BFI IMAX
Britain's biggest cinema screen opened in 1999 at Waterloo's Bullring. It took just a year to transform the desolate roundabout at the end of Waterloo Bridge and within the first 12 months it is estimated that half a million people visited the new attraction.
Canadian-founded IMAX corporation has opened 180 cinemas but the £20m Waterloo IMAX, part funded by National Lottery money, has the most sophisticated motion-picture projection system yet. The 26mx20m screen is the height of five double-decker buses and the 482-seater auditorium has digital surround sound.
The London IMAX is part of the British Film Institute which screens feature films, shorts and television programmes to audiences at the nearby BFI Southbank.
Until 2006 the outside of the IMAX building featured a mural by Howard Hodgkin. Amid some controversy the building is now used as a giant advertising billboard.
News & features about BFI IMAX
- The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare's Globe (22 Jun 2008)
- St George in Southwark Festival 2008 in pictures (25 Apr 2008)
- Shine a Light at the BFI IMAX (15 Apr 2008)
- Othello at Pacific Playhouse (22 Mar 2008)
- Three Hours after Marriage at the Union Theatre (14 Mar 2008)
- Government offers lukewarm support for South Bank film centre (27 Feb 2008)
- U2 3D at the BFI IMAX (17 Feb 2008)
- 'Colour moods' come to Waterloo underpasses (18 Dec 2007)
- Waterloo City Square design contest launched (4 Nov 2007)
- Ken Livingstone's 'city square' vision for Waterloo (26 Oct 2007)
- Sea Monsters 3D at BFI IMAX (21 Oct 2007)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at the BFI IMAX (3 Aug 2007)
- Dinosaurs 3D: Giants of Patagonia at the BFI IMAX (28 Jun 2007)
- Harry Potter movie stars at County Hall (25 Jun 2007)
- Roving Mars at BFI IMAX (4 Jun 2007)
- The Big Brecht Fest Part 2 at the Young Vic (27 Apr 2007)
- Stars in the Morning Sky at the Union Theatre (21 Feb 2007)
- Love and Money at the Young Vic (22 Nov 2006)
- Terror 2006 at the Union Theatre (3 Nov 2006)
- Superman Returns at the IMAX (14 Jul 2006)
- Constable's Waterloo Bridge at Tate Britain (10 Jun 2006)
- V for Vendetta at the BFI London IMAX Cinema (8 May 2006)
- Bishop's Ward candidates grilled at Waterloo hustings (12 Apr 2006)
- South Bank loyalty card launched by Mayor (23 Mar 2006)
- Deep Sea 3D at the BFI London IMAX Cinema (15 Mar 2006)
Forum discussions about BFI IMAX
- Dark Knight dilemma
- Police stopping and searching in Waterloo
- Did you vote for BFI Southbank - I did.
- Cheeky boys visit
- Empire Building Cable Broadband
- Suggests for the IMAX Cinema After Gathering
- Coin Street's revised plans for a tower of only 43 storeys - still a betrayal of their founding principles?
- SE1 Deal Cards
- London Eye 25 million celebration
- Homeless people and drugs problem outside St John's church, Waterloo
- Roadworks in the middle of the night
- Does Orange Wednesdays run at the Imax?
- This Life
- Stamford Street closed
- Little Dorrit Park: So annoying...
- Possible RV1 Day Out?
- History of Tenison Street
- Superman
- Observer review by Jay Rayner
- Outdoor Screen for World Cup?
Restaurants, pubs & bars close to BFI IMAX
- Film Cafe (20 yards)
- Arch One Bar & Grill (72 yards)
- Java Stop (74 yards)
- Royal House Cafe (78 yards)
- The Hole in the Wall (88 yards)
- Azzurro (100 yards)
- Smaland Coffee (130 yards)
- Pizza Express (162 yards)
- Chez Gerard (162 yards)
- Caprini Restaurant (162 yards)
- Chicken Cottage (164 yards)
- Jimmy's Tea Bar (168 yards)
- The Thames (170 yards)
- Fishcotheque (180 yards)
- Bagel Factory (188 yards)
- Etsu Cafe (190 yards)