Largest IMAX Screens in the UK: Ranked by Size (2026)

True 70mm IMAX vs Digital IMAX — Why It Matters for Your Trip

Only three UK cinemas can screen genuine 70mm IMAX film: BFI IMAX in London, the Science Museum’s Ronson Theatre in London, and Vue Printworks in Manchester.

That’s a notable concentration, since only around 41 cinemas worldwide still have this capability as of August 2026, a figure that keeps shifting as more auditoriums add the format.

 

70mm screenings are usually tied to specific films and limited runs rather than every showtime, so check the cinema’s own listings before booking travel around a particular date.

Physical film prints also can’t be shown at every performance the way a digital file can, which is why these dates sell out quickly for major releases.

The UK’s Largest IMAX Screens, Ranked by Size

Four screens stand out as the UK’s biggest IMAX auditoriums, led by London’s BFI IMAX. I

MAX Corporation doesn’t publish a single global spec sheet ranking every screen it licenses, so the order below combines venue-confirmed dimensions with the most recent operator statements, cross-checked against credible reporting.

1. BFI IMAX, London Waterloo

• Location: London Waterloo, SE1, next to the South Bank
• Seats: 493
• Format: IMAX with Laser (4K) and IMAX 15/70mm film — a true 70mm film screen

The BFI IMAX is Britain’s biggest cinema screen and has held that title since it opened in May 1999. The current screen measures 25.9 x 19.8 metres, a slight change from its original 26.5 x 20 metre dimensions, following equipment upgrades completed after the BFI took the venue back under direct operation from Odeon in July 2022.

It seats 493 people, including four wheelchair spaces, and runs both a single-laser 4K digital projector and a genuine IMAX 15/70mm film projector.

2. Vue Printworks Manchester IMAX

• Location: The Printworks, Manchester city centre
• Format: IMAX with Laser and IMAX 70mm film — a true 70mm film screen

Vue’s Manchester Printworks screen has operated since the complex opened in November 2000, originally under different cinema operators before Vue took over in 2017.

Printworks’ own team describes it as Europe’s second-largest IMAX screen, and local press covering its November 2018 laser upgrade quoted Vue management calling it one of the biggest IMAX screens in Europe, with the cinema’s general manager describing it as the region’s only screen with the new laser technology.

The screen retained its ability to project 70mm film alongside the laser upgrade, and was one of just 30 cinemas worldwide selected to screen Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer on 70mm film in 2023. Vue hasn’t published exact current metric dimensions for the auditorium, but Glasgow Science Centre’s own site ranks its screen third-largest in the UK, which places Printworks second nationally even without an official Vue figure.

3. Glasgow Science Centre IMAX, Glasgow

• Location: 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, on the River Clyde
• Format: Digital projection, curved screen — digital only, no 70mm film

The Glasgow Science Centre confirms its IMAX screen measures 24 metres wide by 18 metres high, and calls it Scotland’s largest cinema screen — though its own site ranks it third-largest in the UK overall, behind BFI IMAX and Vue Printworks Manchester. It sits inside a geodesic dome built with a steel spaceframe, with no internal columns to block the view.

The screen curves slightly inward and uses a highly reflective surface designed to boost brightness, paired with digital projection and an enhanced surround sound system.

4. Science Museum IMAX: The Ronson Theatre, London

• Location: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London
• Format: IMAX with Laser (4K) and IMAX 70mm film — a true 70mm film screen
• Note: Book ahead for 70mm film screenings — they run on a limited schedule tied to special seasons and blockbuster releases

The Science Museum’s own site describes its Ronson Theatre as one of the biggest screens in the UK. It reopened in December 2020 after a 10-month refurbishment funded by the Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation.

The theatre runs dual projection: the original IMAX 70mm film projector alongside a newer IMAX with Laser 4K system, making it one of only two screens in Europe combining both formats.

Where to Catch IMAX Elsewhere in the UK

Cineworld operates 25 IMAX-equipped cinemas across the UK, making it the country’s biggest single IMAX network by location count. None of Cineworld’s individual UK screens have published metric dimensions that would place them above the four ranked here, but its flagship is worth knowing about if you’re near Leicester Square.

The Cineworld Leicester Square IMAX seats 721 people and is billed by Cineworld as the biggest screen on the square, steps from the Odeon Luxe and other West End cinemas.

Vue runs IMAX in just two UK locations: Manchester Printworks and Swindon Greenbridge, according to Vue’s own site. Odeon also operates IMAX screens at several sites, including Liverpool ONE, though neither chain publishes exact screen measurements for individual auditoriums the way BFI and Glasgow Science Centre do.

If a specific screen size isn’t published anywhere official, take marketing claims about being “one of the biggest” with some caution and use IMAX’s own theatre finder to confirm format and showtimes before you book.

Where to Stay Near Each IMAX Cinema

Wego pulled live hotel listings closest to each of the UK’s four biggest IMAX screens, sorted by distance from the cinema door.

Rates below are indicative per-night prices in USD for a one-night stay and change constantly; check Wego for current pricing before booking.

Near BFI IMAX, London Waterloo

Near Vue Printworks, Manchester

Near Glasgow Science Centre

Near Science Museum, South Kensington

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the UK’s biggest IMAX screen?

The BFI IMAX in London Waterloo, at 25.9 x 19.8 metres. It has held the title of Britain’s largest cinema screen since 1999.

Can you still watch real 70mm film IMAX in the UK?

Yes, at three venues: BFI IMAX London, the Science Museum’s Ronson Theatre in London, and Vue Printworks Manchester. All three run dual projection systems that combine 70mm film with digital laser IMAX.

How many IMAX screens are there in the UK?

Cineworld alone operates 25 IMAX-equipped cinemas nationwide. Vue runs two more in Manchester and Swindon, and additional screens operate at Odeon sites, the BFI, and the Science Museum.

Do I need to book differently for a 70mm screening?

Yes. 70mm screenings run on limited schedules tied to specific films and seasons, not every showtime, so check the cinema’s own listings before you travel. These showings tend to sell out fast for major releases.

Is Glasgow Science Centre’s IMAX bigger than any London screen?

No. At 24 x 18 metres it’s Scotland’s largest screen, but it’s smaller in both dimensions than the BFI IMAX in London.

Sources

1. BFI — BFI IMAX official venue page
2. BFI — BFI IMAX Operated by BFI (news)
3. BFI — BFI IMAX Relaunches Following Major Upgrade
4. Wikipedia — BFI IMAX (screen dimensions, seating, and operator history)
5. Forbes — How IMAX Projection Keeps the BFI IMAX at the Top of the Tree at 25
6. Glasgow Science Centre — The Technology Behind Scotland’s Largest IMAX Screen
7. Glasgow Science Centre — IMAX Theatre (official specs and UK ranking)
8. Science Museum — IMAX: The Ronson Theatre
9. Science Museum — Science Museum IMAX Re-Opens in December (press release)
10. Forbes — IMAX 70mm Season at London Science Museum Extended With Additional Screenings
11. ianvisits — Science Museum Unveils Blockbuster IMAX 70mm Season on One of Europe’s Largest Screens
12. I Love Manchester — Vue Manchester Printworks to Introduce Brand New IMAX Laser Vision Technology
13. Mancunian Matters — Vue Printworks Showcases New IMAX Laser Technology as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Debuts
14. Manchester World — Vue Printworks to Be One of 30 Cinemas Worldwide to Screen Oppenheimer on 70mm IMAX
15. Printworks Manchester — The Biggest Bang on the Biggest Screen
16. Vue — Explore IMAX
17. Cineworld — What Cinemas Have IMAX Screens? (Help Centre)
18. Cineworld — Venue Hire at Leicester Square
19. Hire Space — IMAX at Cineworld Leicester Square (seating capacity)
20. Wego — Every True IMAX 70mm Theater in the World: A Movie Fan’s Travel Guide
21. Türkiye Today — Only 41 Theaters in the World Can Show ‘The Odyssey’ the Way Nolan Shot It

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.