How to get cheap cinema in London: offers to know
Barbican cinema discounts, 2 for 1 tickets and cheap day Tuesday: we round up where to buy and how to get cheap cinema tickets in London
Laura Harring and Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive
While there's no shortage of world-class movies in London at any given time, concessions sometimes have to be made when faced with the eyewatering costs for a film night in the big smoke. It's a world of sacrifice and constant spending - but it doesn't have to be that way. Behind closed doors and with the right inside scoop, cheap cinema tickets in London, offers to know about and tips to save are closer than you think.
Best deals all week
Look forward to Palme d'Or winner Parasite when it comes to cinemas in 2020
Stratford Picturehouse is the only branch of one of London's best chains to offer cheap and cheerful prices all week - £7.50 anytime.
Independent six-screen saviour Peckhamplex comes out on top with £4.99 tickets for everyone at all times.
Selected Vue cinemas slyly offer cheaper tickets at any given time. The locations to look out for are Wood Green, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Fulham Broadway, with prices ranging from £5.99 to £6.99.
Monday to Friday, indie star the Arthouse offers £7 tickets before 6pm.
As and when The Deptford programmes unique events and seasons, tickets only cost £6.
Cheap Mondays: London cinemas
At Picturehouse cinemas? Cheap tickets every Monday
To make everyone's least favourite day just a bit brighter, cinemas all over London offer slashed prices on Mondays.
Monday Madness at the Barbican cuts prices down to a mere £6 for all tickets, for any show.
Picturehouse Happy Mondays offer £7.50 tickets at the Brixton Ritzy, and their branches in Clapham, Crouch End, East Dulwich, The Gate, Greenwich, Hackney and of course Stratford.
Tickets at The Genesis cost £5 Monday through Wednesday.
At the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, Mondays mean £7 tickets for everyone.
Cheap Monday movies at The Rio Cinema in Dalston also gifts £7 tickets one day a week.
£5 Mondays at the Castle in Hackney does what it says on a tin: cheap and cheerful at the single-screen independent cinema.
Super Days with Vue have recently swapped from Tuesday to Monday, but the deals are still as good. With the no-strings attached scheme, all venues (except Leicester Square) offer £4.99 tickets any time, all day.
For more alternative picks, try out the Arthouse in Crouch End and enjoy £5 tickets.
Rich Mix Six is as good as it sounds: £6 tickets, all day, every Monday at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.
Cheap Tuesday movies
Empire Cinemas offer dramatic discounts a day after everyone else: don't miss out on SAV£RDAY Tuesdays at the Walthamstow branch for ticket prices as low as £4.25.
Another day, another deal: celebrate making it to a second day in the week with cheap tickets at the Genesis again. £5 all round.
Head to Kino Digital locations for 2 for 1 tickets every Tuesday - which works out at no more than £6 each.
Kids cinema and Under-25 discounts
Frozen II is soon flying into cinemas!
At the Phoenix, Kids Club offers children £3 tickets - which includes a crafts activity as well as the film of choice.
Among the blockbuster empires, everyone has something to give for kids. Similar schemes include Cineworld Movies for Juniors (£3.20 tickets for children and accompanying adults), Vue Mini Mornings (£2.49 for everyone) and Odeon Kids (£2.50), with the discounts running every Saturday and Sunday morning and throughout the Summer holidays.
No kids and no responsibilities yet? If you're under 25, the world is your oyster with cheap tickets a plenty.
With BFI 25 & Under, 16-25 year olds get £3 tickets for any film, any time.
For just £6 for a whole year, the 16-25 membership at Rich Mix offers £6 tickets every time.
Young Barbican offers anyone between the age of 14-25 discounted tickets across the board, when you sign up for free. As well as discounts across all art, theatre, dance and music, cinema tickets are just £5.
Hacks and tricks
With Everyman membership, 2-4-1 cinema tickets are closer than you think
As well as tempting ticket prices if you know when to go, there are also plenty of membership schemes worth considering if you're in the market to invest in a life hack for the longer run.
While Everyman might not be the cheapest option, the experience the cinemas offer is incomparable. Fresh food, delicious cocktails and tasteful decor make for an excellent night out every time. By becoming a member, all food and drink is 10% off and tickets are 2 for 1 on a Monday - which works out at no more than £7.40 per person. With a £90 membership you also receive seven free tickets in the year - and with a £50/month membership you benefit from 25% off all live transmissions of opera and theatre performances.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can always count on the Prince Charles Cinema to cater to the cheap and cheerful needs of all film loving folk. Their membership costs £10 for a year, or £50 for a lifetime. With this, matinee tickets are half price, there's a £1 discount off all refreshments and a weekly handpicked £1 screening exclusive to members.
Meerkat Movies is something that's been plaguing TV ad campaigns for years, and one of the few that's still standing. Partnered with Compare the Market, with qualifying purchases customers can benefit from discount codes offering 2 for 1 tickets at selected cinemas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's more of a risk and less reliable to spot, but if you're in the know it's a great way to save.
Best deals all week
Look forward to Palme d'Or winner Parasite when it comes to cinemas in 2020Stratford Picturehouse is the only branch of one of London's best chains to offer cheap and cheerful prices all week - £7.50 anytime.
Independent six-screen saviour Peckhamplex comes out on top with £4.99 tickets for everyone at all times.
Selected Vue cinemas slyly offer cheaper tickets at any given time. The locations to look out for are Wood Green, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Fulham Broadway, with prices ranging from £5.99 to £6.99.
Monday to Friday, indie star the Arthouse offers £7 tickets before 6pm.
As and when The Deptford programmes unique events and seasons, tickets only cost £6.
Cheap Mondays: London cinemas
At Picturehouse cinemas? Cheap tickets every Monday
To make everyone's least favourite day just a bit brighter, cinemas all over London offer slashed prices on Mondays.
Monday Madness at the Barbican cuts prices down to a mere £6 for all tickets, for any show.
Picturehouse Happy Mondays offer £7.50 tickets at the Brixton Ritzy, and their branches in Clapham, Crouch End, East Dulwich, The Gate, Greenwich, Hackney and of course Stratford.
Tickets at The Genesis cost £5 Monday through Wednesday.
At the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, Mondays mean £7 tickets for everyone.
Cheap Monday movies at The Rio Cinema in Dalston also gifts £7 tickets one day a week.
£5 Mondays at the Castle in Hackney does what it says on a tin: cheap and cheerful at the single-screen independent cinema.
Super Days with Vue have recently swapped from Tuesday to Monday, but the deals are still as good. With the no-strings attached scheme, all venues (except Leicester Square) offer £4.99 tickets any time, all day.
For more alternative picks, try out the Arthouse in Crouch End and enjoy £5 tickets.
Rich Mix Six is as good as it sounds: £6 tickets, all day, every Monday at Rich Mix in Shoreditch.
Cheap Tuesday movies
Empire Cinemas offer dramatic discounts a day after everyone else: don't miss out on SAV£RDAY Tuesdays at the Walthamstow branch for ticket prices as low as £4.25.
Another day, another deal: celebrate making it to a second day in the week with cheap tickets at the Genesis again. £5 all round.
Head to Kino Digital locations for 2 for 1 tickets every Tuesday - which works out at no more than £6 each.
Kids cinema and Under-25 discounts
Frozen II is soon flying into cinemas!
At the Phoenix, Kids Club offers children £3 tickets - which includes a crafts activity as well as the film of choice.
Among the blockbuster empires, everyone has something to give for kids. Similar schemes include Cineworld Movies for Juniors (£3.20 tickets for children and accompanying adults), Vue Mini Mornings (£2.49 for everyone) and Odeon Kids (£2.50), with the discounts running every Saturday and Sunday morning and throughout the Summer holidays.
No kids and no responsibilities yet? If you're under 25, the world is your oyster with cheap tickets a plenty.
With BFI 25 & Under, 16-25 year olds get £3 tickets for any film, any time.
For just £6 for a whole year, the 16-25 membership at Rich Mix offers £6 tickets every time.
Young Barbican offers anyone between the age of 14-25 discounted tickets across the board, when you sign up for free. As well as discounts across all art, theatre, dance and music, cinema tickets are just £5.
Hacks and tricks
With Everyman membership, 2-4-1 cinema tickets are closer than you think
As well as tempting ticket prices if you know when to go, there are also plenty of membership schemes worth considering if you're in the market to invest in a life hack for the longer run.
While Everyman might not be the cheapest option, the experience the cinemas offer is incomparable. Fresh food, delicious cocktails and tasteful decor make for an excellent night out every time. By becoming a member, all food and drink is 10% off and tickets are 2 for 1 on a Monday - which works out at no more than £7.40 per person. With a £90 membership you also receive seven free tickets in the year - and with a £50/month membership you benefit from 25% off all live transmissions of opera and theatre performances.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can always count on the Prince Charles Cinema to cater to the cheap and cheerful needs of all film loving folk. Their membership costs £10 for a year, or £50 for a lifetime. With this, matinee tickets are half price, there's a £1 discount off all refreshments and a weekly handpicked £1 screening exclusive to members.
Meerkat Movies is something that's been plaguing TV ad campaigns for years, and one of the few that's still standing. Partnered with Compare the Market, with qualifying purchases customers can benefit from discount codes offering 2 for 1 tickets at selected cinemas on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's more of a risk and less reliable to spot, but if you're in the know it's a great way to save.
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