Museums & Arts · Our pick in London
BFI Southbank
The home of the BFI
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Gazamp · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank, tucked beneath Waterloo Bridge, is the British Film Institute’s home cinema. Its four screens show seasons, restorations, previews and new releases seven days a week, and the Mediatheque lets you watch films and television from the BFI National Archive. There are a bar, café and shop on site. Waterloo and Embankment stations are a short walk away. Book ahead for popular seasons.
Why it's on our list
- Four screens
- Film seasons
- BFI Mediatheque
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with BFI Southbank before you go.
What’s on
BFI Southbank publishes its screening times and booking on its own website.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to BFI Southbank, as the crow flies.
- The Savoy0.3 mi6 min walk
- Strand Palace Hotel0.3 mi7 min walk
- One Aldwych0.4 mi7 min walk
- Corinthia London0.4 mi7 min walk
- Sea Containers London0.4 mi8 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from BFI Southbank are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- TempleDistrictCircle0.3 mi5 min walk
- EmbankmentDistrictBakerlooNorthernCircle0.3 mi6 min walk
- WaterlooJubileeNorthernBakerlooWaterloo & CityNational Rail0.3 mi6 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Temple Place0.3 mi5 min walk
- Taxi rank, Cab Road0.3 mi6 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- London Eye0.3 miWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Covent Garden0.4 miWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Trafalgar Square0.5 miWalk 11 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Leicester Square0.7 miWalk 13 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Westminster Abbey0.7 miWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- The British Museum1.0 miWalk 20 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Buckingham Palace1.2 miWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- The Shard1.3 miWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Tower of London1.7 miWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Harrods2.1 miWalk 43 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
Main rail terminals
- Waterloo0.3 miWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Charing Cross0.5 miWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- London Bridge1.3 miWalk 27 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Victoria1.4 miWalk 28 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Liverpool Street1.6 miWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Euston1.7 miWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.7 miWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)1.8 miWalk 36 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Paddington2.6 miCycle 17 minCar or taxi 23 min