Britain's best outdoor cinemas to visit this summer from Somerset House to Luna Cinema
No-one wants to be stuck indoors in this weather so try out one of these
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Your support makes all the difference.Going to the cinema may be one of our favourite rainy day activities, but there's nothing to stop you from enjoying a moonlit movie night this summer.
A whole range of companies have tapped into the trend for open-air film events and some have even gone so far as to offer themed and unique experiences - think Hot Tub Cinema on a Shoreditch rooftop and Film 4 Summer Screen in the beautiful courtyard at Somerset House.
It's not all London-based either. Floating Cinema is touring a barge around the locks from Brentford to Bristol at the moment, while Burghley House in Lincolnshire hosts a five-day film festival at the end of this month.
Here's our pick of ten of the best outdoor cinemas in Britain:
Nomad Cinema
Nomad kicks off its summer season next week, with 46 London screenings planned for 19 different locations from Hyde Park Lido to Brompton Cemetery. Click here for full listings but expect a range of great movies from Alien to Whiplash. The 'Magic Carpet' upgrade option at selected events offers a prime picnic spot prepared for your arrival with blankets, back supports, lanterns and edible goodies. All profits go towards the Sustainability Institute in South Africa.
Hot Tub Cinema
If teaming a good movie with an evening in a hot tub sounds like your kind of fun then head to Shoreditch in London for this unique movie night experience. The best part? Personal tub waiters are on hand to serve drinks and the views are fantastic. Dressing up, dancing, singing and playing are all encouraged so don't expect a quiet affair. HTC is going on tour this summer and heading to Bristol and Birmingham with more destinations soon to be announced. Showing the likes of The Lion King and Top Gun with tickets £35 each or £190 for a tub seating six.
Luna Cinema
Luna's locations range from stately homes to botanical gardens and medieval castles while there are also events in London. The 2015 line-up includes award winners such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and classics like Ghostbusters. Luna has teamed up with DoubleTree by Hilton this year to offer movie-goers the chance to snuggle up and watch films from the comfort of a posh outdoors suite. Add a luxurious touch (with their traditional warm choc-chip cookie on arrival!) if you win an upgrade.
Pillow Cinema
Run by the same folks as Hot Tub Cinema above, this is an altogether more relaxing alternative. Set on a rooftop above Shoreditch Park, film listings are announced every fortnight here. This month's picks include Ex Machina, The Notebook, Frances Ha and even raunchy blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey. Tickets cost £25 per beanbag but share with a mate and it's just £12.50 each. Bring your own booze and food.
Cult Screens
Fancy seeing Jaws at a Lido or An American Werewolf in a creepy castle? Now's your chance. Cult Screens is putting on events across the South East with screenings in Oxford, Berkshire, Swindon and Greater London. Movies on offer include Withnail and I, The Theory of Everything, Top Gun, Selma, Pulp Fiction and Grease among others. Relax on deckchairs or bean bags while sipping some local ale and German hot dogs. Ticket prices range from £12.50 to £14.50.
Floating Cinema
It's a cinema on a barge and yes it is as awesome as it sounds. It started life as an Olympics arts initiative and is back in London again from August to September this year with a special 'Extra-Terrestrial' theme. Floating Cinema is touring the locks from Brentford to Bristol at the moment so more people can enjoy some riverside film sessions. The tour is almost completely free and London events will far from break the bank. Catch up with the barge's current location here.
Picnic Cinema
Combine the top summer activity of picnicking with a fun flick at a range of extraordinary locations much more interesting than your sofa. There's The Hunger Games at Scarborough Castle in North Yorkshire and The Blues Brothers at Muncaster Castle in Cumbria for starters. Tickets cost £15 for non-camping and £24 for camping. Music and dancing after the screenings "if that is what you are up for".
Screen Machine
Not strictly an outdoor cinema but the Scots still win with this one. Screen Machine tours around 30 picturesque communities in the Highlands and Western Islands so that film fans in the middle of nowhere can join in the fun and not miss out on the latest big releases. Seats 80 and so cool it arrives in a bright blue truck. Films include Pitch Perfect 2, Far From the Madding Crowd, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Jurassic World. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults with concessions at £5.50.
Film 4 Summer Screen at Somerset House
You can't beat the beautiful 18th century courtyard of London's famous arts and culture centre for an outdoor cinema setting. There's surround sound and a well-stocked bar as if you needed any more temptation. Tickets cost £24 and films showing include The Man from U.N.C.L.E, The Silence of the Lambs and The Graduate.
Burghley House
For a more regal experience head to this awe-inspiring Elizabethan house in Lincolnshire where a five day film festival is lined up from 29 July to 2 August. Something is on offer for all ages and there's a whole day dedicated to The Lord of the Rings when the full trilogy will be screened. Local BBQ food and drinks will be available. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £6 for children per film with the full listings here.
There are many other excellent outdoor cinemas popping up around the UK so the chances of there being one near you are strong. On that note, we're off to book some tickets ourselves. See you at the popcorn stand.
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