From huge projector screens with picnics in National Trust property, to catching an alfresco flick at some of the nation's most heralded locations, your movie night just got upgraded. But just where is lucky enough to have its own screen? So that you can spend the summer enjoying some incredible open-air entertainment, here are the best outdoor cinemas in the UK.
An iconic spot to watch films in, The Barbican is a plant-filled attraction in London. They've got a cinema screen between 18th and 30th August this year, with tickets costing £20 per person.
Grab food and drinks from their market, before settling into outdoor seats. They're showing everything from Desperately Seeking Susan to Atlantics and Beautiful Thing, with something for everyone on offer.
The Mayflower in Lymington is hosting the ultimate starlit date night as part of the Butcombe Cinema Tour. On Thursday the 13th of August 2026, this charming, quintessentially British pub in the heart of the New Forest is transforming its spaces into a pop-up cinema for a special screening of the chic fashion classic, The Devil Wears Prada. Starting from just £5.50, tickets include a refreshing drink to enjoy while you settle in for the 6.30pm show.
Located right on the coast where cobbled streets meet the sea, it's the perfect excuse to escape for the weekend, book a table ahead of time to enjoy a seasonal, locally sourced dinner before the film rolls, or even upgrade your evening by staying overnight in one of the pub's luxurious boutique bedrooms.
For a fantastic alfresco movie experience this August, The Bower Inn near Bridgwater is transforming its extensive beer garden and marquee into a pop-up open-air theatre. As part of the Butcombe Cinema Tour, this stunning 18th-century Somerset pub will be hosting two major crowd-pleasing screenings under the stars.
First up is the fashion-forward comedy classic The Devil Wears Prada on Thursday, 27th August 2026, followed by the timeless, laugh-out-loud favourite Mrs Doubtfire on Sunday, 30th August. Tickets are an absolute steal, starting at just £5.50, and every booking comes with a complimentary drink. The venue is completely dog-friendly, child-friendly, and wheelchair-accessible, making it an easy, welcoming choice for anyone looking to enjoy a summer evening out.
Film fans looking for an alfresco cinema experience this September can head to The Old House Inn near Copthorne for a brilliant double-feature lineup. As a highlight of the late-summer Butcombe Cinema Tour, this historic, 16th-century country pub is transforming its mature beer garden into a pop-up open-air theatre.
The event kicks off with a screening of the chic fashion comedy The Devil Wears Prada, followed by the laugh-out-loud family classic Mrs Doubtfire. Tickets start at an incredibly affordable £5.50 and come with a complimentary drink from the bar.
Get all the glamour of the Everyman cinema in the summer sun at Screen on the Canal. There's plenty here to keep you refreshed along the way.
We're talking popcorn, sundaes, frozen margs and chocolate-dipped strawberries. All you need to do is decide what to watch? Will it be Some Like It Hot, Grease, Paddington in Peru, Dune: Part One or The Devil Wears Prada?
Summer Screens At Canary Wharf brings the silver screen to corporate London. From 4th June to 1st September, Canada Square Park is transforming into an amazing open-air cinema.
As well as all kinds of incredible films, from rom-coms to Bollywood singalongs, this place is showing Wimbledon, Ascot and plenty more live sport. It gets even better - entry is free.
One of London's oldest markets is transforming into an incredible outdoor cinema this summer. Get over to Lower Marsh Lates and you can watch the best flicks of the 90s.
Each month serves up a different film - Cool Runnings in June, Romeo + Juliet in July and Mrs. Doubtfire in August. Running on Thursdays, 25th June, 30th July and 27th August, entry is completely free.
Film fans looking for a truly magical alfresco experience can head just outside the capital this autumn for a spectacular night under the stars. On Saturday 5th September, Secret Adventures is transforming the enchanting, deep-green woodlands of Basildon Park - a beautifully restored National Trust estate near Reading - into a fairytale open-air cinema.
This special screening series features four award-winning short films celebrating the spirit of exploration: Johanna Under Ice, Of a Lifetime, Danny Daycare, and the ocean-rowing true story And Then We Swam. Tickets start at £20 if you bring your own picnic blankets and low-backed chairs (or £30 for a provided deckchair), and you can purchase authentic Indian street food from Gully alongside cold drinks and ice creams for the ultimate woodland night out.
