Try the new BFI Cinemas website (beta)

We’re excited to share the public beta of our redesigned BFI Cinemas website. It’s now live alongside the current BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX sites, and you’re invited to explore it while we continue to build and refine it.

Last year we shared what we’re doing to transform the digital service for our cinemas and our ambition to improve the experience for users browsing the programme, deciding what to watch and booking tickets. It’s part of a wider mission to transform BFI digital services.

This early version of the site is an important step towards replacing the existing sites. For now, it will run in parallel, so you can try it whenever you like. This blog sets out what to expect and how you can use it.

You can access the new website at cinemas.bfi.org.uk and use it to:

• Browse the BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX programmes on the same site 
• View film and event details 
• Book tickets that are on sale to everyone

As this is an early version of the website, you may notice some pages that feel unfinished or have small bugs. Several features are still in development, including:

• Signing in to your account 
• Member priority booking 
• A combined booking journey for BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX. Tickets must be purchased separately.

These features will be added in later stages. During this phase, the booking pages you land on after selecting tickets will look familiar. They’re the same secure booking pages you use today, just reached through the beta.

The existing BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX sites remain the main way to book tickets while we continue to improve the new experience.

The Cinemas beta has been developed with a user-centred approach. We’ve researched how people use the site, identified problems and tested prototypes with new audiences and BFI Members. This approach means we design around real user needs to build a site that’s easier to navigate, more accessible, and enjoyable to use. Here are some of the changes shaped directly by user feedback:

• Date filters to see what’s on ‘Today’, ‘Tomorrow’, or a chosen date, make it faster to plan a visit around your availability.
• Film cards provide key details upfront like an image, summary and runtime. They can be expanded to show the next available screenings for quick booking, with labels for format and accessibility options.
• Navigation tools to help people browse the BFI’s unique programme and understand how films are categorised.
• A mega menu shows the programme structure, and our regular programme strands and seasons are more clearly distinguished.

In August 2025 we launched a private beta to staff and a small group of external users. Their feedback helped shape the version you can explore today, and we’ll continue to refine the site throughout the public beta as we learn more.

We’ll continue to release new features in stages. Our next priorities are developing sign in and Member booking, with a focus on improving the purchase journey.

We’ll share updates as new features become available. In the meantime, we’d love to hear what you think of the beta. Please use our feedback survey to tell us about your experience.