Are there any film fanatics in the house? Well, I definitely am one – I prefer to watch films in cinemas rather than through streaming platforms. And yet, if you’re an international student like me, finding the best cinema to go to in London would be one of your must-dos in this city. So here we go – let me introduce the diverse range of cinemas offered in London, as well as student discounts you should not miss.

Which cinemas should you choose?

Well, the quick answer would be: it depends on the film you want to watch and the date you’re looking for. While there are a variety of cinema chains (such as IMAX, Odeon, and Curzon) spread across the city, sometimes certain cinemas show a given film over a longer period than others. 

IMAX is well-known for its wide screen and high-quality sound resonating in the entire space. Odeon has good quality and diverse food you can devour while watching films – ranging from classic popcorn to pizza, burger, salad, and chicken. Often, it is one of the fastest chains to show Hollywood movies (these days, Captain America!). Curzon’s tickets tend to be cheaper than Odeon or IMAX, and they often show independent films. I’m planning to watch The Seed of the Sacred Fig – a Persian movie that won the Academy Award – over Reading Week, and the only big chain cinemas that show this film is Curzon. I prefer Curzon among these big three chains for these independent films.

Now, some of you might want to explore independent cinemas rather than visiting chains. Again, this is really up to personal preferences, but I would have to recommend The Garden Cinema if I had to pick a single independent cinema. The cinema is a four-minute walk away from Holborn Station, and it shows a mix of independent films and popular films, including those that are not screened in other cinemas anymore. What is more, some of the films here have a “Pay What You Can” scheme – this is to allow people who are struggling with their cost of living to still enjoy films.

Any student discounts?

Odeon has a 20% student discount on their monthly subscriptions through Student Beans, offering £15.99 per month to watch an infinite number of films and an additional 10 percent off of in-cinema treats. Similarly, cinemas have monthly student memberships at discounted prices. Honestly, I don’t recommend this unless you cannot live without a daily film boost – I don’t think students will practically have time to visit cinemas that frequently to the extent you can call this discount cost-effective.

The one place you should definitely check out is BFI Southbank. If you’re under 25 and create a free BFI account, you can grab a £3 cinema ticket for every regular screening. If you’re living nearby, this could be a good way of taking a short break from your studies.

Accessibility requirements?

If you have accessibility requirements like me, watching a film at a cinema is not always an experience you can take for granted. And you might think, what if you can’t enter the cinema when you’re in a wheelchair? 

Rest assured. While it’s better to double-check with individual cinemas you’re planning to visit, almost all cinemas have accessible seating available on each screen. You can easily tick the box on accessibility requirements and choose the seat accordingly. When you enter the screening room, you will notice how the access seating area removed seats so that you can manoeuvre your wheelchair. 

Of course, I understand that OTT streaming platforms have already become a norm where you can easily watch dramas and films to your liking whenever you want to. But there are sounds that you can only enjoy at cinemas, which would not be completely substituted with your laptop or your phone. Finally, being an international student in London shouldn’t really stop you from continuing to be – or just becoming – a cinema enthusiast. If you have any other cinemas to recommend, please let me know by commenting on this post!