Cinemas in Edinburgh

29 November 2022|Read time 2 mins

Edinburgh cinemas have plenty to offer in the way of motion picture thrills and spills.

Choosing a cinema can be as important as choosing a film. After all - get it wrong, and you face paying for an uncomfortable and frustrating experience. It‘s for this reason that it’s maybe worth knowing a bit about the local cinemas before you venture out into the city in search of your next fix of cinematic entertainment.

Cinemas in Edinburgh

As well as providing the setting for many films (Chariots of Fire, Trainspotting, Hallam Foe, and the 2011 blockbuster romance One Day, to name but a few), Edinburgh also has an array of cinemas to cater for all tastes and preferences.

From Hollywood-centred multiplexes to cosy arthouse venues, there is a wide selection to choose from, while the relatively compact size and layout of Edinburgh mean that most are within comfortable walking distance of the city centre.

Omni Centre, Edinburgh

For those with more mainstream tastes, the Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre on Leith Street offers all the latest releases on 12 sizeable screens.

The seats are some of the comfiest in Edinburgh, and you certainly won’t be short on choice.

Meanwhile, the plethora of bars and restaurants on offer on the lower level of the complex mean that you can make a night of it without having to venture out into the cold evening air – a major plus during Edinburgh’s chilly winter months.

Fountain Park, Edinburgh

On the other side of town, the Cineworld in Fountain Park boasts 13 digital screens and the only IMAX in Edinburgh – an essential experience for all lovers of spectacle.

Just a short walk from Haymarket station and with good bus connections, the multiplex is highly accessible despite being a bit of a hike from the city centre.

There’s even a spacious two-storey car park for folk who have brought their transport with them.

Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh

Just a short walk away from the Filmhouse you’ll find the Cameo, another cinema with an eclectic programme of old and new, unusual and mainstream.

With a well-stocked bar steeped in cinematic glamour and the musty whiff of a bygone age, the Cameo offers discerning cinephiles a truly singular experience.

Its main auditorium is home to one of the best screens in Edinburgh, while the interior itself possesses an achingly nostalgic red-curtained charm that is nigh on impossible to resist.

Dominion Cinema, Edinburgh

For a truly luxurious experience, however, check out the Dominion Cinema in the Morningside area of the city.

In terms of opulent comfort and lavish indulgence, it provides a genuinely unparalleled experience that this writer, at least, has yet to find anywhere else.

If you're after a romantic evening sipping wine or beer while watching the latest flick, the Dominion will provide in abundance

Visit Edinburgh and enjoy a film

Whatever film thrills you’re after Edinburgh is a fantastic city in which to indulge them, so if you find yourself facing a rainy day and a lack of any concrete plans (save keeping dry), head for a local cinema and engage in some blissful escapism.

After all, to paraphrase Alfred Hitchcock, films are just life with the dull bits cut out. 

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