Festive film nights: the best Christmas screenings in London
London offers a plethora of venues in which to enjoy Christmas film screenings, each providing unique and memorable festive experiences.
Here’s a curated list of some of the best places to immerse yourself in holiday classics this season. Enjoy!
1. Regent Street Cinema
307 Regent Street, London, W1B 2HW
One of the oldest (and cutest!) cinemas in the UK, Regent Street Cinema always curates a limited selection of festive films for the holidays. Their intimate setting provides a cosy atmosphere to enjoy seasonal fare like Home Alone, Scrooged, Love Actually and Gremlins. It’s also where we began our favourite family Christmas tradition: watching It’s A Wonderful Life then sobbing through the credits.
The nearest Underground station is Oxford Circus. Use Exit 4 – from there, it’s a short walk up the western side of Regent Street.
2. BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT
The BFI Southbank’s Christmas season includes festive films like The Shop Around the Corner, Scrooge, and It’s A Wonderful Life. Also on offer are IMAX and 3D screenings for children’s films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Polar Express. Alternatively, check out their ‘Christmas-adjacent’ line-up, with classics such as Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Little Women.
The nearest station is Waterloo (South Bank exit), from which it’s about a 10-minute walk towards the river.
3. Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP
The Royal Albert Hall offers a unique twist on the Christmas movie experience. With both matinee (2:30pm) and evening (6:45pm) showings, they’re hosting Home Alone in Concert on 7th December 2024. This annual event is guaranteed to immerse you even further in the Christmas classic. Prepare to delight as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus bring this iconic score to life.
The closest Underground stations are South Kensington and High Street Kensington. It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from either station.
4. Prince Charles Cinema
7 Leicester Pl, London, WC2H 7BY
Renowned for its highly eclectic programming, the Prince Charles Cinema screens all manner of festive films come December. This year, they’re showing both The Muppet Christmas Carol (with sing-alongs) and Love Actually daily up to Christmas Eve. Other classics include a Home Alone movie marathon, Die Hard, Elf and Jingle All The Way. Plus, if Christmas Horror happens to be your genre, then they’ve also got you covered.
Leicester Square is the nearest Underground station, and only a couple of minutes away if you walk via Lisle Street.
5. Rivoli Ballroom
350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY
This venue is absolutely stunning and one of the last remaining 1950’s ballrooms in London. This Christmas, they’re offering a pop-up cinema from December 20th-22nd to show Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Die Hard, Gremlins, Elf and Love Actually. They also have a bar serving popcorn, hot dogs, ice-cream and more.
The Rivoli Ballroom is right across the road from Crofton Park station (Network Rail). Alternatively, it’s just under 15 minutes’ walk from Honor Oak Park on the Overground.
6. One Aldwych’s Film & Fizz
1 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4B
For a slightly more luxurious cinema experience, head to Film & Fizz, an event run with partners Curzon Cinemas. With only 30 seats per screening, popcorn, a glass of champagne and a three-course meal included, you’re going to feel like a VIP. Tickets are £95, with the following Christmas films on offer: Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Die Hard and Home Alone.
This 5-star hotel is a 5-6-minute walk southeast through the market from Covent Garden Underground station. Look for the stately flat-iron building with the green copper roof – you can’t miss it!
7. The Clapham Grand
21-25 St. John’s Hill, Clapham Junction, London SW11 1TT
Known for its lively atmosphere and diverse programming, London’s Clapham Grand hosts interactive Christmas film screenings complete with sing-alongs, drink-alongs, themed cocktails and festive games. This year’s lineup includes The Holiday and Love Actually, both of which end with a mini Xmas disco!
This imposing, red-bricked ‘palace of modern variety’ is immediately recognisable. It stands conveniently across the road from Clapham Junction station (Network Rail and Overground).
8. Genesis Cinema
93-95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London E1 4UJ
A gorgeous little independent venue (and one of my personal favourites), Genesis always hosts a great Christmas film line-up. They also serve great coffee! Their Christmas screenings for 2024 run from 22nd-24th. This is great for any holdouts dead set on working right up to the final few days and needing a last-minute festive boost! The films on offer comprise Die Hard, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually.
The nearest station is Stepney Green Underground on Mile End Road (a 6-minute walk). In the other direction, and just a little further away, Whitechapel station offers step-free access and is served by the Underground, Elizabeth and Overground lines.
Honourable Mentions
At the time of writing, not every London cinema that I wished to include on this list had released their line-up of Christmas film screenings. Here are two bonus events to keep your eye on, both of which involve cosy pop-up events in unique venues across London:
Follow the links above to sign up to their mailing lists and be the first in the know.
Hopefully, this post makes three things clear. First, that there are opportunities all across London this December for festive filmgoers to scratch their Christmas itch. Second, there are all kinds of film showings available, from classic big screen affairs and cosy VIP viewings to cinematic concerts, sing-along parties, pop-up experiences and more. And finally, whether or not you consider Die Hard to be a true Christmas film or merely Christmas-adjacent, John McClane, much like Santa Claus, is most definitely coming to town!
P.S. If you are coming to town and looking for other ways to get into the festive spirit, then check out my guide for the best Christmas lights, markets and trails in London. Or, if you have little ones, 10 magical places to take them this time of year.
