London's cheapest and most beloved repertory cinema, tucked behind Leicester Square in a basement that programmes cult double bills, sing-along screenings, marathon sessions, and the kind of audience-participation events that turn film watching into a communal sport. The Prince Charles is the anti-multiplex: tickets cost a fraction of West End prices, the programme changes daily, and the audience often knows the film better than the projectionist. The sing-along screenings (Grease, The Sound of Music, The Rocky Horror Picture Show) are London institutions. The regular repertory — double bills of classic films, themed weekends, all-night horror marathons — attracts the most devoted film audiences in the city.
Location
Soho, London
Map
Insider Intel
The sing-along screenings are the signature — audience participation, costumes, and the particular energy of a room full of people who know every lyric. The repertory programme runs classic double bills and themed seasons. The 'movie marathon' events (8+ hours of themed films) are for the committed. Check the website daily — the programme rotates constantly.
Friday or Saturday night for sing-along and cult screenings — the atmosphere is the point. Weekday matinees for quiet repertory screenings at remarkably low prices. All-night marathon events typically start late Saturday and run into Sunday morning.
The cheapest cinema in central London — tickets for many screenings are under five pounds, which is extraordinary for a Leicester Square address. The cinema is a non-profit. Two screens: the main auditorium (280 seats, steep rake, good sightlines) and a smaller room. The building is underground — follow the signs from Leicester Place. No reserved seating for most screenings. The atmosphere at special events is unlike any other cinema in London: rowdy, devoted, and genuinely joyful. Membership gives additional discounts and priority booking.