Prince Charles Cinema

Located just off Leicester Square on the border of Soho and Chinatown, The Prince Charles Cinema is London’s last remaining independent picture house in the West End. Housed in a historic 1962 building that originally opened as a live theatre before famously operating as an adult cinema in the 1970s and a premiere host for 1980s cult horror, the venue retains a uniquely nostalgic atmosphere.

Its main 285-seat screen still features classic red velvet seating and an unusual upward floor slope left over from its theatrical origins, while a cosy 104-seat second screen offers a more intimate setting downstairs. Unpretentious, affordable, and warm, the cinema stands as a beloved community refuge amidst the high-priced mega-multiplexes of central London.

The Prince Charles Cinema is legendary for its eclectic, fan-centric programming. Rather than focusing solely on mainstream blockbusters, the cinema built its reputation on a rotating mix of cult classics, 35mm and 70mm archival projections, second-run hits, and all-night movie marathons. It is equally famous for its interactive events, hosting rowdy screenings of Tommy Wiseau's The Room and enthusiastic Sing-a-Long-a nights for films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Sound of Music.