It’s truly the end of an era for cinema tickets in London – beloved south London institution Peckhamplex has been officially forced to raise its prices for the first time in over a decade amid the cost of living crisis and commitment to pay. all staff benefit from the London Living Wage.
Until recently, each basic ticket gave you change instead of five euros, but they have “reluctantly” increased all prices by a pound.
Seeing a film at the capital’s biggest cinema will now cost you £5.99, still a bargain, but trust me, it’s worth every penny just for the particularly raucous atmosphere of this iconic venue. Watching Cats here, among the screaming spectators who were forced to lie down in the aisles for respite because they were so helpless against the laughter, remains one of the most treasured collective experiences of my life.
Plex may hold a special place in my heart, but it’s not the only cinema in London doing its best to keep prices as low as possible. Here are some of the other best places to see a movie on a budget – one couple even pockets five bucks.
Catford Mews
A new addition to the independent cinema district, Catford Mews in the South East opened in 2019 and, with three screens, the community-oriented space is home to a street food market with local vendors, a well-stocked bar, its own cafe and an IPA collaboration with the nearby Brockley Brewery. So far so good, but this place specializes in serving champagne at lemonade prices. Annual membership is a bargain at £35 – in return you get five free tickets each year, decent discounts on food and drink (very tasty), a cheap cinema ticket (peak time tickets cost £5.20 for members, while off-peak gives you £5 change) and three months of Mubi to flush at home. Meow!
Prince Charles Cinema
This Soho spot specializes in cinema classics and cult films – here, films like 2003’s The Room (a true work of art, and perhaps the worst film ever made) are received as award winners. an Oscar – and also does its part to keep things affordable. Memberships are incredibly reasonable (from £15 per year or £60 for a full stay). lifetime discounts) and, best of all, they also unlock access to Institution Members screenings for £1 and regular matinees for £6. Let’s go eat, eh!
Peckhamplex
This south London staple’s sub-five euro ticket could have gone in the same direction as the 20p Freddo, but Plex remains one of the best places in London to see a film – basic tickets are still a great deal at just £5.99, and you’ll find everything from brand new blockbusters to trendy independent films.
Genesis Cinema
It’s worth shopping at this Stepney cinema; Although big-ticket releases are often more expensive, you can make some serious savings if you’re happy to get your movie fixes at less popular times. A weekday screening of Pedro Almodóvar’s new short film, A Strange Way of Life, costs five dollars, just days after the film’s release — and there’s plenty of supply at that price. A Monday evening screening of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon costs £7.50; great value considering you can fit two shorter feature films into this epic runtime.
EVIL Come on
MUBI, specialist in arthouse and independent cinema, is launching into IRL film attendance; the streaming platform now offers a new type of subscription which offers subscribers a hand-picked cinema ticket to enjoy each week at a partner cinema. Previous film choices included the acclaimed new film Scrapper, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and Passages; the new LGBTQ+ drama starring Ben Whishaw. Partner cinemas include the Barbican, Dalston’s Rio Cinema, Curzon, Genesis and the ICA – and membership (which also includes MUBI for watching at home) costs £15.99 per month. This means that each weekly movie ticket costs less than five dollars.
Odeon
If you’re a fan of fancy seats, big outings and repeat visits to the cinema, Odeon’s myLIMITLESS offers very decent value for money – in exchange for £14.99 a month, there are no limits on the number of times subscribers can access the images. Yes, you read correctly. The films offered by the channel certainly lean towards the blockbuster side, but more mainstream independent films are regularly included, as are occasional anniversary screenings.
If you’re willing to narrow down your cinema options, three of their London screens might be a good bet. Signing up as a MyOdeon member is free, unlocking five £ tickets, to any film, at any time. The only problem? Only a few cinemas in the capital are taking part, so you will need to travel to either Camden, Streatham or Beckenham to benefit from the offer.
