Castles, graveyards and stately homes: 20 amazing places to watch a film this summer
From castles and former prisons to botanical gardens and clifftops, these are the 20 coolest places to catch a film or play this summer...
1. On a London rooftop
The Rooftop Film Club's summer programme encompasses films at three venues - the Bussey Building in Peckham Rye, the Queen of Hoxton pub in Shoreditch, and Roof East in Stratford. Visitors can enjoy food and drinks on site. Upcoming highlights include a special preview of Whitney (July 4 at the Bussey Building), Breakfast at Tiffany's (June 25 at the Queen of Hoxton) and Big: 30th anniversary (July 10 at Roof East). See rooftopfilmclub.com.
2. At a castle
The National Trust is putting on a variety of theatre performances and outdoor cinema screenings this summer in some of its most grand and historic properties. Theatre performances include; The Railway Children at Scotney Castle (July 6), The Pirate of Penzance at Corfe Castle (July 13) and The Hound of the Baskervilles at Castle Drogo (August 5). See nationaltrust.org.uk for more listings and open-air cinema screenings.
3. At Uncle Monty's
Picnic Cinema will be showcasing cult films in Cumbria this summer. While both Saturday showings of Withnail & I at Sleddale Hall (Uncle Monty's Cottage) are sold out, tickets are available for the Friday showings (July 13 & 20). You can also catch Dog Soldiers at Hamsterley Forest, County Durham (August 3), Sightseers at Lowther Castle (August 4), The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Big Lebowski at Muncaster Castle (August 10 & 11), 24h Party People at Kirklinton Hall (August 18) and Moulin Rouge at Festival of Thrift (September 22). Camping is offered in at some screenings and alcohol is available. See picniccinema.co.uk.
4. In the shadow of a stately home
The pop-up Luna Cinema is back and has a packed calendar of screenings at dozens of wonderful venues across the country. Highlights include Pretty Woman at Holkham Hall (June 29), Dunkirk in Greenwich Park (July 15), The Greatest Showman at Blenheim Palace (August 11) and The Goonies at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (August 31). See thelunacinema.com.
5. In your local park
Pop Up Screens works just like the Luna – except the venues are all in London, and are a little more humble. This year's locations include Bishop’s Park in Fulham, Ruskin Park in Denmark Hill, and Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith. Visit popupscreens.co.uk to see this year's dates and full list of films including Dirty Dancing (Fulham; 21 July), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Denmark Hill; July 29) and Beauty and the Beast (Hammersmith; August 11).
6. In a former prison – or the ruins of Coventry Cathedral
For those outside the capital, there’s Cult Screens, which will be appearing at locations in Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Coventry, Maidenhead, Newbury, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Rugby, Swindon and Twickenham. Among the best has to be the exercise yard at Oxford Castle – a former prison (where you can watch Coco on August 22, among others) and the ruins of Coventry Cathedral (Top Gun will be showing on July 18). See cultscreens.co.uk.
7. At Somerset House
The courtyard of Somerset House will once again be transformed into an outdoor cinema this summer, courtesy of Film4 (August 9-22). This year’s line-up will include Labyrinth + The Wizard of Oz, Rebecca, and Selma. Tickets from £19.75. See somersethouse.org.uk.
8. At the drive-in
For a taste of Americana, head to The Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, Kent, home to the UK’s largest drive-in cinema. For the uninitiated, the sound plays through the car radio and you can order drinks, popcorn, pizza and burgers (but not alcohol, for obvious reasons). This summer’s films include Deadpool 2 (June 25-28) and Ocean's 8 (July 6-12). See moonlightcinema.com.
9. In a south London market
Backyard Cinema has set up "Mission to Mars" at the Mercato Metropolitano, near Borough, showing your favourite sci-fi films in a space-themed setting, including E.T (June 24, July 1 & 28) and The Never Ending Story (July 7). Seating is on giant bean bags and there's plenty of grub and craft ales to choose from. See backyardcinema.co.uk.
10. In a cemetery
Yet another roaming pop-up cinema is The Nomad, which will be visiting locations around London all summer. Those that stand out include Brompton Cemetery where you can see The Bride of Frankenstein (September 5), Hyde Park Lido showing The Shape of Water (September 14) and Queen's Park screening Nick Park's Early Man (July 28). Check out the full summer calendar here: whereisthenomad.com.
11. Underwater
Well not quite, but London’s lidos will be hosting screenings too. Not only is Hyde Park's on the books of The Nomad, but Brockwell Lido will be the venue for The Shape of Water on September 27, thanks to The Luna Cinema (thelunacinema.com).
12. At an abbey
There will be two film screenings at Bolton Abbey this summer, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on August 22 and The Greatest Showman on August 23. See thelunacinema.com.
13. Overlooking the Atlantic
Constructed in the Thirties on a rocky outcrop above Porthcurno Bay, the Minack Theatre's dramatic location has drawn visitors for generations. The theatre's summer season runs until the end of September and includes performances of Sweeney Todd, Much Ado About Nothing and The Pirates of Penzance. See minack.com.
14. In Regent’s Park
Regent's Park's summer performance space was established in 1932 and can be found in Queen Mary's Gardens. Its 2018 productions including As You Like It (July 6-28), Little Shop of Horrors (August 3-September 15) and interactive family show Dinosaur World Live (August 14-September 9). See openairtheatre.com.
15. At the Globe
The celebrated reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed in the 17th century, will be hosting several of the Bard's finest works this summer, including Hamlet (until August 26), The Winter's Tale (until October 14) and Othello (July 20-October 13). See shakespearesglobe.com.
16. In the gardens of Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House, the setting of Mr Darcy's home in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, will host a screening of The Greatest Showman (July 27), followed by Dirty Dancing the following evening. See chatsworth.org.
17. At Downton Abbey
Highclere Castle in Hampshire, the setting for the popular ITV drama Downton Abbey, will host the fourth of five Battle Proms Picnic Concerts this summer, on August 4. Marking the 100th concert, you can expect Spitfire displays, fireworks, and plenty of patriotic sing alongs and gun salutes. See battleproms.com.
18. In a posh corner of London
Grosvenor Square plays host this year to Theatre in the Square, showing The Exploded Circus (August 1-5) and Wondrous Strange (August 8-12), as well as the English National Ballet (July 27-29). See grosvenorlondon.com.
19. Surrounded by deer
Silent Summer Screenings has opened the doors to film screenings in places that wouldn't have been previously been possible with all sound played through wireless headphones. Locations include Richmond's Old Deer Park, which is showing The Greatest Showman (August 16) and Dirty Dancing (September 6). See silentsummerscreenings.com.
20. Back to school
Go back to school and catch a film in the grand grounds of St Swithun's School in Winchester. The Lost Cinema is showing some classic films at some fairly impressive locations this summer, including Pretty Woman at Marlborough College (July 7), The Goonies at Salisbury Cathedral (August 31) and The Lost Boys at Stowe (September 14). Check out the website for full details - thelostcinema.co.uk.
