London BFI IMAX Theatre

London BFI IMAX Theatre provides a very immersive movie experience

Glass exterior of the London BFI IMAX Theatre
Glass exterior of the London BFI IMAX Theatre cc licensed photo by Lawrie Cate

Located on the Southbank, right in the middle of a roundabout, just north of Waterloo Station, the London IMAX theatre is operated by the British Film Institute in partnership with Odeon.

The London IMAX Theatre's giant 20 metre high by 26 metre wide screen (the largest in the UK) combined with a 14,000 watt digital surround sound system results in a very immersive experience - almost like being there in person. Each frame of film is over 10 times larger than a normal 35mm film making the pictures extremely large and crystal clear. The surround sound adds to the realistic effects drawing you completely into the movie. The video at the bottom of this page is very interesting to watch. It goes into detail about the new screen, projectors and sound system that combine to give you a breathtaking experience you won't soon forget. The IMAX theatre features plush seating that can accommodate nearly 500 viewers. Most days there are multiple show-times and many of the movies are now in 3D.

The London IMAX Theatre is located close to a number of other London theatres and attractions including the Old Vic Theatre Southbank, Royal Festival Hall, Royal National Theatre and The London Eye

For more information about the London BFI IMAX Theatre as well as shows and schedules visit their official website link below.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Address: 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk South Bank, London SE1 8XR, UK

Phone: 020 7960 2102

Official Website: BFI IMAX Theatre

BFI IMAX Theatre Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Finally managed to book Dune 2 with a decent seat in late April at BFI. If you wanna each an imax movie. This is the place to be. The tickets are not cheap but once a while a treat is worth it. The whole place is massive. It is easy to get to from Waterloo station. The seats are relative comfortable. The screen is massive. sometimes you can see the bugs on the screen. The sound system is very loud but good, which makes your seat vibrate. I would recommend the seat in the back and middle.
J. Q - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Great screen size and quality. Nice bar downstairs. Staff very friendly. Before the movie starts, the member of staff greets the audience and makes an original speech, related to the movie you’re about to watch. The introduction before Dune part 2 was amazing and the lady who greeted the audience was brilliant. It made my experience so much better and memorable. If I could change/improve something, it would be the spaciousness of the sits, the distance between them, as I felt a bit like a sardine… And also I wouldn’t allow people to eat and drink during the show as it ruins the experience for the others… But I suppose this will never change…
Kml Myszakowski - 2 months ago

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4 Star Rating My first visit to the BFI IMAX for the Inside Out preview and Q&A. Great location and amazing screen. Clean toilets and little cafe on the ground floor, kiosks on the first floor before you enter the IMAX screen too. Well organized event, I'll definitely visit again. The only thing which wasn't ideal is that there isn't much leg room. The IMAX wasn't originally built for full length films so it is a little cramped.
Donna - a week ago

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5 Star Rating This is probably the best movie experience I have had so far. Watched Dune 2 in Imax 70mm, from the screen to the audio to the ambience, everything feels premium and superb. The bar and the cafe downstairs also gives premium feels. The only downside probably is the accessibility of the place, as you have to walk the underground tunnel if you are coming from Waterloo station. The tunnel looks shady and not well lit.
Paulo Martin - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating One if not the best IMAX experience you can have in Europe. Visual clarity for both 70mm and Laser shows is absolutely perfect. The sound is loud and powerful and the Screen one of the biggest we have here. The 70mm show was very clean, no jitter and no issues at all. 10/10
david de sieno - 2 months ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee LinesWaterloo Station2 Minutes

How to get to BFI IMAX Theatre by Tube

Located in the middle of a round-a-bout, The London BFI IMAX Theatre is just a brief walk via underground walkway from Waterloo Station. Just watch for the signs and don't make the mistake of trying to access it from street level, as there is no entrance on the street - you must use one of the underground walkways that lead to the centre of the round-a-bout.

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