Independent cinemas in Leeds

Do you know your Captain America from your Citizen Kane? Or do you just love the cosiness of popcorn and balcony seats? Either way you’ll love Leeds, which has not one but two amazing independent cinemas for you to enjoy!

Yorkshire is full of great cinemas in fact, with independent cinemas located in Hebden Bridge, Skipton and Ilkley, giving you a vast cinematic landscape to explore. But if you don’t fancy leaving your LS postcode, then you still have some fantastic options, ranging from pop-up cinemas, to Cottage Road Cinema in Headingley, to the Grade II listed Hyde Park Picture House.

Pop-Up Cinemas

Each year, Leeds plays host to the prestigious Leeds International Film Festival, and the city turns into a giant cinema. It's primarily based in Leeds Town Hall, but screenings take place everywhere from galleries, to theatres, to shopping centres. It’s not to be missed. There are even screenings in bars, for all of you movie-with-a-beer type folks!

Millennium Square and Leeds Town Hall often have screenings too, played with a live orchestra! These ‘in concert’ screenings have ranged from Jurassic Park, to Star Wars, to E.T., and give the films a whole new dimension. Great way to spend your evening!

Cottage Road Cinema

The oldest cinema continually used in Leeds is under 15 minutes away from our Headingley Campus – perfect for a post-lecture film. The cinema is in a magnificent building which has both stalls and balcony seating, offers blockbusters and indies, and is generally just perfect for that authentic cinema experience. Plus, there’s student discount with a TOTUM card!

Hyde Park Picture House

Another single-screen cinema, which you might recognise from its iconic outside ticket booth, a pillar of the vibrant Hyde Park community. Once inside, you’ll be wowed by the stunning interior, before sitting down and enjoying an indie or art-house gem. Seating is stalls or balcony, and there is currently a multi-million-pound heritage project to both preserve and expand the cinema.

In years gone by, our film-making students have had their graduation films screened at the Hyde Park Picture House! It’s always a fantastic event, making our final year students' production work well worth it.