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What makes a special cinema? A colossal IMAX screen and cutting-edge 4K projectors are all great but we also love it when there’s something more that makes a great temple of cinema – a sense of storytelling that starts before you’ve even grabbed your popcorn and taken your seat.
West London’s Electric Cinema, a super-luxe one-screener nestled among the antiques shops and boutiques of Portobello Road, has all that nailed down – as evidenced by its starring spot on Time Out’s list of the World’s 50 Most Beautiful Cinemas.
The Electric, which lands at number five, is one of five London cinemas to make the list, which has been relaunched for the first time post-pandemic.
Also making the cut are Hackney’s Rio Cinema (number 13), BFI Southbank (32), Mile End’s Genesis Cinema (39) and Curzon Bloomsbury (44).
The Electric first opened in 1911, with tickets for the first screening of a 25-minute silent film, Henry VIII, costing sixpence – or £7 in today’s money – and coming with a free bun and an orange. These days ticket will set you back closer to £20, and there’s no bun or orange, although Edwardians didn’t have the choice of a bed at the front or sofa at the back.
London cinemas named the most beautiful in the world by Time Out
5) The Electric
13) Rio Cinema
32) BFI Southbank
39) Genesis Cinema
44) Curzon Bloomsbury
From a 12-seat theatre in an old Ontario crafts shop to a 2,702-seat grand salle in the City of Light, Time Out’s list celebrates cinema in all their architecturally eye-popping, Insta-friendly, just plain drop-dead-gorgeous variety.
Check out the full list of Time Out’s 50 most beautiful cinemas in the world here.
The 25 best cinemas in London – as picked by Londoners.
The best movies of 2025 (so far).